The Enduring West

How do you earn trust in Indian Country—and what do tribal leaders want people seeking to work with their communities to understand?

In part two of this special edition of The Enduring West, James F. Jordan continues the conversation with James Siva, Vice Chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and Justin Barrett, President and Co-Founder of the Tribal Leadership Council.

Through their perspectives as tribal leaders, they examine what it takes for non-Native professionals and organizations to build meaningful relationships in Indian Country. Generations of historical trauma and broken promises shape the context for these relationships, making respect for sovereignty, accountability, and trust essential.

For anyone seeking to work with Sovereign Nations, this conversation offers an opportunity to listen to tribal leadership and better understand how to approach that work with humility, patience, and a commitment to earning trust over time.

What does it take to earn trust and work respectfully in Indian Country?

In this special edition of The Enduring West, James F. Jordan welcomes Frances Alvarez for a candid, practical conversation about sovereignty, relationships, and earning trust as a non-Native person working in Indian Country.

For anyone seeking to work with Sovereign Nations and American Indian communities, this conversation offers guidance on how to begin: listen first, respect sovereignty, invest in relationships, and demonstrate through consistent actions that your commitments can be trusted. Generations of historical trauma and broken promises give that work essential context. Trust takes time, and good intentions alone are not enough.

Frances also joins James for The Gathering at the close of the episode.

Mo Brings Plenty & James F. Jordan | Take Five | Council Fire

What does leadership require when the decisions made today can shape generations?

Episode Four of RETURN: A Witness of Our Time begins with Mo Brings Plenty and James F. Jordan exploring responsibility, culture, family and what it means to stand for something in a rapidly changing world.

In Take Five, James F. Jordan steps away from the larger conversation for a brief personal perspective.

Then we gather around the Council Fire.

James Siva, Vice Chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and Justin Barrett, President of the Tribal Leadership Council and citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, come together for a candid conversation about sovereignty, leadership, responsibility and the challenges facing Indian Country.

Council Fire isn't about speaking for Indian Country. It's a place for leaders from Indian Country to speak for themselves.

Featuring Mo Brings Plenty, James F. Jordan, James Siva and Justin Barrett.

Mo Brings Plenty & James F. Jordan | Take Five | The Gathering

What do we carry forward, and what are we responsible for leaving behind?

In Episode Three of RETURN: A Witness of Our Time, Mo Brings Plenty and James F. Jordan continue their conversation about the forces shaping our lives, our communities and the world we will hand to the next generation.

In Take Five, James F. Jordan offers a brief personal reflection on the ideas and choices that deserve a closer look.

Then, The Gathering brings together Frances Alvarez and special guest Judy Wright, President of NNAHRA, for a conversation from Indian Country about leadership, community, responsibility and strengthening Native organizations for generations to come.

RETURN is more than a witness to our time. It is a conversation about what is worth preserving, what must change and what we choose to carry forward.

Featuring Mo Brings Plenty, James F. Jordan, Frances Alvarez and Judy Wright.

Every person carries a story that shapes how they see the world. For Mo Brings Plenty, that story has led him from his Lakota roots to Hollywood, while remaining deeply committed to serving Indian Country and preserving the values that have guided his life.

In this episode of RETURN: A Witness of Our Time, James F. Jordan sits down with Mo for a personal conversation about the experiences, mentors, and lessons that have shaped his journey. Together, they explore what it means to walk into different worlds without losing sight of who you are or where you come from.

From family and culture to acting, advocacy, and leadership, Mo shares the moments that defined him and the purpose that continues to drive his work today.

This conversation isn’t about fame—it’s about identity, responsibility, and living a life of service.

• Mo’s upbringing and the values instilled by his family
• Walking into different worlds while staying true to your roots
• Lessons from Indian Country that apply everywhere
• The path from community leadership to film and television
• Why storytelling matters
• The vision behind RETURN: A Witness of Our Time

Hosted by: James F. Jordan & Mo Brings Plenty

Presented by: Return Studios and Tribal Nations Health

Presenting Sponsor: BRMS

Supporting Sponsors: Medicine Bundle Provisions and LifeWays Daily Rituals

RETURN: A Witness of Our Time begins with a simple question:

What kind of record are we leaving for those who come after us?

In this inaugural episode, hosts James F. Jordan and Mo Brings Plenty share the story behind RETURN and why they believe authentic conversation matters now more than ever.

Together they explore what it means to become a witness to our time—not as historians looking backward, but as people living through extraordinary change. They discuss leadership, stewardship, American Indian communities, the American West, family, culture, responsibility, and the importance of preserving wisdom before it’s lost.

RETURN isn’t a news program. It isn’t political commentary. It’s a place where thoughtful conversations help preserve the stories, ideas, and values shaping our generation.

This episode introduces the vision for the series and invites listeners to join a growing community committed to listening deeply, remembering what matters, and helping shape a better future.

• Why James and Mo created RETURN
• What “A Witness of Our Time” really means
• The conversations missing in today’s world
• Why stories preserve cultures and communities
• What we hope future generations will learn about us
• The journey ahead for RETURN

Hosted by: James F. Jordan & Mo Brings Plenty

Presented by: Tribal Nations Health and Return Studios

Presenting Sponsor: BRMS

Supporting Sponsors: Medicine Bundle Provisions and LifeWays Daily Rituals

This trailer introduces the upcoming show RETURN: A Witness of Our Time, w/ Mo Brings Plenty, which launches August 1, 2026.

Hosted by: James F. Jordan & Mo Brings Plenty

Presented by: Tribal Nations Health and Return Studios

Presenting Sponsor: BRMS

Supporting Sponsors: Medicine Bundle Provisions and LifeWays Daily Rituals