By Indigenae Podcast
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The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.
On the final episode of Indigenae, cultural practitioners Kathy McCovey and Lisa Hillman teach us about Indigenous stewardship and the sacred connection between land and our physical, spiritual, and mental wellbeing.
Kathy McCovey, is a fourth-generation forester, archeologist, and Cultural Resource Specialist. She has dedicated her life to revitalizing traditional land management practices in the Karuk homelands, what is now known as Northern California.
Lisa Hillman is a renowned Karuk basketweaver - an art form that has been passed from generation to generation since time immemorial. Lisa is the founder of the Tribe’s Píkyav Field Institute, which aims to augment long-term eco-cultural revitalization for the Tribe.
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Cari Herthel, Vice Chair of the Esselen Tribe, reckons with the complex and intergenerational trauma caused by human trafficking. As a survivor, Cari offers personal reflection, deep truths, and authenticity to connect with others and raise awareness for protecting our relatives; By experiencing and continuing ancestral practices —“I now know that it is a connection to my culture, it is a connection to my value, that allows me to regulate my unhealed trauma.”
Cari is a member of the Esselen and Rumsen Ohlone Tribes of Monterey County. Cari is a survivor leader, speaker consultant, resource specialist and engaged coalition partner based in Monterey County, California.
Following her own recovery from sexual exploitation, Cari has worked for 27 years as a Recovery Resource Specialist in the areas of trauma, drugs and alcohol. Her trainings go beyond trauma into complex intergenerational and traditional trauma. Due to her personal experience and as a child of the California welfare system, she focuses on issues concerning the welfare of children. California agencies seek her advice and consultancy to create Native American policies and procedures for children around education and prevention of sex trafficking.
She is on the advisory leadership council of the Sovereign Bodies Institute.
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Resources:
National Human Trafficking Hotline : 1 (888) 373-7888, SMS: 233733 (Text "HELP" or "INFO"), Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week. Languages: English, Spanish and 200 more languages. Website: http://humantraffickinghotline.org
Recognizing signs of trafficking: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs
Sovereign Bodies Institute
CSEC definition
Combating Trafficking : Native Youth Toolkit (Administration for Children and Families)
Human Trafficking Resource Guide (Center for Native American Youth)
Sex Trafficking Resources (National Indigenous Womens Resource Center)
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
On Episode 20 of Indigenae, hosts Olivia Trujillo (Navajo), Sarah Stern (Cherokee), and Dr. Sophie Neuner (Karuk) share how this collection of stories came into being, what inspired the project, and lessons learned along the way.
About Indigenae: https://caih.jhu.edu/programs/indigenae-podcast
Check out some of the podcasts that inspire us:
This Land: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/this-land/
All My Relations: https://www.allmyrelationspodcast.com/
Well For Culture: https://www.wellforculture.com/
The Red Nation: https://therednation.org/
Center for Indigenous Midwifery Podcast: https://www.indigenous-midwifery.org/podcast
Natal: https://www.natalstories.com/listen
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Birdie Lyons, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, was seven years old when she was taken away from her family. Not long after, she escaped from boarding school to return to her community and grow up immersed in Ojibwe culture. During the ceremonies to mark her First and Final Moons, Birdie received assignments and teachings that have guided her on her path to becoming a cultural practitioner, a matriarch, and a community leader. In this episode of Indigenae, Birdie shares teachings she learned throughout her life: about honoring ourselves, each other, and the gifts and responsibilities bestowed on every one of us.
Birdie Lyons has been a practical nurse for 38 years. She has served as a Headstart nurse, W.I.C. Director, Clinic Manager, LPN Float nurse, and a community educator. Alongside her Supervisor and the Education Director, Birdie started the Leech Lake Band of Public Health Nursing program. She also worked with the Indian Health Services prior to returning to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe W.I.C. program at the Chairman’s request. In 1998, Birdie became the manager of six clinics located throughout the reservation. She then worked as the Administrative Lead Nurse for the Archdeacon Gillfilan Center, where she helped the facility to learn and use Native American traditions and values to help heal the youth. Birdie returned to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in 2009, where she currently works as Public Health LPN. She also serves as Program Supervisor for Family Spirit, a home visiting program that supports young families.
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
In part two of our series on Two-Spirit wellbeing, we continue our conversation with Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth, who is a Diné and Laotian PhD student in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University. We dive into a discussion about Two-Spirit Autonomy, and sex and pleasure outside hetero norms. Souksavanh shares how experiencing pleasure can be an expression of sovereignty.
Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth, Diné/Laotian (they, them, theirs) is a Ph.D. student at Oregon State University in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program with a minor in Queer Studies and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. Souksavanh is also a Cotutelle student where they are a Ph.D. Candidate at Macquarie University in Indigenous Studies. Prior to Oregon State University, they received a dual bachelors and masters at the University of Arizona in Sustainable Built Environments and American Indian Studies. Their concentrated area of research is on Indigenous urban experience, Two-Spirit wellbeing, Relocation Act of 1950, Native and Queer urbanization, BIPOC Masculinities, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit in urban areas.
Resources:
Andrew Jolivette on Thrivance https://ethnicstudies.ucsd.edu/people/jolivette.html
Qwo Li Driskill on Sovereign Erotics https://uapress.arizona.edu/book/sovereign-erotics
Leean Simpson on Body Sovereignty - “As we have always done - How to build Indigenous resistance movements that refuse the destructive thinking of settler colonialism” https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/as-we-have-always-done
Connect with Souksavanh:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souksavanh.t.keovorabouth/
Learn more about their work: https://linktr.ee/Souksavanh.T.Keovorabouth
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
On this of Indigenae, we move beyond gender binaries to explore the topics of Two Spirit identity, the sacredness of fluidity, and restoring balance. Joining us is Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth, a Diné and Laotian PhD student at Oregon State University, where they study Two-Spirit wellbeing, Native and Queer urbanization, BIPOC Masculinities, and MMIWG2S. “We can live in a limitless world”, believes Souksavanh - outside the confines of settler colonialism.
Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth, Diné/Laotian (they, them, theirs) is a Ph.D. student at Oregon State University in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program with a minor in Queer Studies and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. Souksavanh is also a Cotutelle student where they are a Ph.D. Candidate at Macquarie University in Indigenous Studies. Prior to Oregon State University, they received a dual bachelors and masters at the University of Arizona in Sustainable Built Environments and American Indian Studies. Their concentrated area of research is on Indigenous urban experience, Two-Spirit wellbeing, Relocation Act of 1950, Native and Queer urbanization, BIPOC Masculinities, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit in urban areas.
Email: [email protected]
IG: Souksavanh.T.Keovorabouth
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Navajo Elder Phyllis Smith is an educator, breast cancer survivor, and patient advocate. Phyllis explains how her medical team, family support, and healthy dose humor helped her heal from cancer. “To see me here tells you that cancer, you can beat it. There’s all different ways, it depends on yourself. You’ve got to be determined, you’ve got to set yourself forward, you’ve got to plan ahead. [...] there’s always somebody out there, nowadays, who can help you”. She is joined by her son Tyson King, who has supported her in every step of her journey.
Phyllis E. Smith, Dine, grew up in the hogbacks of Rehoboth New Mexico, herding sheep, practicing her Navajo culture, and is the daughter of the late Red Smith and Johanna Haskeltsie. Phyllis graduated from Gallup High school and began working at Wingate High School. Phyllis was employed with the BIA/BIE for 25 years and retired in 2006 when she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. After undergoing intense Chemotherapy and Radiation treatment at the UNM Cancer Center in Albuquerque New Mexico, she returned to the Gallup area and became actively involved with many organizations, including the Eastern Agency Council of Aging, and the Wingate Elementary School Board association both of which she held office for. Phyllis returned to education and received her AA in Elementary education and her BA in Elementary Education with emphasis on Native Native American Studies, and returned to work for the Navajo Nation Head start program. Phyllis again retired from her duties as a Pre-school teacher having served in the Pinedale NM, Churchrock NM and Chichiltah/Jones Ranch NM areas. She remains actively involved with the American Cancer Society, the NM Cancer Center support services, The NN Eastern Agency Council of Aging, The NN Foster Grandparent Program, and is very active in her local Senior centers. Phyllis is the mother of three beautiful children Michelle Martin, Travis King, and Tyson King. Phyllis is KinYaa’aanii, (Towering House), born for Tsi’naajinii (Black Streek Wood People), her Cheii’s are Nakai Dine, (Mexican), and her Nali’s are Bil’agana, (Anglo). Her passions are arts and crafts, her love for crocheting and sewing is unwavering and you can always find her with a basket full of yarn and crochet hooks whenever you see her out and about.
Resources:
New Mexico Cancer Center Gallup
Relay For Life - American Cancer Society
Indian Health Services: Find Health Care
American Indian Cancer Foundation
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Dr. Jenny Richards, an Assistant Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health, shares how Indigenous strengths-based research counters harmful narratives around coming of age, menstruation, and toxic masculinity. “Reinforcing how much social support we have in our culture, in our ceremonies, in the way we raise our children [...] is protective in and of itself”.
Jennifer Richards, PhD, MPH (Diné/Lakota/Taos) is an Assistant Scientist with the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. Since 2013, Dr. Richards has led various family and child health (FCH) initiatives, including early childhood home visiting, maternal and infant health surveillance, teen pregnancy prevention, preconception health promotion, and fatherhood empowerment. Dr. Richards’ research interests also include the role of Indigenous doulas in preventing maternal mortality and improving birth outcomes in tribal communities. Jennifer obtained both her MPH in Maternal and Child Health (2008) and Ph.D. in Health Behavior Health Promotion (2020) from the University of Arizona.
Resources:
Center for American Indian Health
The Asdzáán Be’eena’ (Female Pathways Program)
Respecting the Circle of Life Curriculum
Azhe’é Bidziil (Strong Fathers Program)
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Taos Pueblo Doula Aspen Mirabal joins us for a conversation about birth equity, decolonizing birthing spaces, and supporting our birthing relatives. She shares her journey in birth work and talks about the unique role of doulas in re-matriating cultural traditions and ancestral birthing practices.
Aspen Mirabal is the eldest of three daughters from Taos Pueblo. Aspen currently resides in Taos, but spends most of her days on the Pueblo. Professionally, Aspen is a trained and certified birth keeper for Northern New Mexico, serving Native and non-Native families as a community-based doula. Aspen is a student midwife with the desire to provide access to Indigenous midwifery care while reintroducing the ritualistic customs of full-spectrum birth work to her community of Taos Pueblo. You may find Aspen working as a Family Support Specialist with Tiwa Babies Home Visiting Program, serving all of Taos County Monday through Friday, or after hours representing the New Mexico Doula Association— or of course, at a birth.
Resources:
Tewa Women United: https://tewawomenunited.org/
Yiya-vi-kagingdi Doula-Project: https://tewawomenunited.org/yiya-vi-kagingdi-doula-project
Changing Woman Initiative: http://www.changingwomaninitiative.com/
Center for Indigenous Midwifery: https://www.indigenous-midwifery.org/
Tiwa Babies Home Visiting Program: https://www.taosnews.com/news/tiwa-babies-home-visiting-program-empowers-young-taos-families/article_f1348ca9-9cda-5b71-ba1e-409ef0e30b23.html
Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective Live with Indigenous Lactation Consultants Camie Jae Goldhammer and Kim Moore-Salas: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=227110242524474&id=104293154
Taos Chapter of the New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force: https://breastfeedingnm.org/taos/
National Native Children’s Trauma Center: https://www.nnctc.org/contact
Interested in Midwifery and Birthwork? Reach out to Aspen: [email protected]
Instagram: @milk.earth.blood
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Dr. Amanda Bruegl, a member of the Stockbridge and Oneida Nations, shares why cancer screening and cancer prevention are so important for our Native peoples, and how providers can be more sensitive to our unique cultural needs. She explains how to advocate for yourself and your body during visits with a health provider: “Bring a friend, bring your auntie, bring someone to a visit. If you need someone to hold your hand, that’s ok.”
Amanda Bruegl, MD, MS, Oneida/Stockbridge-Munsee Nations, is the Associate Director of the Education Core in the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence and Associate Professor of Gynecologic Oncology. Dr. Bruegl grew up in Wisconsin and went to medical school at University of Washington. She originally thought she wanted to be a Family Medicine Physician and work for her tribe. During clinical rotations, she fell in love with Women’s Health and matched to an OB/Gyn residency at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. After residency, she extended her training and pursued a fellowship in gynecologic oncology. She has been at OHSU for the past 6 years and has devoted her early career to providing specialty care to AI/AN women, mentoring AI/AN learners, and pursuing a research career focusing on gynecologic cancer prevention in AI/AN women.”
Resources:
For more information on cancers:
Mayo Clinic
For Native peoples seeking cancer care:
Indian Health Services: Find Health Care
American Indian Cancer Foundation
For Cervical cancer survivors:
Cervivor Facebook Page
For Natives interested in the health professions:
Northwest Native Center for Excellence
We Are Healers
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.