Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine

Native Lights – A Gift for Numbers with Daniel Lemm

Today’s conversation features Daniel Lemm (Lower Sioux Indian Community) who is the Chief Financial Officer at the Charles K. Blandin Foundation, in addition to being Leah’s spouse. Daniel Lemm shares how his love of numbers led to his career in philanthropy, helping get resources out into communities and in a good way. Daniel also speaks about working through loss, learning to proudly embrace his heritage, and the importance of support from others along his journey.

Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. Online at https://minnesotanativenews.org/

Native Lights is a weekly, half-hour radio program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce -- a.k.a. Minnesota -- to tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community.

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

In today’s conversation, Host Leah Lemm and Reporter Melissa Townsend reflect on how we’re helping one another get through the pandemic. Throughout the 22 weeks of this program, we have been moved and inspired by so many sharing their stories; people have risen above the challenges they've faced to care for themselves and their families, to keep our communities safe.

Throughout the pandemic, life still goes on. People celebrate holidays, birthdays, and new life. We all still need support, coping skills, and encouragement. Today we celebrate some of the people who share their gifts with community members to help others stay healthy.

We hear from Shashana Craft (White Earth Nation) who stays connected with new moms through the Minneapolis Indigenous Breastfeeding Support Circle, which she founded.

Kim Dickson (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) is the Learning Center Director at the Leech Lake Tribal College. Kim explains how she and other educators pull out all the stops to support students and their families so they can reach their educational goals.

And we enjoy hearing from 13-year-old Rizal Agaton Howes (Anishinaabe) and his mother Sarah Agaton Howes (Anishinaabe), who share how their family is approaching new ways of learning in response to changes brought on by the pandemic.

Plus, Reporter Melissa Townsend talks with Madonna Peltier Yawakie (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), who is the President of Turtle Island Communications, and we learn how Tribes confronting the digital divide are improving broadband services for community members across Indian Country.

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

Winter is coming! So, on today’s show Host Leah Lemm looks at how to stay physically and mentally active while continuing to keep our communities safe. 

Leah shares a fun conversation with Bill Premo (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) a retired elder who is also her dad. Bill Premo shares wisdom with a side of humor and offers his take on how to stay sharp and keep moving throughout the winter months.

Reporter Melissa Townsend talks with Mary LaGarde (White Earth Nation), who is the Executive Director of the Minneapolis American Indian Center. Mary LaGarde shares some of the many ways she and her team are supporting the health and connection of Urban Native communities, through limited in-person classes and online activities for families, youth, and elders.

Plus, Dani Johnson, a wellness physical therapist at The Mayo Clinic, offers some good suggestions for how people can squeeze in some exercise throughout their day without having to leave their desks.  Check out Dani’s "5 Fabulous Exercises" on the Mayo Clinic News Network here: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-5-exercises-you-can-do-without-leaving-your-desk/.

How Leech Lake Schools Support Students Through Pandemic’s Constant Change 

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

Today on the show, Host Leah Lemm looks at how schools are supporting their students under seemingly constantly changing conditions, especially given how internet access has been crucial for distance education for learners and educators of all ages.

Leah checks in Kim Dickson (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) the Learning Center Director at the Leech Lake Tribal College. Kim shares how schools on Leech Lake are supporting their students, especially when it comes to internet connectivity and distance learning.

Reporter Melissa Townsend talks with Dan McKeon, the School Director at the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School in Bena, MN, on Leech Lake as well. Dan shares how the Leech Lake reservation school is meeting the challenge for its 220 students from 115 households in an area of rural northern Minnesota where there are spots with absolutely no internet access.

Plus, the 2020 National Tribal Broadband Summit took place in late September. We hear from summit speaker Joni Buffalohead of Indigenous Pact, who highlighted the inequities in internet access and the wide-reaching effect that has in Indian Country.  You can hear all the National Tribal Broadband Summit speakers on the in U.S. Indian Affairs’ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bia4432.

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

Today on the show, Host Leah Lemm hears what’s on the minds of Native youth in Minnesota.

Leah chats with Caley Coyne (Athabaskan and Yup’ik) a 10th grader from Saint Paul.  Caley shares her reflections on distance learning, missing powwows, racial justice, and new hobbies.

Reporter Melissa Townsend talks with 13-year-old Rizal Agaton Howes (Anishinaabe), who lives on the Fond du Lac reservation with his family. Rizal and his family are participating in unschooling, and he shares how that is going and what he misses most, since COVID came to Minnesota.

It was back in March, when Governor Tim Walz announced that schools would close.  Since then, school officials, teachers, and parents have grappled with so many considerations like IEP plans, mental health support and nutrition services, and basic instructional materials. We have talked quite a bit on those topics on this program. Today we turn to young people to find out what is most important to them during this time.

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

Today on the show, Host Leah Lemm explores the question: what have we learned? As we cross the six-month milestone of this pandemic. We hear from two Minnesota Leaders about some of the topics the pandemic has brought to the surface, including health inequities, injustice, and the resiliency of our communities.

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Nation) speaks with Leah about her time in office, what it takes to lead through a major health crisis, the importance of the Native Vote, and her reflections on Justice Ginsburg’s legacy.

Reporter Melissa Townsend shares her conversation with Patina Park (Mnicoujou Lakota), the Director of Tribal State Relations for the Walz Flanagan administration, and we learn more about the partnership between the tribes and state during these challenging times.

Plus, a timeless message from the nonpartisan campaign called Native Vote, initiated from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) about the history of overcoming barriers to voting for Native peoples in the United States.

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

On this show, Host Leah Lemm celebrates what the earth provides in the way of food and medicines grown and harvested throughout the year, and how this connects to our health and well-being.

Leah’s guests work closely with the land to help provide for our communities’ food and health needs. Megan Schnitker (Lakota) speaks about the year-long harvest cycle, the rise in interest in first medicines, and the care that goes into harvesting them. Matt Smaus is the agriculture supervisor of the Wozupi Tribal Gardens, which is owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

Reporter Melissa Townsend shares her conversation with story-teller Hope Flanagan (Seneca) who is the Community outreach and Cultural Teacher at the Dream of Wild Health Farm in Hugo, MN.

And, Chaz Wagner (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa) reflects on the joys of harvesting wild rice, as the season winds down.

Mahkato Revitalization Project website: www.mahkatorevitalizationproject.org.

Wozupi Tribals Gardens website: www.wozupi.com.

Dream of Wild Health website: www.dreamofwildhealth.org.

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

On this show, Host Leah Lemm reflects on the moments of beauty during challenging times. Leah is joined by reporter Melissa Townsend and together they review and reflect on some of their inspiring conversations with community members. 

Minnesota Native News launched several programs in response to the pandemic in addition to this one, including Native Lights: Biidaapi, a podcast hosted by Leah Lemm and her brother Cole Premo. And in the last six months, we've learned so much from Native voices in MN.

Some of the voices highlighted in this show include James Vukelich (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), Maggie Thomspon (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Rafael Gonzalez - a.k.a.Tufawon - (Dakota, Boricua), Dr. Shelbie Shelder (Little River Band of Ottawa Indians), Susan Beaulieu (Red Lake Nation), and Patina Park (Mnicoujou Lakota).

We hear how people are connecting with one another, how they're recognizing and working to resist injustice and inequities, and how they've learned to cope with the shared trauma of the pandemic.  

A big thank you to all who have shared their stories and reflections.

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

On today’s show, how two different musicians find creative ways to make and share their music, even as the pandemic continues.

Leah visits with Annie Humphrey, an Anishinaabekwe mother, grandmother, and an award-winning musician who’s been a presence on the music scene for decades. Annie tells Leah how she is enjoying her time outdoors, playing board games with family, and what inspires her songwriting. And she shares some unreleased lyrics that she’s working on, much to Leah’s delight.

We also hear from Rafael Gonzalez, also known as Tufawon, a hip-hop artist who is Dakota and Boricua, and grew up in South Minneapolis. Reporter Melissa Townsend talks with Tufawon about his music, his work for justice, and how changes brought on by the pandemic have pushed him to innovate and find new ways to bring his music to new listeners, something he says is definitely a silver lining.

Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis.

On today’s show, Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) looks at how parents and families are grappling with the challenge of heading back-to-school as the pandemic continues.

Reporter Melissa Townsend spoke with three different parents about how they are gearing up for the school year and making decisions that best meet the needs of their school-age children.

We hear from Ryan Dixon (Oglala Sioux Tribe) who lives in Lower Sioux Indian Community and is a Dakota language teacher. Ryan Dixon has three children – a college freshman, a 9th grader, and a 7th grader. Ryan teaches in two high schools and the tribal immersion program.

We also hear from Susan Beaulieu (Red Lake Nation) who lives in Brainerd, MN. She has 4 kids, ages 21, 10, 6, and 2 years old.  Susan Beaulieu works for the UMN Extension with Mille Lacs and Fond du Lac on opioid abuse prevention and treatment, and her husband works outside the home.

And we hear from Sheila Lamb (Eastern Cherokee and White Earth Ojibwe) who lives in Cloquet near Fond du Lac. Sheila Lamb has two daughters – a high school junior and senior, and her youngest is on the autism spectrum so she’s been homeschooling for about a year with an IEP. Sheila works at Lifehouse with vulnerable youth who have been trafficked and she has been working from home since the start of the pandemic with a flexible work schedule.