KOJB Projects
Living the Ojibwe Way of Life: KOJB will explore topics that are important to the culture such as Pow Wow protocol, wild rice harvesting, and the sugar bush - to name a few. Each episode offers insight surrounding the cultural ways of the Ojibwe people, including alternative ways to live and conduct oneself in harmony with nature and taking only what is needed to live and survive and leaving the rest for future generations.
Environmental Voices: KOJB will produce two-minute segments featuring expert commentary on various environmental topics such as biodiversity, eco-friendly living, various forms of energy, tips on reducing waste, and overconsumption - to name a few. Segments are produced with a focus on the values that humans must protect the earth. Native American culture and history is interwoven into this environmental program to give everyone a better understanding of how we should care for the environment for future generations. KOJB interviews individuals with Leech Lake Division of Resource Management, The Leech Lake Health Division, and other local experts.
Ojibwemowin, Learning the Ojibwe Language: This is a critical endeavor for KOJB as more and more Ojibwe language speakers pass away - it threatens the future of the Ojibwe language. The instructor for this program focuses on repetition and memorizing as a key to acquiring this language, along with core meanings and stories associated with the words to create a wider understanding and knowledge of the language. The two-minute segments play a critical role in helping to preserve the Ojibwe language.
History of Leech Lake: KOJB's host Elaine Fleming of the Leech Lake Nation, also known by her spirit name, One Thunderbird Woman with the Loon Clan, will share stories and memories of Leech Lake history. Through recollections of times and people, the show's host explores memories and stories that are not found in any text books. This program provides a rich historical perspective to American Indian life and how it relates today.
Traditional Ojibwe Plants, Herbs, and Teas: KOJB will create 2-minute segments that share ancestors' traditional knowledge of medical plants locally grown in north Central Minnesota. The segments will explore many topics including herbal preparations, health remedies, gardening herbs, gathering native Minnesota plants, all from the perspective of traditional Native American culture. Additionally, this project also offers non-Native Americans the opportunity to learn and incorporate some aspects of Ojibwe culture into their lives and community life. This show will cover a whole range of topics including: depression remedies, hair loss, and sinus infections, as well as healing plants found in swamps, bogs and wetlands. Traditional Ojibwe Plants, Herbs and Tea is a yearlong project.
Ampers Legacy Group Project
$1,891,500 the first year and $1,891,500 the second year are to the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations for production and acquisition grants in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 129D.19.
The programs in project #6 will result in more locally and Minnesota-focused content produced by public radio than would exist on KOJB because the station does not have the staffing our resources to do these programs without this Legacy funding.
An annual survey will show that listeners feel that they have an increased knowledge and awareness of Minnesota history and culture, especially Native American history and culture, as a result of this project.