Indians Seein' " Visions"

KAET, a public broadcasting station in Arizona, has a show with a simple but powerful premise: "Native American issues as seen by Arizona's Native Americans".

The show is called Native Visions and it "brings together heads of state, policy makers, community leaders, government officials, and healers for a groundbreaking one-hour special." Groundbreaking indeed! How often do you see the Native persective in the media, much less on a news or issues-related show? Oh sure, we show up as a vanishing people from the 19th century in plenty of movies and television, but a show focusing on current issues? With eloquent guys in suits, smart women asking tough questions of senators, people discussing issues of sovereignty, education and healthcare, as it pertains to Native Americans? That is unheard of. And that is progress.

Check out the website, where you can also read transcripts of past shows and find out more about the program.

The show airs Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. on Channel 8.