Biidaapi: s/he comes laughing. (Ojibwemowin)

Greetings from Native Lights! Thanks for listening in. During this COVID-19 pandemic, when we’re encouraged to keep a greater distance from our community members, friends, and loved ones, it’s so important to keep our relationships strong. And that’s what we’re doing here on Native Lights: Biidaapi. To us, “biidaapi” (s/he comes or arrives laughing) reminds us to keep our spirits up through connection and conversations. So, join us as we hear from people in our communities as we share how the COVID-19 pandemic affects us at home.

Boozhoo everybody!

It’s a BONUS episode of Native Lights - We’re celebrating our first season with a LIVE show from the Minnesota State Fair!

The theme of Native Lights is to let people’s voices and stories shine, people who have found their purpose and a way to share their gifts with the community.

Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo speak with more fabulous guests who are shining bright:

1. Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan - Peggy Flanagan is a citizen of the White Earth Nation and only the second Native American woman to ever be elected to statewide executive office in U.S. history.

https://www.facebook.com/LtGovFlanagan/

2. Sarah Wheelock - Twin Cities Native Lacrosse

https://www.facebook.com/Twin-Cities-Native-Lacrosse-1488367821441753/

3. James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, creator of "Ojibwe Word of the Day"

http://www.jamesvukelich.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jamesvukelichkaagegaabaw/

4. Allison Waukau – Allison is Menominee and Navajo and is the new Community Liaison for the Hennepin County library on Franklin Ave in Minneapolis

https://www.facebook.com/allisonwaukau

5. Rhiana Yazzie, Navajo founder of Twin-Cities based New Native Theatre, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.  Rhiana talks about current production: Rez Sisters Play

https://www.facebook.com/newnativetheatre/

6. Leah Lemm performs her song "Anything" and Cole Premo performs an untitled original song.

Leah Lemm and Cole Premo are siblings, musicians and proud members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Both are contributors to Minnesota Native News.

The podcast “Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine” can be found at http://ampers.org/native-lights-podcast/

Native Lights podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse and radio for Minnesota’s communities. Made possible with funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.

Many Native people are dissatisfied with the media portrayal of Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.  In this episode, we hear from a Native reporter who is changing the very framework for how stories are told. A Native spokesperson talks about how she found her voice and her ability to speak for her community.  And a group of Native women talk about the barriers to reaching out to reporters and being heard.

Simone Senogles: Development Coordinator for The Indigenous Environmental Network, the Red Lake Nation.

Dr. Kate Beane, Scholar, historian, teacher and documentary filmmaker, Flandreau Santee Dakota and Muskogee Creek

Wab Kinew: Author, Journalist, TV and Radio host for CBC, Legislator, Manitoba Assembly, New Democratic Party) Pipe-carrier, activist, and hip-hop rapper (winner of Aboriginal Peoples’ Choice Music Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop CD), Ojibway of Onigaming First Nation

Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo also speak with MN Native News producer/reporter Melissa Townsend.

Theme Music: Cole Premo

Special Music:  Leah Lemm “Rebeginning”

Links:

https://www.ienearth.org/

https://www.visionmakermedia.org/films/ohiyesa

http://rpm.fm/artist/wab-kinew/

Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/

Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: [email protected]

In the era of #metoo and #timesup many Native women are making culturally specific, safe spaces for each other to heal from sexual violence. In this episode, Native women share their perspectives on healing and building resistance to a mainstream culture that seems to idle in the face of sexual violence against Native women.

Ikidowin Peer Education Program and Youth Theater Acting Ensemble presents a play called “Everything is a Circle,” written by Illusion Theater and  directed by Curtis Kirby III. Ojibwe Elder Sharon Day is the Executive Director of Ikidowin, a program of the Indigneous People's Task Force.

Jenny Miller: Program Executive with YMCA youth intervention services

Eileen Hudon: Activist, Ogichidakwe Council of Female Warriors, Elder, Anishinaabe

Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo also speak with MN Native News producer/reporter Laurie Stern.

Theme Music: Cole Premo

Special Music: Strong Woman Song, led by Eileen Hudon and healing drum circle at the Elders Lodge in St Paul

Links:

http://www.illusiontheater.org/ikidowin-s-everything-is-a-circle

http://indigenouspeoplestf.org/youth-education/

https://www.ymcamn.org/our_cause/how_we_help/help_kids_thrive/youth_intervention_services

https://womenspress.com/Content/Special-Issues/Changemakers/Article/2018-Changemaker-Eileen-Hudon/3/29/5588

Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/

Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: [email protected]

This show is about family — in all its different forms.  A lot of Native families have been disrupted one way or another by government sponsored genocide. But there have always been Native women and men working to repair that disruption. This episode features five amazing women doing this incredible work.

Heidi Grika: Mother, White Earth Band of Ojibwe

Jasmine Grika: Nokomis Circle liaison at Ain Dah Yung Center in St Paul, Cheyenne River Sioux and the Red Lake Nation

Lucy Favorite: Executive Director, American Indian Family and Children's Services

Shana King: Parent Advocate at the Indian Child Welfare Law Center in Minneapolis, Vice-Chair of the American Indian Family Services Center in St Paul, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation

Sandy White Hawk: Founder of Indian Orphans Association and First Nations Repatriation Institute, Sicungu Lakota, Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo also speak with MN Native News producer/reporter Laurie Stern.

Theme Music: Cole Premo

Special Music: Leah Lemm “Rocket Ship”

Links:

http://adycenter.org/staff/jasmine-grika

https://aifacs.org/

http://www.icwlc.org/about-the-indian-child-welfare-act-law-center/staff/

http://www.wearecominghome.com/

Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/

Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: [email protected]

In this episode the conversation turns toward themes of identity and how Indigenous artists find themselves communicating their identity in their art.

Briand Morrison: Guitarist, Musician, Composer, son of the late George Morrison, the well-known visual artist, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

Kayla Aubid: Writer, Lakota, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Waase Aubid: Painter, artist, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Hosted by Leah Lemm and Cole Premo

Theme Music: Cole Premo

Special Music: “Spark in an Endless Black” by Cole Premo

Links: Briand Morrison’s music: http://www.briandmorrison.com/

Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/

Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: [email protected]

All the stories in this first episode are about purpose: the idea that we’re all created to do something special. When you do it, you feel fulfilled, because you’re contributing your gifts to your community.  We hear from people who are living their purpose and inspiring others to do the same.

Rob Fairbanks: Comedian, Social Media Entertainer, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

Renee Gurneau: Teacher, Elder, the Red Lake Nation

Jody Beaulieu: Activist, Elder, the Red Lake Nation

Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo also speak with MN Native News producer/reporter Melissa Townsend.

Theme Music: Cole Premo

Special Music: “Earth” by Leah Lemm

Links:

Rob Fairbanks YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrkYVTbGG3bn2dEkrB4vDKg

Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/

Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: [email protected]