Short Stuff: "Peace" Pipes
The hosts discuss the misnomer of the term "peace pipe" and explain that many Native American cultures simply refer to them as pipes or ceremonial pipes used in a variety of solemn and communal contexts, not just peace treaties. They describe the geographic spread, cultural meanings, construction, and materials of these pipes, with special attention to sacred red pipestone from Pipestone National Monument and Lakota traditions around the Chinunpa. The episode closes by emphasizing that these practices are ongoing and remain sacred parts of contemporary Native cultures, as highlighted by a quote from Yankton Sioux tribal member Gabriel Drapeau.
Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl
Radiolab revisits the Supreme Court case Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, centered on the custody of Veronica, a child eligible for Cherokee Nation membership, and the application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The episode traces the mid‑20th century history of widespread removal of Native American children from their families that led to ICWA, then walks through the conflicting narratives of Veronica's adoptive parents, her Cherokee father Dustin Brown, and their lawyers as the case moves through the courts up to the Supreme Court. A 2025 update explains that Veronica was ultimately returned to her adoptive parents and that, despite repeated legal challenges, ICWA was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2023 but continues to face ongoing challenges.