Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine

In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Bimibatoo Mishtadim DeShaw, an Ojibwe author, father, and educator. Nicholas masterfully blends his Indigenous heritage with imaginative fiction across a wide range of genres, from sci-fi and horror to children’s picture books. He shares his journey as a writer, discussing his latest projects, including a new graphic novel and his first children’s book, Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow.

We explore Nicholas’s creative process, how he balances writing and reading, and the cultural layers that inspire his storytelling. From the early stages of his journey as a writer to getting his work published, he reflects on the peaks and valleys along the way. Nicholas also offers invaluable advice for aspiring writers and creatives looking to pursue their own dreams.

Tune in for engaging conversation with one of today’s most vibrant, Indigenous voices in literature!

Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis.

On this show, Host Leah Lemm reflects on the themes of rising to the challenge of the pandemic, respecting the virus, and coping with many unknowns. Leah is joined by reporter Melissa Townsend and together they review and reflect on some of their wonderful conversations with community members.

Minnesota Native News launched several programs in response to the pandemic in addition to this one, including Biidaapi Podcast hosted by Leah Lemm and her brother Cole Premo. Through dozens of interviews with folks in Indian Country in Minnesota, we stayed connected and learned a lot over the last four months.

Some of the voices highlighted in this show include Vanessa Goodthunder (Lower Sioux Indian Community), Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Nation), Anishinaabe M.C. Tall Paul (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), elder Sharon Day (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa), addiction counselor Sharyl Whitehawk (Lac Courte de Oreilles Ojibwe), Anishinaabe elder and healer Dennis Jones (Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation), actress Isabella Star Leblanc (Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota), and Anishinaabe artist Robert DesJarlait (Red Lake Nation).

We heard about passing the time while staying home, keeping up healthy practices, and using technology to stay connected. During the blur of days in quarantine, we also faced the tragedy of George Floyd’s killing which unearthed deep pain around police brutality and long-standing racial inequities. We are so grateful to all our relatives for sharing their wisdom, insights, and hope, as we support one another during these difficult times.

February 14th marks a day of honoring relatives lost in the ongoing epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR).

A recent report from the Minnesota Task Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women reveals a heartbreaking statistic: while Indigenous people make up just 1% of the state’s population, a stunning 9% of all murdered girls and women in Minnesota over the last ten years were American Indian.

Today we talk with Jessica Gidagaakoons Smith (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa) who is a mother, survivor, Two-Spirit warrior, Indigenous scholar, and researcher, MMIWG2S Legal Advocate, and so much more. Jessica shares how her own experience seeking healing as a survivor of domestic violence and human trafficking, led her on a path to become a national speaker, leader, and advocate for others.

We hear Jessica’s powerful story of how her “Inner Warrior” pushed her to step forward and speak up, sharing her own story of survival, to advocate for legislation aimed at strengthening law enforcement’s ability to track and solve cases of murdered or missing Native Americans.

We are thankful for Jessica Smith’s powerful voice and for all the work she is doing to help others find safety, healing, and their own voices. You can learn more about Jessica Smith and her work at www.gidagaakoonsresearch.com

Sovereign Bodies Institute (SBI) builds on Indigenous traditions of data gathering and knowledge transfer to create, disseminate, and put into action research on gender and sexual violence against Indigenous people. www.sovereign-bodies.org

If you or someone you know needs help right now, you can reach out to these hotlines:

StrongHearts Native Helpline provides culturally appropriate support and advocacy for American Indians and Alaska Natives, including resources for victims, families affected by domestic violence and dating violence, and it is anonymous and confidential at: 1-844-7NATIVE or 1-844-762-8483.

National Human Trafficking Hotline serves victims and survivors of human trafficking and anti-trafficking community in the US: 1-888-373-7888

Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.

Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine – Weekly Radio Show

Native Lights is a weekly, half-hour radio program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce -- a.k.a. Minnesota -- to tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community.

Native Lights – Special Edition: Visiting Vaccines with Antony Stately

This week we kick off a special series of vaccine conversations, starting with Antony Stately (Ojibwe and Oneida). Dr. Antony Stately has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is the CEO of NACC, the Native American Community Clinic in South Minneapolis. Antony Stately shares how his clinic is safely administering vaccines, and he speaks to the challenge of providing accurate information to patients while addressing legitimate concerns and questions of community members. Antony Stately does this by keeping his focus on conversation, knowledge, and consent.

Antony Stately also shares his own harrowing experience of contracting and surviving COVID-19, which landed him in the hospital in late November. Antony recounts how he faced this scary time by leaning on prayer, cultural medicines, and guidance from elders, along with experimental drug therapies and, of course, the wonderful support of healthcare workers, which he says, all worked together to help save his life.

We deeply appreciate Dr. Antony Stately for his compassionate gift as a leader in healthcare, and his willingness to honestly share his own story, all in the service of informing and caring for the larger community. Miigwech, Antony Stately!

We will continue exploring the vaccine rollout through conversations in the coming weeks. If you have a question or a story to share, please send us an email: [email protected].

Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. Online at https://minnesotanativenews.org/

In this episode of Native Lights, we sit down with Vernon DeFoe, the Executive Chef at the Gatherings Café located inside the Minneapolis American Indian Center. Vernon, a proud Red Cliff Anishinaabe, has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry and is a passionate advocate for Indigenous food sovereignty. For the past decade, he's been deeply involved in the movement to reclaim traditional foodways.

Join us as Vernon shares the journey that led him to his current role, his favorite dishes to cook, and the importance of partnering with Indigenous food distributors to sustain authentic culinary practices.

We’ll also explore the unique kitchen setup at Gatherings Café, which enables them to prepare and serve delicious Native foods with a deep cultural connection. And for a twist, we dive into Vernon’s other passion—music—and talk about his band and how he finds harmony between his love for cooking and creating music.