Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) is back exploring how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis.

On today’s show, Leah reflects on conversations about cultural medicines and viewing the pandemic and vaccinations through a lens of history and experience. 

We hear from Megan Schnitker (Lakota) who works with plant medicines. Megan learned about plant medicines from her grandmother. She shares perspectives about the year-long harvest cycle, the rise in interest in first medicines, and traditional reliance on plant medicines to get through hard times, including COVID.

We also hear from Briana Michels (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) who works for the American Indian Resource and Resiliency team out of the University of Minnesota extension. Briana leads workshops on healing from trauma, and connects historical and current traumas, like the pandemic and the killing of George Floyd, with vaccine hesitation, and what it takes to heal. 

Plus, Dr. Antony Stately recalls his first-hand experience becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, and how he recovered with the aid of medical care combined with traditional practices, prayer, and wisdom from elders.

And, Governor Walz and Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) both express hope for the future, tempered with caution and safety, as we move into the future with many more people receiving vaccines.

Many thanks to all of our guests, we appreciate your insights and perspectives. 

Learn about cultural medicines at Megan Schnitker’s website: https://www.lakotamade.com/

Listen to past COVID-19 Community Conversations here: https://minnesotanativenews.org/category/community-conversations/