Boozhoo! Join us for a fun conversation with Chef Benjamin Shendo (Cochiti and Jemez Pueblo), the Café Manager of Gatherings Café, at the American Indian Center in south Minneapolis.

When the pandemic hit, Benjamin and his team moved quickly to deliver daily meals to Native elders sheltering at home. Gatherings Café serves fresh, locally grown foods that are Indigenous and prepared in healthy ways. Way to go Chef Benjamin Shendo!

Greetings!  We are excited to catch up with renowned author, playwright and poet, Marcie Rendon (White Earth Nation) and we hear how she is using her time cooped up at home.  Spoiler alert: she’s been writing funny stories and planning her garden!  Enjoy this conversation with the insightful and creative Marcie Rendon.

We are happy to say Boozhoo! to our friend James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw today. James is the creator of “Ojibwe Word of the Day,” which he shares on Facebook and YouTube, and he is a leading voice in Native Language revitalization efforts and spiritual teachings.  James shares some Ojibwemowin that offers perspective and help for staying in balance during challenging times like this pandemic.

Boozhoo! Today we talk with RJ Dahl of Deer River (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) to find out how he is coping and thriving during the pandemic, with humor and connection. RJ works at the White Oak Casino, which has been temporarily shut down, so now he’s focused on homeschooling his four kids. RJ stays connected to his buddies through video games, which has been a great way to joke and lift each other’s spirits in these strange times.

Hello! Today we're catching up with our favorite Rez Reporter, Rob Fairbanks (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), to find out how the comedian and YouTube star is coping with the pandemic, and whether his homeschooling skills are a pass or a fail. Join us, your hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo, for a few minutes of conversation and laughs.

Biidaapi: s/he comes laughing. (Ojibwemowin)

Greetings! Today we’re honored to talk with Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Nation). Peggy Flanagan speaks about her daily duties as a state leader, the challenge of helping her first-grader with distance learning, as well as the deep loss felt by many families, including her own, during these times. We laugh over fashion choices during the pandemic. And Peggy shares how the online social distance powwow gives her a lift and a smile.

Greetings! Today we talk with Patina Park (Mnicoujou Lakota) the Director of Tribal State Relations for Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan.  As the top liaison between the state and Minnesota’s 11 Tribal Nations, Patina Park plays a key role in helping communities face the pandemic. She tells us what her days are like, and we hear how she and her family are coping during these difficult times.

Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo check-in with Tall Paul (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) an Anishinaabe and Oneida Hip-Hop artist.

Tall Paul calls in to talk about family life, staying safe and smart, and how to continue with a workout routine while in the comfort of his own home.

And, of course, we talk about creating music in times of uncertainty.

Greetings from Native Lights! Today we’re talking with Brenda Child who also happens to be - Auntie Brenda. She's married to our uncle - Steve Premo.

We talk with Brenda Child (Red Lake Nation) about the origin story of the Jingle Dress and how it relates to the 1918 Flu epidemic, and what the past can teach us about our current pandemic.

Dr. Brenda J. Child Ph.D. is the Northrop Professor of American Studies and American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota, and she helped curate the Jingle Dress exhibit at the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Museum. Child is the author of many books on American Indian History, and the wonderful children’s book: Bowwow Powwow.

Biidaapi: s/he comes laughing. (Ojibwemowin)

Greetings from Native Lights! Sometimes we just want to talk to a parent or elder during uncertain times, and today we chat with our dad, Bill (“Papi”) Premo (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe). Bill Premo lives at Owl Hoot Station –what he calls home --just Northeast of Hinckley with his dog Kek Kek, and is always full of advice and perspective. He’s an associate judge for District III for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and serves on the board for MLB Corporate Ventures.