In this 52-minute interview, I sit down with Mel Brooks, an elder in the Talowa Dee-ni' Nation, born in Requa at the mouth of the Klamath River. Mel shares his personal experiences growing up in Indian boarding schools, institutions where the U.S. government forced assimilation on Native children, stripping away their cultural heritage. This painful chapter in history contributed to the loss of traditional knowledge and culture among many Indigenous people.

We discuss what life was like for the Klamath River natives before colonization, and how the Gold Rush settlers, farmers, and loggers violently seized their lands, murdering native men by the hundreds. Mel, from a prominent family of headmen in Requa, shares insight into what it means to be a headman and the responsibilities that come with it. We end the conversation with some timeless elder wisdom that Mel graciously imparts.

Key Topics:

Mel Brooks' experience in Indian boarding schools

Forced assimilation and cultural loss Life for Klamath River natives before and after colonization

Gold Rush settlers and the violent seizure of native lands

The role of a headman in the Talowa Dee-ni' Nation

Elder wisdom shared by Mel Brooks