Original Peoples Podcast Ongwehonwe

In this episode we meet an artist from the Zuni Nation of New Mexico, Gents Cheama is an artist that uses traditional art and images from his culture and finds a way to be respectfully marry those to contemporary artistic expression. He's an illustrator and painter and a Tattoo Artist, I came across his art when I was looking through images of art submissions for the Pivot Skateboard Art Show, currently on display at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque New Mexico. Gents is a soft spoken humble man with great talent and an awesome story to tell. Please enjoy.

In this episode I get to meet an amazing artist and down to earth soul. Mr. John Isaiah Pepion an acclaimed artist, muralist and educator who hails from the Blackfeet Nation in northern Montana. His plains graphic art combines traditional design and contemporary illustrations to create a signature look that is instantly recognized throughout the country.

John’s considers his art journey as ceremony because his understanding of his past, family, and culture grows with each piece he creates.  “Through my art,” he says, “I find personal healing, cultural preservation and a deeper connection to place.”

John shares with me some of his challenges and successes as an indigenous artist and the work he is doing in his community to help the youth and the work he is doing with Native-owned Eighth Generation and their Inspired Natives Project with the goal of increasing his business capacity. His goal is to bring his cultural art to market while maintaining control over the stories embedded within it.

Note: There will be a YouTube version of this interview soon to follow. For now the audio is available.

In this episode I can catch up with a former student and friend Dr. Michael Charles, he's a graduate of Cornell University where he and I met and became friends. His post-grad work has inspired and amazed me. I am proud to know him and am honored to host him on this podcast.

Dr. Michael Charles, An American Indian scientist from the Navajo Nation and recent Ph.D. graduate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The Ohio State University with research interest in bringing ecosystems into the design and decision-making of technical systems while exploring how to use academic research to impact social, political, and ethical issues

In this episode I have an opportunity to meet with a Syracuse Basketball icon, a self-proclaimed Activist Athlete, but even more so a brilliant thinker and writer.

Etan Thomas approaches his work fearlessly. Never afraid to voice his opinions, Etan was honored for social justice advocacy as the recipient of the 2010 National Basketball Players Association Community Contribution Award, as well as the 2009 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation, Inc. Legacy Award. Etan jumps at the opportunity to support civic engagement especially for under- resourced populations.

He is a senior writer for basketballnews.com and is the host of The Rematch. He writes for The Guardian and has previously written for The Washington Post, Huffington Post, CNN, ESPN, Hoopshype.com and slamonline. He frequently can be seen on MSNBC as a special correspondent for “hot topics.” He continues to be invited on syndicated radio and co-hosts a weekly local radio show on WPFW 89.3FM, The Collision, where sports and politics collide.

In this episode I have the opportunity to reconnect with a friend and learn about the work she is doing and the impact she is having on telling stories and sharing Indigenous Knowledge through AI (artificial intelligence). She's an Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence and the Arts/ Digital Arts and Sciences, she's the founder of the successful podcast Wampum.codes. Through her work she is looking to develop and build an ethical framework for AI and software development based on principles as understood by Indigenous People and more specifically her people (Seneca Cayuga of Oklahoma.) 

Note: This is an audio version of a Zoom recording, soon to be followed by the full video version to be shared on YouTube.

In this episode I sit down with Michael Galban (Washoe Tribe), Michael is a foremost in the field of Haudenosaunee Material Culture, Historian Conservator and a skilled Craftsman, oh by the way, he does Traditional Tattoos!!

In this Episode I am fortunate enough to sit down and speak with Legendary Potter Peter B. Jones of the Onondaga Nation, Peter grew up on the Cattaraugus Territory of the Seneca Nation and can be credited for revitalizing an ancient tradition of Haudenosaunee Pottery. For as long as I can remember, Peter B. Jones is a person I have known in my life, he's good friends with my father G. Peter Jemison and I have always admired Peter B. Jones's art. Lend me your ear as he shares his story.

I sit down with a person whom I've known for a number of years and finally get him to unpack a little bit about his life and how he grew up and where he is today. He's a musician, an artist and an educator. He's got an interesting story to tell and I think you will find him to be pretty cool.

In this Episode I sit down with Jennifer Dalimonte an artist from the Tuscarora Nation who grew up in Buffalo, New York but was able to keep ties to her community and culture through her art and her grandfather was a pretty legendary carver. Oh and she's a pretty amazing person in her own right.