Native Lights is a weekly, half-hour radio program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce — a.k.a. Minnesota — to tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community.
On today’s show, Leah and Cole talk with Bob Blake (Red Lake Nation) who is the founder and owner of Solar Bear, a solar installation company, and the Executive Director of the non-project organization Native Sun Community Power Development. Both organizations are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bob Blake makes the case for how Tribal Nations are key to solving climate change and environmental problems, by embracing energy sovereignty. And we hear how Bob has made it his mission to inspire and empower people in Indian Country to not only pursue careers in renewable energy but also to become the leaders capable of solving energy issues, which are not being properly addressed by corporate power companies or the US government.
Bob Blake’s enthusiasm is infectious, and we appreciate his vision and encouragement to everyone at any age, to take on these challenges and make the world a better place. Chi Miigwech, Bob!
Bob Blake’s company is Solar Bear, Gizis-o-makwa in Ojibwemowin: https://solarbear.earth/
Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.
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We are very excited to speak with Rafael Gonzalez, aka, Tufawon. He is a Mdewakanton Dakota and Boricua (Puerto Rican). He’s a rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer who calls South Minneapolis home. In addition to his music making, he’s an educator. He teaches youth music production, songwriting, and recording through his music production program “.WAVWARRIOR”. - Alexandera Houchin: Life on Two Wheels
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On this episode Leah and Cole speak with Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe citizen Bradley Harrington who recently penned an article in the Mille Lacs Band newspaper, Ojibwe Inaajimowin, about 250 years of US occupation as the country marks the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. - Dr. Samantha Majhor: The Story Collector
Today, we’re excited to welcome Dr. Samantha Majhor to Native Lights. Samantha is a direct descendant of Fort Peck. She’s Dakota and Assiniboine and is an assistant professor in American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota. She focuses on Native American literature, particularly literature by Dakota and Ojibwe writers around the Great Lakes region. - Aleyna Morales: Baking and Believing in Herself
Today, we’re speaking with Aleyna Morales. Aleyna grew up in the Twin Cities and Somerset, Wisconsin. Aleyna’s heritage includes Ojibwe from the Fond du Lac Band community and Mexican. She is the creator and baker behind Baked to Bliss by Laney. You can catch her selling baked goods at the Carlton County Farmers Market.
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