by Somer Leathern
Resources are available for minority public broadcasting that extend beyond the need for unnecessary federal funding...
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| Portrait of Donald Trump |
Trump Administration Budget Cuts
The current issue with the Trump Administration budget cuts
of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the National Endowment for
the Arts will affect culturally diverse broadcasting.
Such public broadcasting stations include Native American radio and television channels that are used for cultural events like tribal meetings.
Such public broadcasting stations include Native American radio and television channels that are used for cultural events like tribal meetings.
The argument regarding this hot spot is split two ways: the
budget given to CPB helps spread cultural and other diverse media that
otherwise would not receive substantial funding.
It is also a preservation method for important Native American traditions and history. However, others argue that the government should not be involved in public broadcasting to the extent that it now is.
It is also a preservation method for important Native American traditions and history. However, others argue that the government should not be involved in public broadcasting to the extent that it now is.
Jackson's Indian Removal Act of 1830
American history has followed the loss of Native American culture,
starting with the colonization of Great Britain in the new world, but taking
dramatic shape during the Andrew Jackson administration.
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| Portrait of President Andrew Jackson |
On May 28, 1830, the Indian Removal act was signed and
implemented by President Andrew Jackson.
This act authorized grants of unsettled lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Native American inhabited lands that were settled in existing state borders.
This act authorized grants of unsettled lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Native American inhabited lands that were settled in existing state borders.
This act was debated in senate from the February through May
when it was officially signed by President Jackson.
Ironically, the Committee on Indian Affairs issued a report that virtually said, “We don’t have an opinion, because if the Indians made a treaty with the United States government, they have to follow all those regulations.”
Ironically, the Committee on Indian Affairs issued a report that virtually said, “We don’t have an opinion, because if the Indians made a treaty with the United States government, they have to follow all those regulations.”
On December 6th, 1830, President Andrew Jackson
outlined the Indian Removal Act in his Second Annual Message to Congress in
which he stated:
“It gives me pleasure to announce to Congress that the
benevolent policy of the Government, steadily pursued for nearly thirty years,
in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is
approaching to a happy consummation. Two important tribes have accepted the
provision made for their removal at the last session of Congress, and it is
believed that their example will induce the remaining tribes also to seek the
same obvious advantages" (Jackson)
The Trail of Tears: An Imperialist Precedent
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| Memorial Sign of the Trail of Tears |
For the most part, several Native American tribes moved to
the west territories peacefully, with the exception of the Cherokee tribe.
Between the Fall and Winter of 1838 and 1839, this tribe of Native Americans refused to follow the Indian Removal Act.
The United States government forced them to move west, resulting in 4,000 Cheroke Indian deaths that became infamously known as the Trail of Tears.
Between the Fall and Winter of 1838 and 1839, this tribe of Native Americans refused to follow the Indian Removal Act.
The United States government forced them to move west, resulting in 4,000 Cheroke Indian deaths that became infamously known as the Trail of Tears.
Returning to the speech that President Jackson addressed to Congress
before the application, the outcome of supposed “benevolent policy” took turn
for the worst and though the rhetoric used to present the policy seemed positive,
in reality, the policy was always doomed to fail as the government tried to
displace Native Americans.
Radio Technology & Connecting Culture: The Hoopa Tribe
In present day, Native American tribes have dwindled in
numbers and the majority remain on federally funded reservations. However, this
has not spared them from an imperialist American government.
Native American tribes, such as the Hoopa tribe in Northern
California, have moved with the rest of mainstream American towards cultural digitalization;
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| Joseph Orozco, Station Manager for Popular Hoopa radio station, KIDE |
“Of the nearly 3,000 people living in the Hoopa Valley, approximately
three-fourths are Native American. And the local radio station KIDE-FM caters
to them, offering listeners live broadcasts of the Hoopa tribe’s general
meetings; a local, award-winning, weekly show called “Health Matters”; and an
array of national programming, including NPR newscasts and Native American
public media shows" (Trudeu)
With the Trump Administration proposed budget cuts of the
CPB, radio stations owned by the Hoopa tribe that rely on CPB funding (i.e.,
federal funding) will no longer exist if they cannot secure funding from other
sources.
In analyzing the rhetorical precedents created mainly by the
Jackson Administration, it is easy to demonize the government and their “benevolent”
justifications for cutting funding for culturally diverse public broadcasting.
However, as political rhetoric usually is, the argument is polarized, with the budget cuts obviously negatively impacting Native American public broadcasting, bu it does not leave them without other resources.
However, as political rhetoric usually is, the argument is polarized, with the budget cuts obviously negatively impacting Native American public broadcasting, bu it does not leave them without other resources.
A Defensive CPB & Alternative Resources
The President of the CPB Patricia Harrison said the following
in regards to budget cuts of the CPB:
“We will work with the new administration and Congress in
raising awareness that elimination of federal funding to CPB begins the
collapse of the public media system itself and the end of the essential
national service… There is no viable substitute for federal funding that
ensures Americans have universal access to public media’s educational and
informational programming and services…” (Concha)
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| BYU Broadcasting Building in Provo, UT |
However, other popular and renowned public broadcasting outlets
that also offer the “educational and informational programming”, such as PBS
and NPR, have found the same amount of success in dispersion of their content
without the amount of federal funding that CPB receives; PBS and NPR rely
heavily on private donations and sponsored affiliates.
BYU Broadcasting where I work as a Broadcast Technician in
their Network Operations Center was a PBS affiliate for several years; BYUB is
also another example of the success the public broadcasting stations can have
via private donors.
So while historical rhetoric precedents an imperialist
government that hinders the progress of a minority culture like Native
Americans, there are actually several resources available to fund Native
American public broadcasting.
Sources:
- Concha, Joe. "Trump Proposes Eliminating Federal for PBS, NPR" The Hill, 2 Feb 2018
- Jackson, Andrew. "Andrew Jackson's Second Annual Message to Congress." Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, The Library of Congress, 1838.
- Trudeu, Christine. "Native Americans Fear GOP Budget Cuts Will Be the Death of Tribal Radio." Rural American, In These Times, 15 Mar 2017
Image Credits:
- Portrait of Donald Trump, Andrew Jackson, and Trail of Tears Memorial Sign are public domain images via Wikimedia Commons.
- "Joseph Orozco in the KIDE Studio Booth" photo taken and owned by Emilee Marshall of KIDE Radio
- "BYU Broadcasting" picture provided by BYUTV.org
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