The representation of Native Americans in media has historically often been inaccurate and inadequate, but recent years have seen an increase in Native voices and topics reflected in journalism. Media can be a powerful way to teach students and provide real-world examples for learning. How do you do it effectively?

In this episode, Allison sits down with journalism leader Shirley Sneve (Ponca Tribe) to discuss using news coverage as a resource in the classroom. Shirley is the vice president of broadcasting with ICT News (formerly Indian Country Today) and senior producer with IndiJ Public Media.

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

RESOURCES

ICT News website: https://ictnews.org/

Shirley Sneve’s writing for ICT News: https://ictnews.org/author/shirley-sneve

IndiJ Public Media website: https://indijpublicmedia.org/

Mankiller documentary: https://www.mankillerdoc.com/

PBS Learning Media: https://tpt.pbslearningmedia.org/

Sho-Ban News: http://shobannews.com/

Native News Online: https://nativenewsonline.net/

The Circle news: https://thecirclenews.org/

Native Roots Radio: https://www.am950radio.com/events/native-roots-radio/

Minnesota Native News: https://minnesotanativenews.org/

Red Lake Nation news: https://www.redlakenationnews.com/

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa newspaper: https://www.fdlband.org/community/media/fdl_newspaper.php

DeBahJiMon newspaper (from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe): https://www.llojibwe.org/news/news.html

Books are Good Medicine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine/featured

Books are Good Medicine website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/

In this special bonus episode, Allison catches up with her colleagues at the 2024 International Conference of the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums to hear what books by Native authors or about Native topics they recommend, and what titles they are hoping to read soon. They also share their advice for educators who want to better represent Native culture and issues in the classroom.

Featured guests include:

Cindy Hohl (Santee Sioux Nation), President of American Library Association

Vanessa 'Chacha' Centeno (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Sacramento Public Library Youth Services Librarian

Janice Rice (Ho-Chunk Nation), President of Ho-Chunk Library Board

Cassy Leeport (Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe), University of Wisconsin-Madison Library Manager

Sylvanus Paul (Diné, Ramah Navajo), National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)

Kanani Nunies (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), Oneida Nation Language and Culture Apprentice

Plus, listen to the end for a bonus interview with Olympic track and field gold medalist Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota) on his new picture book, “Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy.”

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

RESOURCES MENTIONED

“An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People” by Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza

"A History in Indigenous Voices: Menominee, Ho-Chunk, Oneida, Stockbridge, and Brothertown Interactions in the Removal Era” by Carol Cornelius

“Berry Song” by Michaela Goade

“Firekeeper’s Daughter” by Angeline Boulley

“Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story” by Kevin Noble Maillard

“Healer of the Water Monster” by Brian Young

“Monster Slayer: A Navajo Folktale” by Vee Browne

“#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women” edited by Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth Leatherdale

“The Real All Americans” by Sally Jenkins

“Turtle Island: The Story of North America's First People” by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger

“Warrior Girl Unearthed” by Angeline Boulley

“We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom

“Wisdom Weavers: Explore the Ojibwe Language and the Meaning of Dream Catchers” by James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw

“Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills” by Billy Mills

Odia and Allison sit down with Ojibwe writer and Minneapolis poet laureate Heid E. Erdrich. Heid is the city’s first-ever poet laureate, has written several books and taught writing for many years. She is the author of seven collections of poetry, the most recent of which is “Little Big Bully.” Heid has also curated exhibits, produced short films and installations, and spoken at many events. In this episode, she shares highlights about her work, what being a poet laureate means and her brand-new book “Verb Animate.”

GIVEAWAY

To enter for a chance to win one of five copies of “Verb Animate,” email us at [email protected] with the subject line, “Verb Animate giveaway” by December 18. We will randomly select five winners and notify them via email.

RESOURCES

Heid E. Erdrich’s website: https://heiderdrich.com/

Explore Heid’s books: https://heiderdrich.com/books/

“Little Big Bully”: https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/little-big-bully

“Verb Animate: Poetry and Prompts from Collaborative Acts”: https://www.triohousepress.org/heid-e-edrich

Loft Literary Center Poetry Apprenticeship: https://loft.org/year-long/year-long-poetry-apprenticeship-heid-e-erdrich

Minnesota Native American Lives Series: https://www.mnhum.org/program/minnesota-native-american-lives-series/

Birchbark Books: https://birchbarkbooks.com/

Books are Good Medicine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine/featured

Books are Good Medicine website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

Chris La Tray is a Métis storyteller, a descendent of the Pembina Band of the mighty Red River of the North and an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He is also a Montana poet laureate. His latest book, “Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home,” was published by Milkweed Editions in August 2024. In this episode, Odia visits Chris at Open Book in Minneapolis, where they talk about his life, family, writings and journey to learn about his Native heritage.

GIVEAWAY

To enter for a chance to win one of five signed copies of “Becoming Little Shell,” email us at [email protected] with the subject line, “Becoming Little Shell giveaway” by December 10. We will randomly select five winners and notify them via email.

RESOURCES

Chris La Tray’s website: https://www.chrislatray.com/

Chris La Tray’s Substack newsletter: https://chrislatray.substack.com/

“Becoming Little Shell”: https://milkweed.org/book/becoming-little-shell

Explore all of Chris La Tray’s books: https://www.chrislatray.com/books

Open Book in Minneapolis: https://openbookmn.org/

Books are Good Medicine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine/featured

Books are Good Medicine website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

“Looking For Smoke” is a young adult thriller that casts a light on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis and its impact on the lives of those affected by it. This is a serious issue in both the U.S. and Canada, where Native women are the victims of violent crime far more often than women of any other group. In this episode, Allison and Odia talk with author K.A. Cobell (Blackfeet Nation) about her debut novel, its complex characters and the importance of bringing ongoing awareness to the MMIW crisis.

Content warning: This book contains violence and other mature content.

GIVEAWAY

To enter for a chance to win one of five signed copies of “Looking For Smoke,” email us at [email protected] with the subject line, “Looking For Smoke giveaway” by December 3. We will randomly select five winners and notify them via email.

RESOURCES

K.A. Cobell’s website: https://kacobell.com/

Educators’ Guide to “Looking for Smoke”: https://kacobell.com/educators-guide

About the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis: https://kacobell.com/new-page

Native Hope: https://www.nativehope.org/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-mmiw

StrongHearts Native Helpline: https://strongheartshelpline.org/for-supporters#Donate

Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women: https://csvanw.org/about-us/

National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: https://www.niwrc.org/

Books are Good Medicine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine/featured

Books are Good Medicine website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

Ribbon skirts are unique and handmade, holding significant historical and traditional meaning for Indigenous women. These skirts are worn by Native women in many settings, including traditional ceremonies and other special events. In this episode, Allison and Odia talk with educator and seamstress Rachel King (Red Lake Nation) about the meaning and significance of ribbon skirts and how they play an important role in contemporary Indigenous expression.

GIVEAWAY

To enter for a chance to win one of five copies of the book “Stitches of Tradition,” email us at [email protected] with the subject line, “Stitches of Tradition giveaway” by November 25. We will randomly select five winners and notify them via email.

RESOURCES

Rachel’s Facebook page: Minogwaaso "She Sews Well": https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063706802788&sk=about

Here Now: Minnesota Museum of American Art: https://mmaa.org/here-now/

What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me: Deb Haaland's Historic Inauguration: https://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Ribbon-Skirt-Means/dp/031643003X

Stitches of Tradition (Gashkigwaaso Tradition): https://www.harpercollins.com/products/stitches-of-tradition-gashkigwaaso-tradition-marcie-rendon?variant=41477243994146

Heart Berry Bling: https://www.portageandmainpress.com/Books/H/Heart-Berry-Bling

Josie Dances: https://shop.mnhs.org/products/josie-dances?srsltid=AfmBOor3RZrhnD299wqVqG2d-U4mNDH6whNfOGKjVc9Z72FFOAdtbbkn

Jingle Dancer: https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/kidbooks/kids_index/jingle/

Books are Good Medicine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine/featured

Books are Good Medicine website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

The objects in the “We Move and We Stay” exhibition at the Science Museum of Minnesota tell of generations of Dakota and Ojibwe people who have made their home in this place now called Minnesota. In this Field Trip Spotlight episode, Pejuta Ḣaka Wiŋ Red Eagle, an anthropology fellow at the Science Museum, provides an overview of the exhibit and talks about field trip programming.

GIVEAWAY

To enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Science Museum of Minnesota, email us at [email protected] with the subject line, “Science Museum giveaway” by November 19. We will randomly select five winners and notify them via email.

RESOURCES

We Move and We Stay exhibit information: https://new.smm.org/exhibits-experiences/we-move-we-stay

We Move and We Stay Educator Guide: https://new.smm.org/educators/field-trips/guides/we-move-and-we-stay

Additional Science Museum resources for educators and field trip information: https://new.smm.org/educators

Science Museum's Indigenous Museum Access program: https://new.smm.org/museum-access

About the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act: https://www.bia.gov/service/nagpra

Books are Good Medicine website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/

Books are Good Medicine Instagram: www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine/featured

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

Want a creative way to teach Ojibwe culture and language? Make it a game!

Nashke Native Games creates board games, card games, and puzzles that are fun and engaging while giving players insight into Ojibwe language and culture. In this episode, Allison and Odia visit with founder Tony Drews about the company and his ideas for how educators can bring educational gameplay into the classroom.

GIVEAWAY

We have a prize pack of games and stationery to give away! To enter for a chance to win, please email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Nashke Native Games giveaway” by November 6. We will randomly select a winner and notify them via email.

RESOURCES

• Nashke Native Games website: https://www.nashke.com/

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

Travis Zimmerman is the site manager at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post and recently released his first children’s book, “How the Birds Got Their Songs.” In this episode, Allison and Odia talk with Travis about this traditional story – which is told in both English and Ojibwe – and other ways to explore Ojibwe history and culture.

To enter for a chance to win one of five signed copies of “How the Birds Got Their Songs,” email us at [email protected] with the subject line, “How the Birds Got Their Songs giveaway” by October 25. We will randomly select five winners and notify them via email.

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

This podcast is sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and produced by Goff Public. Our theme music is “Stomp Dance” by Bluedog.

RESOURCES

“How the Birds Got Their Songs”: https://shop.mnhs.org/products/how-the-birds-got-their-songs-bilingual-edition?_pos=1&_sid=1f76e9ca3&_ss=r

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post: https://www.mnhs.org/millelacs

Website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine

Instagram: www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

“Gardening is a ceremony,” says author Teresa Peterson in her new book, “Perennial Ceremony.” Through prose, poetry, illustrations and recipes, Teresa takes readers through the four Dakota seasons and shares the healing, reclamation and wholeness that connection with the Earth can bring. In this episode, Teresa welcomes Odia Wood-Krueger and special guest host Rebecca Crooks-Stratton to her home to talk about the book and share how it can be brought into the classroom.

BONUS: Watch the video version of this episode to get a virtual tour of Teresa’s garden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCbkp6-9spk&list=PLRKIEl0OAoj88Doe_-g_9eAJ8UwYcpdDq&index=6

GIVEAWAY: To enter for a chance to win one of five signed copies of “Perennial Ceremony,” email us at [email protected] with the subject line, “Perennial Ceremony giveaway” by October 7. We will randomly select five winners and notify them via email.

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

This podcast is sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and produced by Goff Public. Our theme music is “Stomp Dance” by Bluedog.

RESOURCES:

Food Sovereignty: https://www.pbs.org/video/food-sovereignty-bmsrco/

Video about the Indigenous Food Network: https://dreamofwildhealth.org/indigenous-food-network

Dream of Wild Health: https://dreamofwildhealth.org/

Here is a link to request the gardening curriculum mentioned: https://dreamofwildhealth.org/indigenous-food-network/youth-gardening-curriculum

Native American Food Sovereignty, Explained: https://www.pbs.org/video/native-american-food-sovereignty-explained-ma1n5b/

Website: www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine

Instagram: www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en