Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine

Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the COVID-19 health crisis. Today’s in-depth conversation looks at how Tribal leaders are deciding when and how to re-open businesses and assessing how to keep employees, patrons, and community members safe. Leah talks with Casino employee RJ Dahl. And MN Native News reporter Melissa Townsend talks with Joe Nayquonabe, CEO of Mille Lacs Band Corporate Ventures. MN Native News Special Edition: COVID-19 Community Conversations is supported by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health.

On this show, we find out how Native health care providers are expressing their values through their work during the Covid-19 pandemic

Samantha Nelson, a Health Unit Coordinator in Monticello who is working on a team conducting COVID-19 testing, joins Leah for the conversation.

MN Native News reporter Melissa Townsend goes in-depth with Dr. Mary Owen about her work with underrepresented medical students, and how inequities are built into systems of healthcare and beyond.

Dr. Mary Owen is a physician with the Fond du Lac tribe and is also Director of Indian and Minority Health at the University of Minnesota in Duluth.

And, our communities came together at the very intersection of George Floyd’s death, with the healing medicine of the jingle dress. Miiskogihmiiwan Poupart-Chapman shares why she was dancing.

Leah talks with Sharyl Whitehawk, who is Lac Courte de Oreilles Ojibwe, and an addiction counselor at the American Indian Family Center in Saint Paul. Sharyl shares how she keeps herself balanced and healthy, so she can be of service to others.

MN Native News reporter Melissa Townsend talks with Dennis Jones, a retired professor from the Department of Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota, who now works at the American Indian Family Center, performs traditional ceremonies and has a gift for healing. Dennis offers some cultural perspective the awakening we are going through right now.

Plus, drummer Chaz Wagner on adapting the Saagibagaa Powwow at Nett Lake, while keeping up social distancing.

And, a special message from Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe member and cultural advisor, Bobby Eagle.

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

Lung disease, cancer, and now complications due to COVID19 are a few of the many dangers that smoking cigarettes or using commercial tobacco causes. Today’s show looks at how Indian Country is helping our communities reduce commercial tobacco use.

Leah talks with Mille Lacs Band member Bobby Eagle, who is a cultural advisor for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Health and Human Services Department at Four Winds treatment center. And she talks with Madge Ducheneaux, who works at the Division of Indian work in the Youth Leadership Development Program

MN Native News reporter Melissa Townsend speaks with Sharon Day, an elder from the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe, and is the Executive Director of the Indigenous People’s Task Force in Minneapolis. The Indigenous Peoples Task Force has hosted programs to teach youth and adults about traditional tobacco and to help and support those wanting to quit commercial tobacco.

Hello! Today we talk with 13-year-old Xander Ripley-Jaakoa, an Anishinaabe youth from Cloquet, MN. Xander chats with us about how his school year ended up (and the joys and perils of distance learning), how he stays connected with friends (Discord app), and the very cool and hilarious music videos he and family have been making with their Isolation Band, including their song: Couch Potato!

Boozhoo!  We catch up with our friend Mike Laverdure (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota), a partner with DSGW Architects. Mike offers his perspective on how the pandemic will change building codes and designs long into the future.  And when Mike shares a story about his 3-year-old twin daughters, we laugh about the joys and woes of working from home, especially with children around.

Greetings! Today we talk with Louise Matson (White Earth Band of Ojibwe) the Executive Director of the Division of Indian Work and founding board member of Bdote Learning Center. Louise shares how she and her staff are working hard to support community members, by making remote connections and distributing pre-packed food supplies, even as they long for and miss the in-person gatherings.  

Boozhoo! We’re happy to connect with our friend Briand Morrison (Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), the renowned jazz guitar player (you can hear him and his music on Native Lights podcast S1 Ep2, check it out!). Briand has no public gigs right now, due to the pandemic, but he’s still making plenty of music and enjoying life with family at home

Biidaapi: s/he comes laughing. (Ojibwemowin)

Hello! Today we talk with Jenn Hall (Leech Lake), who is a brand-new Minneapolis firefighter!  Jenn gives us a glimpse into how she safely does her job, answers calls, responds to emergencies, and faces danger, even with the pandemic going on.  Jenn also shares how she stays grounded through quiet time, rest, watching Netflix, and talking on the phone with family and friends. 

Biidaapi: s/he comes laughing. (Ojibwemowin)

Greetings! On this day we check in with registered dietician Stacy Hammer (Bdewakantunwan Dakota).  Stacy is the Director of Community Health at the Lower Sioux Health Care Center.  When the pandemic hit, Stacy and her team swung into action to figure out how to provide health care and support, even as everything was shutting down.