On The Land

New Series Alert!

Been wondering what we've been cooking up during those long periods of silence?

The Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat and On The Land in collaboration with the Permanent Participant Youth Network and the Permanent Participants, brings you a new podcast series. Our Arctic Presence features the story of how the Arctic Council Permanent Participant organizations came to be and coordinate across international Arctic borders. If you are from the Arctic and wonder how Indigenous issues are advocated for, this is the podcast for you. Join us as we hear Indigenous Youth speak to their Permanent Participants’ history and interview leaders.

The Arctic. It has always held its allure. Often known as the “Last Frontier,” the tundra and taiga that defines the topmost part of the northern hemisphere has been the subject of many an explorer’s daydream. This place, this frozen expanse technically known as a “desert” due to the low levels of precipitation that fall each year, is also known as home.

For millennia, the Arctic has been home to the Indigenous Peoples of the North. From Sápmi to Inuit Nunat, Gwichyaa Zhee’ to Denendeh, Tanax to Yakutia, stories ring from these lands. Though the Peoples have always been meeting and engaged in trade and ceremony with one another, Arctic cooperation was strengthened 25 years ago when the Indigenous Peoples joined the Arctic States of Iceland, Finland, Sweden, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Denmark, The United States of America, Norway, and Canada in forming the Arctic Council.
This is our Story.

Episode 1 dropping today Saturday, December 18th, speaks to the story of how the Permanent Participant organizations were developed and became involved with the Arctic Council.


Credits
Published and produced by: The Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat and On The Land Media – a multimedia organism created to center Indigenous voices and our relationships to the land and water.

In Collaboration with: Arctic Athabaskan Council, Aleut International Association, Gwich’in Council International, Inuit Circumpolar Council, Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Saami Council, the Permanent Participant Youth Network.

Sponsored by: The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Cover art by : Halux Markings by Dustin Newman, Aleut International Association Youth Representative. Follow @haluxmarkings for more.

Theme Music:
Maani Nunamteni by Uqill’aq Byron Nicholai @byronnicholai
Juniper by Nagamo Productions

This project was undertaken as an approved project of the Permanent Participant Youth Network. The podcast and written content was prepared by the project team and do not necessarily reflect the policy or positions of any Arctic State, Permanent Participant, or Observer of the Arctic Council.

Waqaa! And welcome to an On The Land Mini Series featuring Indigenous Youth Voices!

Lemau Bantatua is from Norvik, and created a podcast about Iñupiaq fur sewing based upon an interview with her Ana (Grandma).

In spring of 2021, we teamed up with the Alaska Humanities Forum, See Stories, and Bitanga Productions to host a month-long podcasting workshop with a small group of middle and high school students across western Alaskan villages.

Students had the opportunity to create their own 5-15 minute episode featuring interviews with their family, friends, and their teachers.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Alaska Humanities Forum
https://www.akhf.org/

Bitanga Productions
https://www.bitangaproductions.com/

See Stories
https://www.seestoriesalaska.org/

On The Land Media
ontheland.org

Coffee & Quaq
https://www.coffeeandquaq.com/

Native Time: Village City
https://www.nativetimeak.com/

The music for this episode was provided by Epidemic Sound
featuring the song Glimmer by AGST

Waqaa! And welcome to an On The Land Mini Series featuring Indigenous Youth Voices!

Jessica Chingliak is from Goodnews Bay, and created a podcast about teaching in Goodnews Bay based upon an interview with her English / Language Arts Teacher.

In spring of 2021, we teamed up with the Alaska Humanities Forum, See Stories, and Bitanga Productions to host a month-long podcasting workshop with a small group of middle and high school students across western Alaskan villages.

Students had the opportunity to create their own 5-15 minute episode featuring interviews with their family, friends, and their teachers.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Alaska Humanities Forum
https://www.akhf.org/

Bitanga Productions
https://www.bitangaproductions.com/

See Stories
https://www.seestoriesalaska.org/

On The Land Media
ontheland.org

Coffee & Quaq
https://www.coffeeandquaq.com/

Native Time: Village City
https://www.nativetimeak.com/

The music for this episode was provided by Epidemic Sound
featuring the song Glimmer by AGST

Waqaa! And welcome to an On The Land Mini Series featuring Indigenous Youth Voices!

Today’s episode features Arthur Hanna. Arthur is from Bethel, and created a podcast documenting the ice road on the Kuskokwim river from his own perspective and from an Elder’s perspective.

In spring of 2021, we teamed up with the Alaska Humanities Forum, See Stories, and Bitanga Productions to host a month-long podcasting workshop with a small group of middle and high school students across western Alaskan villages.

Students had the opportunity to create their own 5-15 minute episode featuring interviews with their family, friends, and their teachers.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Alaska Humanities Forum
https://www.akhf.org/

Bitanga Productions
https://www.bitangaproductions.com/

See Stories
https://www.seestoriesalaska.org/

On The Land Media
ontheland.org

Coffee & Quaq
https://www.coffeeandquaq.com/

Native Time: Village City
https://www.nativetimeak.com/

The music for this episode was provided by Epidemic Sound
featuring the song Glimmer by AGST

Waqaa! And welcome to an On The Land Mini Series featuring Indigenous Youth Voices!

Today we feature Alfred Barr's episode. Alfred is from Deering, and celebrates his Mom's home cooking and catering business in his podcast.

In spring of 2021, we teamed up with the Alaska Humanities Forum, See Stories, and Bitanga Productions to host a month-long podcasting workshop with a small group of middle and high school students across western Alaskan villages.

Students had the opportunity to create their own 5-15 minute episode featuring interviews with their family, friends, and their teachers.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Alaska Humanities Forum
https://www.akhf.org/

Bitanga Productions
https://www.bitangaproductions.com/

See Stories
https://www.seestoriesalaska.org/

On The Land Media
ontheland.org

Coffee & Quaq
https://www.coffeeandquaq.com/

Native Time: Village City
https://www.nativetimeak.com/

The music for this episode was provided by Epidemic Sound
featuring the song Glimmer by AGST

Waqaa! And welcome to an On The Land Mini Series featuring Indigenous Youth Voices!

In spring of 2021, we teamed up with the Alaska Humanities Forum, See Stories, and Bitanga Productions to host a month-long podcasting workshop with a small group of middle and high school students across western Alaskan villages.

Students had the opportunity to create their own 5-15 minute episode featuring interviews with their family, friends, and their teachers.

First up is Rozlynn Dock from Akiak!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Alaska Humanities Forum
https://www.akhf.org/

Bitanga Productions
https://www.bitangaproductions.com/

See Stories
https://www.seestoriesalaska.org/

On The Land Media
ontheland.org

Coffee & Quaq
https://www.coffeeandquaq.com/

Native Time: Village City
https://www.nativetimeak.com/

The music for this episode was provided by Epidemic Sound
featuring the song Glimmer by AGST

It is that time here in Alaska. People along the road system, river beds, tundra, mountains and cities are preparing and heading out for the fall big game hunt. Excitement stirs in the air as whisperings of moose and caribou float on the wind. Hopes for filled freezers weigh heavy on the mind. In this episode community leader, scholar, and activist Eva Dawn Burk and I discuss the right to hunt for moose, being asked to show up as a leader for ones community, and the politics of the Alaska Board of Game.

More about Eva's projects:

Rock Crossing Consulting
https://rock-crossing-consulting.business.site/#summary

High Country News:
"Will a Native-led initiative spur an agricultural revolution in rural Alaska?"
By Max Graham
https://www.hcn.org/issues/53.6/indigenous-affairs-agriculture-will-a-native-led-initiative-spur-an-agricultural-revolution-in-rural-alaska

MIT Solve Challenge: Food From Fire
https://solve.mit.edu/challenges/2020-indigenous-communities-fellowship/solutions/25846

Mentioned in this episode -

Alaska Just Transition Coalition : justtransitionak.org

Singing Nettle Farm: http://www.singingnettle.farm/

Become an OTL Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/ontheland

Welcome back to the second part of our conversation with Àslat Holmberg and Beaska Niillas of SuperSàpmi. In this half we discuss the importance of fish to our communities, tackle some of the conversation around green colonialism and yes, touch on reconciliation.

This conversation was recorded in the spring of 2020 pre-COVID in Sápmi on the banks of the Deatnu River and on Pueblo Lands in Dixson, New Mexico.

The Storytellers
“In Sápmi there are not many platforms where we can dive real deep in to our own issues and discussions. So sometimes it can be challenging to present and talk about them in-depth in a proper and interesting way.

With this podcast we will try to build a place of meaningful discussion on issues important for the Sámi future and the strengthening of ourselves. One main rule and basis of our conversations is decolonization and we will try to indigenize both ourselves and others in the creation of the podcast.

Thru conversation, exploration and storytelling we will seek to raise awareness in our society and try to find the right paths int o the future.” - ČSV! (SuperSápmi)

Check out SuperSápmi
www.supersapmi.com

IG
Beaska Niillas @beaskaniillas
Áslat Holmberg @deanuaslat

The Music
Caujahat Mu, the music for this episode was gifted by Joik artist Hildá Länsman from Utsjoki and musician & Helsinki-based sound designer Tuomas Norvio. They were asked to perform together in a festival club during contemporary theatre festival Baltic Circle 2017 in Helsinki. As it immediately clicked between the artists they decided to continue searching for their common ground. Based on improvisational soundscapes and interspaces formed by echoes and rhythms, Hilda’s ethereally buzzing, growling and pealing voice meets Norvio’s thick and sampled electronic beats.

More of Hildá Länsman
https://www.hildalansman.com/about
IG @hildalansman

More of Tuomas Norvio:
http://tuomasnorvio.net

Additional music was provided by Bedtracks Storytellers
https://www.bedtracks.com/storytellers


References and Resources

Papers
-Homberg, Aslat. Bivdit Luosa – To Ask for Salmon Saami Traditional Knowledge on Salmon and the River Deatnu: In Research and Decision-Making
https://munin.uit.no/bitstream/handle/10037/12868/thesis.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

-Colt, Steve. Salmon Fish Traps in Alaska: An Economic History Perspective
http://www.alaskool.org/projects/traditionalife/fishtrap/FISHTRAP.htm

Articles
-The Barents Observer Local people demand full self-determination over the Teno river system
https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/life-and-public/2017/07/local-protesters-demand-full-self-determination-over-teno-river-system

-Cultural Survival Quarterly Magazine We Don’t Let the Border Stop Us: Aslak Holmberg
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/we-dont-let-border-stop-us-aslak-holmberg

Video

-350 : Climate justice in Sápmi: Áslat Holmberg, Fisherman & Politician
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLqx7hYhghs

In this episode, Deenaalee visits with Áslat Holmberg and Beaska Niillas of SuperSápmi Podcast. During this first part they discuss fishing rights and the impacts of climate change on northern fisheries in the Arctic. This conversation was recorded in the spring of 2020 pre-COVID in Sápmi on the banks of the Deatnu River and on Pueblo Lands in Dixson, New Mexico.

The Storytellers
“In Sápmi there are not many platforms where we can dive real deep in to our own issues and discussions. So sometimes it can be challenging to present and talk about them in-depth in a proper and interesting way.

With this podcast we will try to build a place of meaningful discussion on issues important for the Sámi future and the strengthening of ourselves. One main rule and basis of our conversations is decolonization and we will try to indigenize both ourselves and others in the creation of the podcast.

Thru conversation, exploration and storytelling we will seek to raise awareness in our society and try to find the right paths int o the future.” - ČSV! (SuperSápmi)

Check out SuperSápmi
www.supersapmi.com

IG
Beaska Niillas @beaskaniillas
Áslat Holmberg @deanuaslat

The Music
Caujahat Mu, the music for this episode was gifted by Joik artist Hildá Länsman from Utsjoki and musician & Helsinki-based sound designer Tuomas Norvio. They were asked to perform together in a festival club during contemporary theatre festival Baltic Circle 2017 in Helsinki. As it immediately clicked between the artists they decided to continue searching for their common ground. Based on improvisational soundscapes and interspaces formed by echoes and rhythms, Hilda’s ethereally buzzing, growling and pealing voice meets Norvio’s thick and sampled electronic beats.

More of Hildá Länsman
https://www.hildalansman.com/about
IG @hildalansman

More of Tuomas Norvio:
http://tuomasnorvio.net


References and Resources

Papers
-Homberg, Aslat. Bivdit Luosa – To Ask for Salmon Saami Traditional Knowledge on Salmon and the River Deatnu: In Research and Decision-Making
https://munin.uit.no/bitstream/handle/10037/12868/thesis.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

-Colt, Steve. Salmon Fish Traps in Alaska: An Economic History Perspective
http://www.alaskool.org/projects/traditionalife/fishtrap/FISHTRAP.htm

Articles
-The Barents Observer Local people demand full self-determination over the Teno river system
https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/life-and-public/2017/07/local-protesters-demand-full-self-determination-over-teno-river-system

-Cultural Survival Quarterly Magazine We Don’t Let the Border Stop Us: Aslak Holmberg
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/we-dont-let-border-stop-us-aslak-holmberg

Video

-350 : Climate justice in Sápmi: Áslat Holmberg, Fisherman & Politician
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLqx7hYhghs

Ade’ and welcome to the first episode of Xilegg: Our Arctic Presence.

In this episode, originally recorded in late October of 2019, we visit with Unangax̂ scholar, activist, and performance artist Haliehana Stepetin.

During our conversation we touch on the mapping of Indigenous spacialities that help us imagine and construct our understanding of the world as contemporary Indigenous peoples rooted in the constellations of our ancestors. Haliehana also speaks to her relationship with Iqyax (kayak) building.

Haliehana Stepetin is Unangax̂ and was born and raised in the village of Akutan in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. She brings this upbringing into her re-search theorizing subsistence cosmologies as the central component connecting aspects of Unangax and Indigenous ways of knowing in the diverse topics of study she engages. Haliehana is a PhD student in Native American Studies at the University of California Davis. Haliehana is a scholar and activist, an Unangax̂ dancer, choreographer, Indigenous performance artist, Unangam Tunuu learner and Indigenous language activist, subsistence practitioner, and Navy veteran. Her scholarship engages Indigenous performance as embodied knowledge to (re)center Indigenous Knowledge systems in education and academia with, by, and for Indigenous and Alaska Native communities.

Follow Haliehana’s work:
Website: https://www.haliehana.com/about.html
IG: @indigenous_agent

Referenced in this episode –

Mark My Words : Native Women Mapping Our Nations by Mishuana Goeman
Find her book here:
https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/mark-my-words

Falling From the Night Sky by Joy Harjo
Visit Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s site here:
https://www.joyharjo.com/

Tattooist -Sarah Whalen-Lunn
IG:@inkstitcher

Contribute to the Native Scholarship Fund for Backcountry Avalanche Training in partnership with Coalition Snow!
Contribute here: https://www.coalitionsnow.com/blogs/blog/native-scholarship-fund
And follow Coalition Snow @coalitionsnow

Music in this Episode brought to you by BedTrack’s Storyteller Initiative
Song 1: MotherBear
Song 2: Nation to Nation

Our Website: onthelandmedia.org
Our Instagram: @on.the.land