In this moving and insightful episode of It’s More Than a House, host Scott Engmann sits down with Dr. Valeriah Big Eagle—Habitat homeowner, Bush Fellow, and community leader—to explore the journey from houselessness to homeownership and the transformative power of education, culture, and safe housing. Dr. Big Eagle shares her story of growing up on the Yankton Sioux Reservation, becoming the first in her family to attend college, and how her Habitat home in Rapid City helped lay the foundation for healing generational trauma.

Together, they discuss the unique housing challenges facing Indigenous communities, the importance of cultural identity in education, and the decolonizing work of organizations like Habitat for Humanity and NDN Collective. Dr. Big Eagle also offers powerful reflections on running for city council, embracing abundance while honoring traditional generosity, and finding strength through prayer and purpose.

This episode is a call to listen, learn, and build a more inclusive community—because as always, it’s more than a house.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.