Best Contemporary Native American Culture Podcasts (2025)

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#1653 Clay and the new History Channel Series, Kevin Costner's The West 55:48

5d ago55:48

55:48

Guest host Russ Eagle interviews Clay Jenkinson about the forthcoming eight-part History Channel series, Kevin Costner's The West. Clay was interviewed as a historical expert twice for the series produced by Doris Kearns Goodwin and featuring Kevin Costner. Clay explains his intensive preparations to participate in a documentary by Ken Burns or Dor…

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Giizh Sarah Agaton Howes: Translating Ojibwe cultural arts into contemporary Ojibwe designs 28:25

10d ago28:25

28:25

Today we are speaking with Giizh Sarah Agaton Howes. Howes is an award-winning Anishinaabe creator, artist and organizer from Fond Du Lac reservation and Muscogree Creek. She’s the CEO of Heart Berry, a contemporary Ojibwe Design brand that offers wool blankets, apparel, gifts and accessories rooted in Howes’s beadwork and Ojibwe floral designs. Gi…

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Teaching Uncomfortable History: The Doctrine of Discovery 53:47

10d ago53:47

53:47

Holly Rine, associate professor of history at Le Moyne College, offers a compelling perspective on teaching the Doctrine of Discovery at a Jesuit institution. With remarkable candor, she shares her own journey from unfamiliarity with this history to becoming an advocate for institutional honesty about colonization's ongoing impacts. The conversatio…

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#62 - Indigenous Wisdom or Intellectual Tourism: Problematizing Indigenous Academic Knowledge 1:31:40

10d ago1:31:40

1:31:40

Send us a text Discussion on Facetiousness and Cultural References 0:00 Indigenizing and Decolonizing Literature 6:11 Thanksgiving, Columbus Day, and Liberation Day 11:02 Challenges of Academic Engagement 17:15 Sovereignty and Indigenous Knowledge 31:32 Data Sovereignty and Academic Validation 50:40 The Role of Indigenous Scholars 59:59 The Impact …

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#1652 America's Public Lands: A Report Card 52:56

12d ago52:56

52:56

Clay Jenkinson interviews Jonathan Thompson, the author of books about the American West, including Sagebrush Empire: How a Remote Utah County Became the Battlefront of American Public Lands. Thompson has written much about the pushback of western ranchers, irrigators, mining interests, and chambers of commerce against federal regulation (and even …

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Jonathan Thunder: Finding Joy in Art and Life 28:29

17d ago28:29

28:29

In today’s episode, we welcome back Jonathan Thunder, who last appeared on Native Lights in 2021. Since then, the Red Lake Nation citizen and multidisciplinary artist has become a father and opened an art gallery. He talks about how fatherhood has changed his approach to art and why lately he’s shifted his creative focus from sociopolitical ideas t…

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#1651 Ten Things About the American Revolution 50:31

19d ago50:31

50:31

Clay and frequent guest Lindsay Chervinsky discuss the American Revolution in a “live” podcast recording in Vail, Colorado. Was George Washington a great military strategist? How vital was Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence when it was written? Why weren’t women incorporated as full citizens — as Abigail Adams suggested — when America re-const…

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#1650 A New Look at Edward Abbey 57:22

26d ago57:22

57:22

Clay's conversation with Amy Irvine, the author of the 2018 book Desert Cabal: A New Season in the Wilderness. Ms. Irvine published the book on the 50th anniversary of Edward Abbey's blockbuster Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness. Desert Cabal is a careful and nuanced conversation with the late Edward Abbey, who died in 1989. Wasn't his r…

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Protect Native Women: A Conversation with Sarah Deer 1:10:01

26d ago1:10:01

1:10:01

What does it mean to say that rape is not a crime of passion, but a tool of conquest? In this searing episode, Matika sits down with Chief Justice Sarah Deer—legal scholar, citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and longtime advocate for Native women—to break down the root causes of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) cris…

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Dan Ninham: Honoring Athletes and Indigenous Sports Traditions 28:23

1M ago28:23

28:23

In this episode, we speak with Dan Ninham, PhD, a retired physical education teacher and coach, co-founder of the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame and prolific freelance writer. Dan, Wolf Clan from the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin, has had a lifelong interest in sports. This 6'10" college basketball player devoted his working life to …

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#1649 Sean Sherman and Native American Food 57:07

1M ago57:07

57:07

Clay talks with noted chef, author, activist, and visionary Sean Sherman, an Oglala Lakota man who is changing the world of indigenous food. Sean is the author of an award-winning book, The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen, and another book, Turtle Island, which is coming out in November. They discuss the white conquest of the North American contine…

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BearPaw Shields: Leaving a Legacy for Future Generations 28:27

1M ago28:27

28:27

In this episode, we speak with BearPaw Shields from the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. She is a Saint Cloud State University alumna and is currently the Indigenous Learning Community Program Coordinator at the University’s American Indian Center. In her forties, she decided to go to college and get a degree so that she could make the chang…

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The Old Growth Table: Our Food Is Our Medicine 34:28

1M ago34:28

34:28

We are so proud to introduce our newest collaboration: The Old Growth Table, a brand new podcast hosted by Valerie Segrest (Muckleshoot), launching from our home at Tidelands Studio in downtown Seattle. It’s something we’ve been manifesting for years and it’s finally here! In this very special episode, we invite you into the first season of The Old…

1
#1648 Hitting the Road With Lewis and Clark 52:43

1M ago52:43

52:43

Occasional guest host and LTA videographer Nolan Johnson joins Clay to talk about the epic Lewis and Clark Airstream journey of 2025, wherein Clay will follow the Lewis and Clark Trail from Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia to Astoria, Oregon, and back again. Historian James Ronda said the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-06 was “America’s first…

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Allison Waukau: Empowering Native Stories Through Community Service and Podcasting 28:28

1M ago28:28

28:28

In this episode, we speak with Allison Waukau (Menominee/Navajo), who serves as the Tribal Liaison and Native Relations Coordinator at the Metropolitan Council. She previously worked at the Hennepin County Library and the Roseville School District as American Indian Community Liaison. Last year, she started a new podcast with Odia Wood-Krueger. Thr…

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#1647 The Future of the Public Lands 52:39

2M ago52:39

52:39

Clay's interview with Walt Dabney, who worked for over 30 years in the National Park System, including serving as America's Chief Ranger for five and a half years in Washington, D.C. Mr. Dabney is lecturing around the country about the threat to public lands from those who would return them to the states or privatize them altogether. Mr. Dabney ref…

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Native LAnd is Burning 1:02:22

2M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

In early January 2025, catastrophic wildfires swept through the ancestral homelands of the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples. National media coverage largely overlooked how our Indigenous relatives were responding, and coping amid the uncontrollable flames, and how they were recovering after. To document these stories from an Ind…

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#1646 The Legacy of Louis L'Amour and American Western Fiction 57:01

2M ago57:01

57:01

Clay interviews Beau L’Amour, the son of Louis L'Amour, the celebrated author of multi-million best-selling Westerns. Beau L’Amour is the manager of his father’s literary estate. By his passing at 80 in 1988, Louis L’Amour wrote just under 100 novels and more than 250 short stories. All of his books are still in print. Clay and Beau talked about ch…

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Dr. Amber Annis: Rebuilding Community with the Native Governance Center 28:24

2M ago28:24

28:24

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Amber Annis about the joys and challenges of rebuilding community and finding your voice as a leader. Dr. Amber Annis is a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Executive Director of Native Governance Center. Prior to taking on her role at NGC in December 2024, she worked at the Minnesota Historical Soc…

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S05E07: Indigenous Wisdom for Planetary Healing with Yuria Celidwen 48:50

2M ago48:50

48:50

Yuria Celidwen, a Nahua and Maya scholar and UC Berkeley postdoctoral researcher, shares how Indigenous wisdom offers pathways for collective healing beyond colonial mindfulness practices that prioritize individual benefit over community wellbeing. • Identifying as a "truth bearer" from Maya tradition, Celidwen bridges Indigenous epistemologies wit…

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The Hidden Heritage Book Series: Chapter 7 27:24

2M ago27:24

27:24

In this series of Hidden Heritage "The Book", host Paul LaRoche tackles the enriching yet complex process of meeting his biological family and embracing his Native American heritage. This chapter, titled "A Glimmer of Hope," explores the nuances of identity and the challenges that come without a quick fix for his life's problems. As Paul transition…

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#1645 The Resurrection of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 57:53

2M ago57:53

57:53

Clay is joined by one of his favorite guests and favorite people, historian Joe Ellis of Vermont. The discussion is about the Trump administration’s attempt to pull the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 out of the historical dust and apply it to what it regards as undesirable foreigners in the United States. Two Alien acts, the Sedition Act, and the Natura…

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Deven Current: Healing Through the Art of Tattooing 28:25

2M ago28:25

28:25

In this episode, we hear from Deven Current about tattooing, sports and the importance of sobriety, family and faith. Deven is an Ojibwe tattoo artist, who connected with his culture later in life. Deven grew up in the Twin Cities and, at a young age, fell into drug addiction. He ended up incarcerated, but his time in prison introduced him to an un…

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#1644 Thomas Jefferson and American Diplomacy and Trade 1:15:19

2M ago1:15:19

1:15:19

Guest host David Horton interviews Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, about his life as a diplomat. Jefferson served for five years as the American minister to the court of Louis XVI just before the French Revolution. Then, he served three years as America’s first Secretary of State — trying to keep the United States from b…

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The Hidden Heritage Book Series: Chapter 6 17:11

2M ago17:11

17:11

In this episode of Hidden Heritage "The Book, Chapter 6", host Paul LaRoche takes us on an enlightening journey through the small reservation town of Lower Brule, SD sharing stories and insights from the heart of Native America. Join Paul and his new biological family as they explore the vibrant community, unveiling the rich tapestry of culture, tr…

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Korina Barry: Leading from abundance with NDN Collective 28:24

2M ago28:24

28:24

In this episode we hear from Korina Barry on her work with NDN Collective and the campaign to free Leonard Peltier, in addition to reflections on her roles as mother, doula, and metal fabricator in training. A citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Korina Barry manages the organizing, policy and advocacy direct-action arm of NDN Collective, whic…

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#1643 A Cultural Tour of Cuba 58:07

2M ago58:07

58:07

Russ Eagle is the guest host for a discussion of Clay’s recent cultural tour of Cuba. Clay, Russ, and guests spent 10 days in Cuba, traveling in a small bus across the island. They began in Santiago, where the Cuban Revolution touched off on July 26, 1953, and ended in Havana, once one of the most vibrant cities in the Caribbean. It is still full o…

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#61 - From Trauma to Teasing: The Epigenetics of Indigenous Humor With Guest: Kasey Nicholson 1:52:37

3M ago1:52:37

1:52:37

Send us a text Code-Switching & Cultural Banter 0:00:00 Trauma, Humor, and Healing 0:15:00 Counselor to Comedian 0:35:00 Joke Anatomy 101 0:55:00 Academic Comedy Fails 1:15:00 The Art of Native Teasing 1:35:00 Generational Laughs 1:55:00 Breaking Stereotypes 2:15:00 Guest: Kasey Nicholson (A’aa’niii’nin) https://www.rezzalicious.com/ Hosts: Aaron B…

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The Hidden Heritage Book Series: Chapter 5 48:31

3M ago48:31

48:31

Join Paul LaRoche as he narrates chapter 5 of the book "Hidden Heritage" and explores his ancestral roots in this latest episode. Journey through time with tales of the Lakota people during the 1800s, witnessing their rich cultural heritage, struggles, and resilience. This episode dives into the Lakota’s profound relationship with the Great Spirit …

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Allison Herrera, Indigenous Affairs Journalist and author of Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land 28:26

3M ago28:26

28:26

In this episode, we talk with Indigenous Affairs journalist and author Allison Herrera. Allison’s indigenous ties are from her Xolon Salinan tribal heritage. Her family's village is in the Toro Creek area of the Central California coast. She didn’t take the traditional route into journalism with a degree. She just decided she wanted to do it and di…

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#1642 The Myths That Hold America Back 56:37

3M ago56:37

56:37

Clay is joined by Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky and Dr. Casey Burgat to discuss a new book, We Hold These “Truths”: How to Spot the Myths That are Holding America Back. The book aims to tackle 13 myths at the core of political dysfunction: lobbyists are evil, Congress doesn’t do anything, the Supreme Court has become too political, and there is a demand t…

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#1641 Author, Hampton Sides on Captain James Cook’s Amazing Third Voyage 56:18

3M ago56:18

56:18

Clay interviews Hampton Sides, the author of a dozen outstanding books, including studies of Kit Carson, Martin Luther King’s assassin James Earl Ray, the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in Korea, and most recently, The Wide, Wide Sea, Sides’ study of the third and fatal voyage of Captain James Cook. How does one write about a British explorer like Jame…

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The Hidden Heritage Book Series: Chapter 4 17:39

3M ago17:39

17:39

Join host Paul LaRoche as he narrates Chapter 4 of his life's story, 'A Special Gift,' from the Hidden Heritage book by Barbara Marshak. The episode begins with a traditional Thanksgiving morning, illustrating the warmth of familial bonds and shared stories. Paul listens to his daughter Nicole's vivid dream, sparking a deep connection to their Nati…

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ICE In Indian Country & The Power Of Kinship 1:02:17

3M ago1:02:17

1:02:17

In this episode of All My Relations, Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) and Temryss Lane (Lummi Nation) are joined by Gina Amato Lough, Directing Attorney of Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, to unpack the realities of ICE in Indian Country. We dive into the self-made crisis at the southern border of what is now known as the United St…

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#1640 Traveling America in Search of Its History and Stories 52:28

3M ago52:28

52:28

Clay sits down with Nolan Johnson, fellow North Dakotan and Listening to America’s talented videographer and podcast editor. Nolan joined Clay with cameras and drone in hand at key points along Clay’s 21,000-mile Travels with Charley journey in 2024. The two discuss plans for this year’s Lewis and Clark trek from Monticello to Astoria, Oregon, and …

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The Hidden Heritage Book Series: Chapter 3 37:27

3M ago37:27

37:27

In this episode, join Paul LaRoche as he embarks on a heartfelt journey to uncover his hidden heritage in this captivating episode of Hidden Heritage. Accompanied by his family, Paul eagerly anticipates meeting his newly discovered brother and sister during a Thanksgiving weekend reunion on the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation of SD. This episo…

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#1639 Jefferson and the Lewis and Clark Expedition 56:57

3M ago56:57

56:57

Guest host Russ Eagle interviews Thomas Jefferson about the American West. When he became the third president in the spring of 1801, Jefferson hired Meriwether Lewis to be his private correspondence secretary. Two years later, he selected Lewis to explore the American West by traveling up the Missouri River to its source, crossing the continental d…

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Echos of the Prairie: Native American History of the Northern Plains, Part 1 1:12:48

3M ago1:12:48

1:12:48

In this fascinating episode of Hidden Heritage, join host Paul LaRoche as we delve into the rich tapestry of Native American history across southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa, and southeast South Dakota. Discover how the land's indigenous nations, including the Dakota and Lakota, have maintained deep-rooted connections to the prairies and waterway…

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Lovin’ Ourselves with Vina Brown 43:22

4M ago43:22

43:22

Happy Love Day, Relatives! While Valentine’s Day may be wrapped in candy hearts and Hallmark sentiments, its origins are far from sweet. As NPR’s Arnie Seipel reminds us, its history is "dark, bloody, and a bit muddled." In ancient Rome, Lupercalia—a violent fertility festival—was held from February 13th to 15th, perhaps explaining why red became t…

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#1638 Joe Ellis on the 2024 Presidential Election 57:21

4M ago57:21

57:21

Clay's discussion with Pulitzer Prize winning historian Joseph Ellis, author of over a dozen outstanding, award-winning books on the Founding Fathers and America's early national period. Joe shares his comments and insights on the 2024 election and the return of Donald Trump to the White House, only the second time this has occurred in American his…

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The Hidden Heritage Book Series: Chapter Two 20:07

4M ago20:07

20:07

In the second chapter of "Hidden Heritage," we get a deeper sense of the life of Paul LaRoche, as written by Barbara Marshak and narrated by Paul himself. The episode explores the struggles Paul faces while living a life devoid of passion and music, conforming to societal norms of career and family. However, an emptiness persists, leading him to co…

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For the Love of Football: The Super Bowl, Indian Mascots, & the Violence of American Football 🏈 41:55

4M ago41:55

41:55

Today is the Super Bowl, and while millions gather to watch, we’re here to ask: What are we really watching? In this episode of All My Relations, Temryss Lane (Lummi Nation) and Matika Wilbur (Swinomish & Tulalip) dive into the deep, complex relationship between Native communities and sport. American football is more than just a game—it’s a battlef…

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The Right to Belong: Are Native Americans Sub-Citizens? 45:48

4M ago45:48

45:48

In this episode of All My Relations, Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) and Temryss Lane (Lummi Nation)—sit down with Indigenous rights attorney Gabe Galanda (Round Valley Indian Tribes) to discuss the mounting legal threats to Tribal Nationhood, citizenship, and sovereignty. As executive orders and court cases attempt to undermine Native status…

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S05E06: Rethinking Our Values: Indigenous Values for a Sustainable Future 50:27

4M ago50:27

50:27

This episode explores the vital need for a value change rooted in indigenous perspectives, particularly the teachings of the Haudenosaunee. Listeners are invited to reflect on how our current monetary-driven worldview is unsustainable and how adopting a more relational and respectful way of interacting with the Earth can pave the way for a more sus…

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#1637 Historical Integrity in a Hyper-Partisan Time 1:00:59

4M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky and Clay discuss the challenge of maintaining historical integrity during political turmoil and uncertainty. How does a professional historian differentiate between her personal politics, her status as an American citizen, and her responsibilities as a professional historian? In other words, how can the public trust a histori…

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S05E05: Reimagining Legal Frameworks: Protecting Native American Sacred Sites and Sovereignty 1:17:01

4M ago1:17:01

1:17:01

What if the key to protecting Native American sacred sites lies not within the confines of existing religious freedom laws, but in a reimagined legal strategy? Join us as we engage with Michael McNally, the insightful author of "Defend the Sacred: Native American Religious Freedom Beyond the First Amendment." Together, we unravel the complexities o…

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#1636 Special Episode: Listener Mail On Clay's Great Steinbeck Adventure 56:23

4M ago56:23

56:23

Clay and special guest Russ Eagle take up listener mail about Clay's recently completed Travels with Charley tour of America. Thousands of people followed Clay's 210-day, 21,400-mile journey across America and sent along numerous suggestions and questions; these included recommended detours, great places to camp, restaurants to visit, and great spo…

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#60 - Deossifying Myths at the Crossroad of Modern Tribal Boundaries 46:20

4M ago46:20

46:20

Send us a text Introductions 0:00 Discussion on Leftovers and Turkey 3:00 Cultural Dependence on Buffalo 9:28 Cultural Politics and Narrative Dominance 14:16 Intermixing of Cultures and Cultural Preservation 32:08 Challenges in Cultural Preservation and Future Directions 45:41 Hosts: Aaron Brien (Apsáalooke), Salisha Old Bull (Salish/Apsáalooke), (…

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The Hidden Heritage Book Series: Chapter One 33:44

4M ago33:44

33:44

Welcome to the new chapter of "Hidden Heritage," where we delve into the story of Paul LaRoche, an adopted child on a journey to reconnect with his Lakota roots and explore his cultural identity through music. In this episode, Paul narrates the first chapter of his book, revealing his childhood as Paul Summers, the son of Clarence and Irma in the i…

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Sacred Promises: Truth and Treaty 1:11:17

4M ago1:11:17

1:11:17

In this deeply insightful episode, we are joined by Professor Robert A. Williams Jr. (Lumbee), a distinguished legal scholar and advocate for Indigenous rights, to explore the enduring significance of treaties, how they impact both Native and non-Natives, and why it is crucial we continue to talk about and teach our treaties to future generations. …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Contemporary Native American Culture Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen