Michael Migizi Sullivan Sr. is a lifelong student of the Ojibwe language, father, husband, ceremonial drum keeper of the Ojibwe, powwow emcee, up-and-coming storyteller, and teacher of the Ojibwe language. Dr. Sullivan earned his doctorate in linguistics at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, working under the tutelage of Larry Amik Smallwood as his main language consultant and Dr. John D. Nichols. Dr. Sullivan is the Faculty Director of Native American Studies at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College on his home reservation of Lac Courte Oreilles, where he teaches the intricacies of the Ojibwe language that he learned from Amik.

In today’s episode, we hear about Dr. Sullivan’s editing role in his new book release Plums or Nuts, a collection of Ojibwe stories of Anishinaabe Humor told by his friend and mentor the late Larry Amik Smallwood. We hear why Michael’s drive to work closely with the elders in his community became a pivotal moment that changed the trajectory of his career. Dr. Sullivan shares stories of how he continues to uplift his students inspiring them to set goals while navigating them through the immense pressures of learning the Ojibwe language. 

Fern Renville is a storyteller, artist, playwright, and enrolled citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. Fern lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she is currently investigating the role of nettle fiber in Dakota material culture as a Native Artist in Residence at the Minnesota Historical Society.

In this episode, Fern talks about weaving a stronger connection to this homeland not only through nettle fiber but through stories, knowledge, and the sharing of history. Fern expresses her passion for tapping into the deep layers of joy and love experienced by her ancestors on this land for centuries that were only recently covered by a layer of trauma. Fern believes this deeper exploration of her ancestral truth beyond colonization is not only powerful for her own journey but will help to intentionally bring restoration. 

Steven StandingCloud is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians located in northcentral Minnesota. Steven has been an artist most of his life and works under StandingCloud Graphics. He says the art forms that he creates are inherent to the Ojibwe and Lakota people.

Steven spoke with us about how he got his start in graphic design in the 1980s, what he wants his work to accomplish and how he is carrying Native American art into the future. For more on his art, visit standingcloudgraphics.com. 

Gabby Menomin is a citizen of the Forest County Potawtomi Community in northern Wisconsin. She’s currently the restoration manager for Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi. She oversees the ongoing ecological restoration of Wakan Tipi, which is a cave sacred to Dakota people, located in St. Paul along the Mississippi River. She graduated with a master’s degree in Tribal Natural Resource Management.

Gabby is focused on plant relatives and how climate change is impacting them. She is passionate about the environment and looking at how to center Indigenous voices, values, and knowledge in the stewardship of the land.

Melissa Blind is Cree from George Gordon's First Nation in Saskatchewan. She earned her PhD in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona.  Melissa has over a decade of experience working with Indigenous communities in Indigenous health and dementia research. 

As the current Senior Research Associate on the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team at the University of Minnesota, Duluth campus, Melissa is focused on collaborative research to improve dementia outcomes in Indigenous and rural communities. 

On today’s episode, Leah and Cole speak with Eileen Bass. Eileen is Hunkpapa Lakota, Mvskoke Creek, and a citizen of the Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma. She’s currently an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
 
In the summer of 2023, she was accepted into the Minnesota Historical Society’s Native American Undergraduate Museum Fellowship program. She is also part of the Dakota Language Nest at the university’s Child Development Laboratory School.
 
Eileen speaks about her passions at the intersection of Indigenous narratives, language revitalization, tribal histories, supporting Native youth and more.

Today, Leah and Cole speak with Thomas Draskovic, a citizen of the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota who is an educator, actor, musician, artist and activist. 

Thomas has worked in the Twin Cities Native community in both schools and nonprofits for over 20 years, and for the past 16 years he’s been at the American Indian Magnet School in East St. Paul as the Lakota Language and Cultural Specialist.

He shares with us how storytelling and authenticity are crucial in his approach to teaching. He also explains why his mother, a master linguist, inspires his passion for educating youth and his strength to “do something” out in the world. 
 

In addition to his work teaching, Thomas also plays guitar and sings in the band Pretendians, featured as part of a previous Native Lights episode. He talks with us more about the meaning behind the name and how it brings about discussion.

On today’s episode, Leah and Cole speak with Mathew Holding Eagle III, a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation – federally recognized as the Three Affiliated Tribes – in western North Dakota.

Mathew started his career in construction before pivoting to journalism! He now works at MPR News as a reporter. He’s covered Native communities in Minnesota for quite a bit and recently received a National Native Award from the Indigenous Journalist Association for his reporting.

He speaks with us about how he found his way to doing what he does, the philosophy behind his journalistic endeavors, and much more. 

Mathew received his bachelor’s in mass communication from Minnesota State University Moorhead and he worked as a producer on the 2015 PBS documentary “Black Gold Boom,” about the oil boom in western North Dakota.

On today's episode, Leah and Cole speak with Travis Zimmerman, whose family is from the Crane Clan of Grand Portage. He is the site manager for the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post.  Travis also hosted "DeCoded: Native Veterans In Minnesota Who Helped Win World War II," — produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers. 

Travis talks about his love for Native American history, specifically Ojibwe history and culture, and his path to the museum and trading post.  You can find out about the Mille Lacs Museum and Trading Post events here.

On today’s episode, Leah and Cole speak with Ernest Briggs (White Earth Nation), who is a director, writer, producer, teacher, and actor from the Twin Cities where he's worked in the theater community for 15+ years. He’s the artistic director of Turtle Theater Collective, a collective of Indigenous theater artists focused on telling Native stories.
 
Ernest recently made his Guthrie Theater debut in “For The People,” a Native comedy that’s based on the Minneapolis Native community. He speaks with us about the significance of play and how it wouldn’t have been possible without important collaboration with the community.
 
From recreating movie scenes with his brother to studying acting in Los Angeles, Ernest shares his journey as an actor and storyteller.
 
Ernest is also a member of the Guthrie Theater’s Native Advisory Council, which works to help decolonize spaces and open doors for Indigenous performers and creators
 
“For the People” runs from Oct. 7 through Nov. 12. You can find ticket information here.