About Us

Minnesota Native News is a weekly radio segment covering ideas and events relevant to Minnesota’s Native American communities since 2014. MNN is produced and distributed by AMPERS and airs on tribal and community stations across Minnesota. MNN reaches more than 124,000 listeners each week. The team includes a majority of Native reporters/producers all sharing in the editorial and story-telling duties.

Executive Producer: Emma Needham

Producers: Chandra Colvin, Deanna StandingCloud, CJ Younger, Travis Zimmerman

Host: Marie Rock

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• Ziigwan Biidaajimowin (Spring News): NACC Issues Call for Artists and Little Earth Kicks Off American Indian Month with a Parade
  This week, Minneapolis’s Native American Community Clinic (NACC) seeks artists to commission pieces for their new building. Plus, nearby, the Little Earth of United Tribes housing community will kick off May’s American Indian Month with a celebration organized in part by the Minneapolis Public Schools American Indian Youth Council, Ogichida Oyate
• Indian Child Welfare Law Challenged at MN Supreme Court and Native Nations Impacted by Proposed SAVE Act
  This week, the Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could reshape child custody laws for Native American children. Also, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require all Americans to prove their citizenship in person with official documents when registering to vote.

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Minnesota Native News also produces the weekly radio show and podcast Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine. Native Lights is a weekly, podcast and 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.

• Dr. Amber Annis: Rebuilding Community with the Native Governance Center
  In this episode, we hear from Dr. Amber Annis about the joys and challenges of rebuilding community and finding your voice as a leader. Dr. Amber Annis is a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Executive Director of Native Governance Center. Prior to taking on her role at NGC in December 2024, …
• Deven Current: Healing Through the Art of Tattooing
  In this episode, we hear from Deven Current about tattooing, sports and the importance of sobriety, family and faith. Deven is an Ojibwe tattoo artist, who connected with his culture later in life. Deven grew up in the Twin Cities and, at a young age, fell into drug addiction. He ended up incarcerated, but his time …

Subscribe to Native Lights wherever you get your podcasts

Listen to MN Native News and Native Lights on your local station

If there’s someone you’d like to hear us catch up with or if you have comments about the show, please send us an email at nativelights@ampers.org

Native Lights and Minnesota Native News is produced by Ampers, diverse radio for Minnesota’s communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.