Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich spent a recent evening in the studio with Gary Johnson Cheeseman, the creator of Anishinabe O'denong.
Aside from a handful of radio stations on Indian reservations, programs featuring Native American music and voices are few and far between. For 10 years, St. Cloud State University has hosted one of these rare programs. The signal reaches Indians and non-Indians around central Minnesota, from groups of small children in Milaca to octogenarian veterans at the local V.A.
Transcripts
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JEFF HORWICH: Mondays at 5 o'clock. Saint Cloud State University's KVSC turns its basement studio over to Gary Johnson Cheeseman.
GARY JOHNSON CHEESEMAN: Well, there you have it, [? Jufondus, ?] Anishinabe O'denong on KVSC 88.1, your educational, cultural, and sound alternative. [SPEAKING OJIBWE] it's cold outside today.
JEFF HORWICH: Cheeseman punctuates his relaxed commentary with small bits of Ojibwe. There's much more native language in the music he plays. Cheeseman is 41 years old, part Ojibwe, part Abenaki, part Micmac, and part Irish. He started the program 10 years ago as a student. He continues as a volunteer host and teaches Ojibwe at Saint Cloud State.
Cheeseman describes the meaning of the show through the story of an Indian woman who had just moved to the area. Her husband died soon after they arrived, and one lonely evening she was flipping through the radio frequencies for company.
GARY JOHNSON CHEESEMAN: And the woman called me up and said that she just couldn't believe it and she was weeping over the radio, so ecstatic to hear some of her own people out in this area.
JEFF HORWICH: The name of the show, Anishinabe O'denong, refers to a generic small Indian town. Cheeseman tells listeners he's broadcasting live from the Bingo Hall on the Res. He tells his weekly stories from Ode'naang, many of which come from personal experience. And at least one recurring character makes an appearance every week.
GARY JOHNSON CHEESEMAN: Whenever you go to a reservation, you'll see a ton of dogs running around the reservation, and they're all silly dog. They're silly looking dogs. But they all have their own character and they're all--
[GROWLING]
And here comes our buddy, our buddy Whitey the Res dog. As you know, he's part German Shepherd, he's part Basset Hound, a little bit of Chihuahua, and part squirrel, old Whitey, and he always brings in, of course, our Res dog riddle for the week. And as I wipe off the envelope--
JEFF HORWICH: Cheeseman is looking out for his American Indian audience, which he guesses is about 30% of those who listen. A syndicated newscast rounds up Indian related stories from around the country, public service announcements reach out to a community with distinct needs.
GARY JOHNSON CHEESEMAN: I exercise every day and test my blood sugar.
SPEAKER 1: Control your diabetes. Because our young ones look up to you.
GARY JOHNSON CHEESEMAN: And nothing more important than Indian people out there controlling their diabetes. Quite frankly, I don't know many Indian elders out there who don't--
JEFF HORWICH: Cheeseman spends more than half the show spinning CDs. Native music comes in all colors from all over the country, from drumming, to rock, to jazz, and even rap. Promo CDs don't exactly roll in through the mail, though, and Cheeseman has to actively seek out the variety he needs. In selecting music, Cheeseman is mindful of the difference in Indian and non-indian tastes.
GARY JOHNSON CHEESEMAN: I think people who come from the culture like to hear more culturally based music, music from the powwows, more the drum music, whereas people who aren't used to hearing drum music would probably go for more of a pop sounding music, more flute music.
[NON-ENGLISH SINGING]
GARY JOHNSON CHEESEMAN: So what I try to do is to put a human face on Indian people, to get people to know Indian people indirectly through their music, through the stories, through the cultural makeup that we try to create on the show.
[MUSIC PLAYING] It's only the thunder playing games up in the sky
[NON-ENGLISH SINGING]
GARY JOHNSON CHEESEMAN: You know, we're in an area of the country where you have racial issues, you have people who have discontent for various reasons, and you basically have to find ways to deal with those people. And it won't stop me. I'll be here.
JEFF HORWICH: Cheeseman says the audience for the show is growing. He's been at it 10 years, and as long as there's someone listening, he'll keep coming back to the studio each Monday night. Jeff Horwich, Minnesota Public Radio, Saint Cloud.
[MUSIC PLAYING] Don't be afraid, Don't be afraid, Don't be afraid my baby
[NON-ENGLISH SINGING]
It's only the thunder playing games up in the sky
[NON-ENGLISH SINGING]
It's only the wind blowing through the tree top
[NON-ENGLISH SINGING]