The Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (WRTBI) is an Indigenous-led organization which is restoring the Buffalo as wildlife and relative through land rematriation on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes. Learn more about the importance of Buffalo restoration in this interview with Kaycee Prevedel and Dawn Stagner.

Kaycee Prevedel is the Partnership and Communications Director for the WRTBI. Kaycee is passionate about land protection and wildlife restoration. In college, she graduated with an advanced degree in American Studies with a focus on Indigenous Land Rights. Before WRTBI, she worked for the Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter as a wildlife and public lands advocate, as well as for the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and the National Park Service at Mesa Verde National Park. Her expertise is in public/ancestral land protection and Tribal co-management. Kaycee is a Land Back advocate and is driven to amplify the efforts of Native-led organizations, especially WRTBI.

Dawn Stagner is the Community Engagement Director for the WRTBI. Dawn is a writer and award-winning journalist who specializes in Indigenous land rights. She has two degrees in American Studies – an undergraduate degree from University of Wyoming and a masters from Bowling Green State University – where she studied Indigenous history and literature. Born and raised in central Wyoming, Stagner is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and she is an Eastern Shoshone descendant. A lifelong interest in wildlife and Indigenous rights has guided her writing on Buffalo as well as rez dogs and cattle. She wants her skills as a storyteller to provide support for the Buffalo, youth, and community at-large here at the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative.

Show notes:

Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative: <a href="https://windriverbuffalo.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://windriverbuffalo.org/</a>

Learn more about Wind River reservation treaties and Treaty Day: <a href="https://windriverbuffalo.org/what-is-treaty-day/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://windriverbuffalo.org/what-is-treaty-day/</a>

WRTBI is a Rematriation partner of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery: through our <a href="https://dismantlediscovery.org/landback-fund/" rel="nofollow noopener">Land Justice Fund</a> the Coalition has helped raise funds to buy back parcels of land and expand the territory the Buffalo can roam. We also have a working group that works with WRTBI in support of their initiatives. To connect with and support the Coalition’s WRTBI working group email <a href="mailto:admin@dismantlediscovery.org" rel="nofollow noopener">admin@dismantlediscovery.org</a>

Check out our online monthly trainings: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/Trainings2026" rel="nofollow noopener">tinyurl.com/Trainings2026</a>

Sarah and Sheri’s book: <a href="https://heraldpress.com/9781513812946/so-we-and-our-children-may-live/" rel="nofollow noopener">So That We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis</a>

Sarah and Sheri’s Substack: <a href="https://sarahsheri.substack.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">So That We and Our Children May Live</a>

You can follow the <a href="https://dismantlediscovery.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery</a> on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery</a>)

The Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (WRTBI) is an Indigenous-led organization which is restoring the Buffalo as wildlife and relative through land rematriation on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes. Learn more about the importance of Buffalo restoration in this interview with Kaycee Prevedel and Dawn Stagner. Kaycee Prevedel is the Partnership and Communications Director for the WRTBI. Kaycee is passionate about land protection and wildlife restoration. In college, she graduated with an advanced degree in American Studies with a focus on Indigenous Land Rights. Before WRTBI, she worked for the Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter as a wildlife and public lands advocate, as well as for the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and the National Park Service at Mesa Verde National Park. Her expertise is in public/ancestral land protection and Tribal co-management. Kaycee is a Land Back advocate and is driven to amplify the efforts of Native-led organizations, especially WRTBI. Dawn Stagner is the Community Engagement Director for the WRTBI. Dawn is a writer and award-winning journalist who specializes in Indigenous land rights. She has two degrees in American Studies – an undergraduate degree from University of Wyoming and a masters from Bowling Green State University – where she studied Indigenous history and literature. Born and raised in central Wyoming, Stagner is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and she is an Eastern Shoshone descendant. A lifelong interest in wildlife and Indigenous rights has guided her writing on Buffalo as well as rez dogs and cattle. She wants her skills as a storyteller to provide support for the Buffalo, youth, and community at-large here at the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative. Show notes: Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative: https://windriverbuffalo.org/ Learn more about Wind River reservation treaties and Treaty Day: https://windriverbuffalo.org/what-is-treaty-day/ WRTBI is a Rematriation partner of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery: through our Land Justice Fund the Coalition has helped raise funds to buy back parcels of land and expand the territory the Buffalo can roam. We also have a working group that works with WRTBI in support of their initiatives. To connect with and support the Coalition’s WRTBI working group email admin@dismantlediscovery.org Check out our online monthly trainings: tinyurl.com/Trainings2026 Sarah and Sheri’s book: So That We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis Sarah and Sheri’s Substack: So That We and Our Children May Live You can follow the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery)

The Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (WRTBI) is an Indigenous-led organization which is restoring the Buffalo as wildlife and relative through land rematriation on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes. Learn more about the importance of Buffalo restoration in this interview with Kaycee Prevedel and Dawn Stagner.

Kaycee Prevedel is the Partnership and Communications Director for the WRTBI. Kaycee is passionate about land protection and wildlife restoration. In college, she graduated with an advanced degree in American Studies with a focus on Indigenous Land Rights. Before WRTBI, she worked for the Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter as a wildlife and public lands advocate, as well as for the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and the National Park Service at Mesa Verde National Park. Her expertise is in public/ancestral land protection and Tribal co-management. Kaycee is a Land Back advocate and is driven to amplify the efforts of Native-led organizations, especially WRTBI.

Dawn Stagner is the Community Engagement Director for the WRTBI. Dawn is a writer and award-winning journalist who specializes in Indigenous land rights. She has two degrees in American Studies – an undergraduate degree from University of Wyoming and a masters from Bowling Green State University – where she studied Indigenous history and literature. Born and raised in central Wyoming, Stagner is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and she is an Eastern Shoshone descendant. A lifelong interest in wildlife and Indigenous rights has guided her writing on Buffalo as well as rez dogs and cattle. She wants her skills as a storyteller to provide support for the Buffalo, youth, and community at-large here at the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative.

Show notes:

Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative: <a href="https://windriverbuffalo.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://windriverbuffalo.org/</a>

Learn more about Wind River reservation treaties and Treaty Day: <a href="https://windriverbuffalo.org/what-is-treaty-day/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://windriverbuffalo.org/what-is-treaty-day/</a>

WRTBI is a Rematriation partner of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery: through our <a href="https://dismantlediscovery.org/landback-fund/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Land Justice Fund</a> the Coalition has helped raise funds to buy back parcels of land and expand the territory the Buffalo can roam. We also have a working group that works with WRTBI in support of their initiatives. To connect with and support the Coalition’s WRTBI working group email <a href="mailto:admin@dismantlediscovery.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">admin@dismantlediscovery.org</a>

Check out our online monthly trainings: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/Trainings2026" rel="noopener noreferrer">tinyurl.com/Trainings2026</a>

Sarah and Sheri’s book: <a href="https://heraldpress.com/9781513812946/so-we-and-our-children-may-live/" rel="noopener noreferrer">So That We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis</a>

Sarah and Sheri’s Substack: <a href="https://sarahsheri.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">So That We and Our Children May Live</a>

You can follow the <a href="https://dismantlediscovery.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery</a> on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery</a>)

Episode 52: Episode 2 - Healing in Community with the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative

Sophie Pierre served her community of ‘Aqam (the St. Mary’s Indian Band) of the Ktunaxa Nation for 30 years, 26 as elected chief, and for 25 years was the administrator of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council, now the Ktunaxa Nation Council. Sophie was recognized with the Order of Canada in 2016; the Order of British Columbia in 2002 and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the business category in 2003. Sophie’s commitment to good governance, accountability and leadership has been recognized by three honorary degrees from Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia and University of Canada West. Sophie, a mother of three and grandmother of five, now spends much of her time as an elder advisor to her community of ‘Aqam and to the Ktunaxa Nation. As a fluent speaker of the Ktunaxa language her commitment to the responsibility of passing on traditional knowledge remains her lifetime goal.

Show Notes 
<a href="https://www.steugene.ca/" rel="nofollow noopener">St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino</a> - Ktunaxa owned resort 
Watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLftlRKulW1_5DNOYHjoajN2UYrV-UBYBH" rel="nofollow noopener">Speaker Series on YouTube</a> 
Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery Website: <a href="http://dismantlediscovery.org" rel="nofollow noopener">dismantlediscovery.org</a>

Sophie Pierre served her community of ‘Aqam (the St. Mary’s Indian Band) of the Ktunaxa Nation for 30 years, 26 as elected chief, and for 25 years was the administrator of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council, now the Ktunaxa Nation Council. Sophie was recognized with the Order of Canada in 2016; the Order of British Columbia in 2002 and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the business category in 2003. Sophie’s commitment to good governance, accountability and leadership has been recognized by three honorary degrees from Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia and University of Canada West. Sophie, a mother of three and grandmother of five, now spends much of her time as an elder advisor to her community of ‘Aqam and to the Ktunaxa Nation. As a fluent speaker of the Ktunaxa language her commitment to the responsibility of passing on traditional knowledge remains her lifetime goal. Show Notes St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino - Ktunaxa owned resort Watch the Speaker Series on YouTube Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery Website: dismantlediscovery.org

Sophie Pierre served her community of ‘Aqam (the St. Mary’s Indian Band) of the Ktunaxa Nation for 30 years, 26 as elected chief, and for 25 years was the administrator of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council, now the Ktunaxa Nation Council. Sophie was recognized with the Order of Canada in 2016; the Order of British Columbia in 2002 and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the business category in 2003. Sophie’s commitment to good governance, accountability and leadership has been recognized by three honorary degrees from Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia and University of Canada West. Sophie, a mother of three and grandmother of five, now spends much of her time as an elder advisor to her community of ‘Aqam and to the Ktunaxa Nation. As a fluent speaker of the Ktunaxa language her commitment to the responsibility of passing on traditional knowledge remains her lifetime goal.

Show Notes 
<a href="https://www.steugene.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer">St. Eugene Golf Resort &amp; Casino</a> - Ktunaxa owned resort 
Watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLftlRKulW1_5DNOYHjoajN2UYrV-UBYBH" rel="noopener noreferrer">Speaker Series on YouTube</a> 
Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery Website: <a href="http://dismantlediscovery.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">dismantlediscovery.org</a>

Indigenous Speaker Series: Episode 1 - Sophie Pierre

In this episode, we talk with Kaitlin Curtice, author, poet, storyteller, public speaker and an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation. Her most recent book is Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day. She also authored the 2020 award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God. Katilin also has a children’s book coming out this fall called Winter’s _Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature _– just in time for the holidays! 

Sarah and Sheri wrote a book together! Find out more about So We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis <a href="https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513812946/so-we-and-our-children-may-live/" rel="nofollow noopener">here</a>.

You can follow the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery</a>)

In this episode, we talk with Kaitlin Curtice, author, poet, storyteller, public speaker and an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation. Her most recent book is Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day. She also authored the 2020 award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God. Katilin also has a children’s book coming out this fall called Winter’s _Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature _– just in time for the holidays! Sarah and Sheri wrote a book together! Find out more about So We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis here. You can follow the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery)

In this episode, we talk with Kaitlin Curtice, author, poet, storyteller, public speaker and an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation. Her most recent book is Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day. She also authored the 2020 award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God. Katilin also has a children’s book coming out this fall called Winter’s _Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature _– just in time for the holidays! 

Sarah and Sheri wrote a book together! Find out more about So We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis <a href="https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513812946/so-we-and-our-children-may-live/" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

You can follow the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery</a>)

Episode 27: Interview with Kaitlin Curtice

In this episode, Sarah and Sheri talk about Sarah’s “100-year vision” for the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition. Sarah will begin as the full-time Executive Director of the Coalition on July 1.

To contribute to Sarah’s salary campaign, please go here (<a href="https://dofdmenno.org/salary-campaign/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://dofdmenno.org/salary-campaign/</a>). Every dollar you donate will be matched by Sheri’s congregation, First Mennonite Church of San Francisco, through Indigenous Peoples Day of this year (October 10).

In this episode, Sarah and Sheri talk about Sarah’s “100-year vision” for the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition. Sarah will begin as the full-time Executive Director of the Coalition on July 1. To contribute to Sarah’s salary campaign, please go here (https://dofdmenno.org/salary-campaign/). Every dollar you donate will be matched by Sheri’s congregation, First Mennonite Church of San Francisco, through Indigenous Peoples Day of this year (October 10).

In this episode, Sarah and Sheri talk about Sarah’s “100-year vision” for the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition. Sarah will begin as the full-time Executive Director of the Coalition on July 1.

To contribute to Sarah’s salary campaign, please go here (<a href="https://dofdmenno.org/salary-campaign/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://dofdmenno.org/salary-campaign/</a>). Every dollar you donate will be matched by Sheri’s congregation, First Mennonite Church of San Francisco, through Indigenous Peoples Day of this year (October 10).

Episode 19: Vision

Sarah and Sheri continue to explore how Sarah discovered the Doctrine of Discovery and its impact on her life. Sarah tells the story about how she ended up working with the Indigenous Wayana people from the Guyana Shield in South America, who were being poisoned by mercury from gold mining and had no legal recourse to end this, due to the Doctrine of Discovery. She also tells the story of her father, who grew up in a religious boy's school, and how she connected his story to that of thousands of Indigenous children who were placed in Indian boarding schools.

Sources: 
chapter 4 in Sarah’s book, This Land is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. 
<a href="https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513808314/the-land-is-not-empty/mission" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513808314/the-land-is-not-empty/mission</a>. 
Video library of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission

For more information, go to dofdmenno.org, the website of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition.

Sarah and Sheri continue to explore how Sarah discovered the Doctrine of Discovery and its impact on her life. Sarah tells the story about how she ended up working with the Indigenous Wayana people from the Guyana Shield in South America, who were being poisoned by mercury from gold mining and had no legal recourse to end this, due to the Doctrine of Discovery. She also tells the story of her father, who grew up in a religious boy's school, and how she connected his story to that of thousands of Indigenous children who were placed in Indian boarding schools. Sources: chapter 4 in Sarah’s book, This Land is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513808314/the-land-is-not-empty/mission. Video library of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission For more information, go to dofdmenno.org, the website of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition.

Sarah and Sheri continue to explore how Sarah discovered the Doctrine of Discovery and its impact on her life. Sarah tells the story about how she ended up working with the Indigenous Wayana people from the Guyana Shield in South America, who were being poisoned by mercury from gold mining and had no legal recourse to end this, due to the Doctrine of Discovery. She also tells the story of her father, who grew up in a religious boy's school, and how she connected his story to that of thousands of Indigenous children who were placed in Indian boarding schools.

Sources: 
chapter 4 in Sarah’s book, This Land is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. 
<a href="https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513808314/the-land-is-not-empty/mission" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513808314/the-land-is-not-empty/mission</a>. 
Video library of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission

For more information, go to dofdmenno.org, the website of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition.

Episode 3:  The Doctrine of Discovery and Me, Part Two

During this episode, Sarah and Sheri explore how Sarah “discovered” the Doctrine of Discovery and its traumatic impact on her life and on the lives of other Indigenous people. They talk about how this trauma didn’t just happen but was intentionally planned by the U.S. government through different eras of federal Indian policy that systematically dispossessed Native people of their land.

During this episode, Sarah and Sheri explore how Sarah “discovered” the Doctrine of Discovery and its traumatic impact on her life and on the lives of other Indigenous people. They talk about how this trauma didn’t just happen but was intentionally planned by the U.S. government through different eras of federal Indian policy that systematically dispossessed Native people of their land.

Episode 2: The Doctrine of Discovery and Me

In this introduction episode hosts Sheri and Sarah share about themselves, their faith, their friendship and why they continue to work at dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. Stay tuned every other week for new episodes.

In this introduction episode hosts Sheri and Sarah share about themselves, their faith, their friendship and why they continue to work at dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. Stay tuned every other week for new episodes.

Episode 1: Why Are We Doing This Podcast?

In this podcast, an Indigenous woman and a white settler woman — both Anabaptists — uncover the deep structure of colonization that systematically deprives Indigenous Peoples of their human rights today. This deep structure — called the Doctrine of Discovery— is rooted in church doctrines that originated in the15th century and that still justify current laws and policies that justify the removal of land from Indigenous Peoples. Together, Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler started a coalition of Anabaptist people of faith that seek to dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery. Sarah is an activist and scholar, the descendant of the Tewa People, and a displaced person. Sheri is a Mennonite pastor in San Francisco and an activist.

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