Pow Wow Life | Interviews with Native American Artists, Creators, and Leaders

North of North is back. Season two premieres September 8 on APTN and CBC, and I sat down with four of the women who make it.

Anna Lambe plays Siaja, a young Inuk mother rebuilding her life in the tiny Arctic town of Ice Cove. Maika Harper plays Neevee — Siaja's mom, and the source of about half the chaos. We talked about playing a mother-daughter relationship that feels this real, what it means to see Inuit life on screen without a documentary frame around it, and what changed for them after the show went global.

Then I talked with Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, the Inuk filmmakers behind Red Marrow Media who created, wrote and executive produce the series. They built a comedy in the Arctic on their own terms — filmed on location in Iqaluit and Apex, Nunavut, with an Inuit-led cast and crew — and turned it into Netflix's first Canadian-commissioned original series.

Season one hit number nine on Netflix's global top ten, broke into the top ten in 27 countries, and led every comedy at this year's Canadian Screen Awards with nine wins.

North of North season two airs Tuesdays on APTN and CBC through September 29, streaming on CBC Gem and APTN+, with a Netflix global release to follow.

When Sunshine Quem Tenasco posted a video of her son Kiniw dancing Woodland at the Saugeen First Nation powwow, she wasn't expecting the response. People came out of the crowd to honor him. The drum stood up to shake his hand. Within days, the video had traveled across Turtle Island.

Kiniw joins us on this episode to tell it himself, with his mom alongside him helping carry his words across. He talks about his regalia, the protocols his uncle Tendasi taught him, what it feels like when the drum starts, and what happened at Saugeen when the money went on the drum.

Sunshine is Anishinabe from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg in Quebec, a clean water advocate, and the founder of Her Braids and Pow Wow Pitch. She's also the author of Nibi's Water Song and Smile So Big.

Traci Sorell is a Cherokee Nation citizen and one of the most decorated authors working in Native children's literature today. Her books have earned two Sibert Medal honors, two Orbis Pictus honors, eight awards from the American Indian Library Association, the Carter G. Woodson Book Award, and a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor, among many others.

In this episode, Traci joins Paul to talk about her path from federal Indigenous law attorney and nonprofit executive director to full-time author.

She also shares the story behind her two new nonfiction books: Riding the Trail: Cherokees Remember the Removal, coauthored with Will Chavez, and Indigenous from A to Z, illustrated by Natasha Donovan.

This week my guest is Glendon N. Smith, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and the Tribal Liaison for the Oregon State Police.

Glendon’s work focuses on building stronger communication and understanding between the State of Oregon, Oregon’s Tribes, and law enforcement. His role includes supporting government-to-government relationships, providing Tribal perspective, working on issues connected to treaty rights and tribal sovereignty, and helping improve communication around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons.

He was recently selected for the Public Service Ambassador Award by Governor Tina Kotek, with this year’s theme of “Leading with Purpose.” Glendon is also the first citizen of Warm Springs to receive this award.

In this conversation, we talk about what it means to serve as a Tribal Liaison, why relationship-building matters, and how Tribal perspective can help shape better conversations around public safety, sovereignty, and community trust.

Dave Smoot's story doesn't fit neatly into any one box — and that's exactly what makes it so compelling.

He's a Tribal Member of the Creek Nation in Oklahoma. A U.S. Army veteran. A tech industry pioneer who helped shape the early days of the software and microcomputer revolution. And today, the founder of companies working to produce sustainable aviation fuel at commercial scale in the United States — with tribal partnership woven into the foundation of that work.

Smoot's business career spans nearly 45 years, beginning after his honorable discharge from the Army Reserves in 1975. He spent two decades in the microcomputer industry, eventually rising to Director of Operations at Digital Research in Pacific Grove, California — a role that put him at the table alongside IBM, Microsoft, Apple, and Intel during one of the most transformative periods in tech history.

The 2026 Gathering of Nations is almost here, and in this episode of PowWowLife, I’m walking you through everything you need to know.

Whether you’re heading to Albuquerque in person or planning to watch from home, this episode is your guide to the 2026 Gathering of Nations. I’m talking about what to expect at the event, what you do not want to miss, tips for navigating the crowds, grand entries, Stage 49, vendors, and how the livestream will work this year on YouTube.

I’m also sharing a few personal stories about my connection to Gathering of Nations and why this year feels especially important.

In this episode:

• What to expect if you’re attending in person
• Grand entry and key moments you do not want to miss
• Stage 49, vendors, food, and crowd tips
• How to watch the livestream on YouTube
• Membership pricing and livestream details
• What free content will be available after the powwow
• Why Gathering of Nations means so much to me

Helpful links:

Gathering of Nations info:

https://www.powwows.com/gathering-nations-pow-wow-north-americas-largest-pow-wow/

Get updates:

https://pgowder-powwows-com.kit.com/2026gon

Join to watch the live stream:

https://www.youtube.com/@Powwows/join

Live stream page:

https://www.powwows.com/webcast/2026-gathering-of-nations-pow-wow/

Get the 2026 Gathering of Nations digital magazine:

https://powwows.thrivecart.com/2026-gathering-pow-wow-magazine/

If you’re going to Gathering this year, or watching from home, let me know in the comments.

What happens when you combine design talent, Indigenous identity, humor, and a sharp eye for what’s missing in the market? You get Born of Legends.

This week on Pow Wow Life, Shannon Romero shares how she built her brand, why contemporary Native representation matters, and how she created designs that reflect shared Indigenous experiences.

We also get into the business side, including how Etsy helped her launch and grow her work into something bigger.

Follow Born of Legends

www.bornoflegends.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bornoflegends/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bornoflegends/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bornoflegends

What does it take to build a creative life that actually means something?

In this episode of the Pow Wow Live Podcast, I sit down with Michelle Brown, Creative Director of Eighth Generation, for a conversation about art, fashion, purpose, and the courage it takes to choose your own path.

Michelle shares her journey into fashion and product design, including what it was like pursuing a creative career even when the people closest to her did not fully support that decision at first. She talks honestly about taking that leap, trusting her passion, and why being brave enough to follow your calling matters.

We also dive into the heart of what makes Eighth Generation so special, from their beautiful artist-designed products to the way they partner with Native artists to create more sustainable revenue and long-term opportunity. This is a conversation about creativity, culture, entrepreneurship, and building something bigger than yourself.

If you have ever wondered whether you should take a chance on your dream, this episode is for you.

This episode features a powerful conversation with the organizers of the Weaving Unity Southeastern MMIW Informational Pow Wow in Lexington, South Carolina.

We talk about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis and why this issue matters deeply here in South Carolina and across the Southeast. The organizers share why they created this event, what they hope the community takes away, and how powwows and gatherings like this can help bring awareness, education, healing, and unity.

This is an important conversation about protecting Native women, honoring families and loved ones, and making sure these stories are seen and heard.

Weaving Unity Pow Wow Information

https://calendar.powwows.com/events/weaving-unity-southeastern-mmiw-informational-pow-wow/

In this episode, I’m joined by Burgandi Trejo Phoenix for a real conversation about what it looks like to build a meaningful career and keep it grounded in who you are. We talk about identity, community, and the moments that shaped her path.

Follow Burgandi Trejo Phoenix

https://www.instagram.com/burgandiphoenix/?hl=en