On today’s show, we turn the microphone on each other! No guest today… instead, we ask each other some questions about our own purpose and passions, starting with music.
Native Lights
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.
Christina Wood’s Gift for Busting Bias Through Art
On today’s show, we talk with Christina Woods (Bois Forte Tribal Nation) who is the first Anishinaabikwe to be the Executive Director of the Duluth Art Institute. Christina is also currently performing in the play The UnPlugging presented by New Native Theatre in Minneapolis.
Cece Benimon’s Gift for Connecting Kids with Culture & Conservation
On today’s show, we talk with Cece Benimon (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) who is the family liaison for Anishinaabe Academy, a Minneapolis school with a Native-centered curriculum. Cece shares some of the different ways the school is revitalizing and Indigenizing curriculum.
Cece Benimon’s Gift for Connecting Kids with Culture & ConservationRead More
Amber Buckanaga’s Gift for Art and Fashion Design
On today’s show, we have a fun conversation with Amber Buckanaga (Leech Lake Band) who is an artist, fashion designer, and mother. Amber left her career in education, to follow her artistic dreams, which led to sewing, then designing fashions, and eventually the runways of NYC’s fashion week!
How Visionaries Deb Foster and Mike Laverdure Create Healing Spaces
We meet Deb Foster (Ojibwe), the Executive Director of Ain Dah Yung, and Mike Laverdure (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota), a partner with DSGW Architects. Deb Foster and Mike Laverdure both played leading roles in the creation of Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung, a beautiful new apartment building in St. Paul, where formerly homeless Native young adults can live, reconnect to culture, and get job skills. Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung opened in November of 2019.
How Visionaries Deb Foster and Mike Laverdure Create Healing SpacesRead More
Donald Eubanks’ Gift for Speaking Out for Racial and Social Justice
On today’s show, we speak with fellow podcaster and Mille Lacs band member Donald Eubanks who recently retired from teaching social work at Metropolitan University, where he was an associate professor. Previously, Donald Eubanks served two terms as Commissioner of Health and Human Services for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
Donald Eubanks’ Gift for Speaking Out for Racial and Social JusticeRead More
Vern Northrup Honors the Spirit of Fire and Shares His Gift for Visual Storytelling
On Native Lights, we speak to Vern Northrup (Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe) who is a visual storyteller and a retired wildland firefighter. He shares his knowledge and cultural perspective of fire – from the spirit of fire to the practice of controlled burns.
Vern Northrup Honors the Spirit of Fire and Shares His Gift for Visual StorytellingRead More
Dalton Walker’s Gift for Sharing Stories
Today we are revisiting our conversation with Dalton Walker (Red Lake Anishinaabe) who is Deputy Managing Editor for Indian Country Today. Dalton Walker shares how he followed his teenage dreams of expanding on the kind of coverage he would see in newspapers about Native people. Dalton also has contributed to Minnesota Native News’ pandemic coverage …
A Gift for Revitalization with Language Warrior Anton Treuer
What does it take to keep the Ojibwe language thriving even as fewer first speakers are available to teach? Anton Treuer embraces this challenge with both timeless wisdom and the latest technology.
A Gift for Revitalization with Language Warrior Anton TreuerRead More
Briand Morrison’s Gift for Combining Jazz Guitar and Anishinaabe Heritage
On today’s show, we revisit our conversation with Briand Morrison (Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) a renowned jazz guitar player, composer, and son of the late George Morrison, the well-known visual artist. We talk with Briand about his music and his path to reclaiming his Anishinaabe Heritage, and how culture and identity inspires his artistry.
Briand Morrison’s Gift for Combining Jazz Guitar and Anishinaabe HeritageRead More
Madonna Peltier Yawakie’s Gift for Connecting Tribal Communities through Technology
On today’s show, we talk with Madonna Yawakie (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) who is the President of Turtle Island Communications, Inc. (TICOM)
Madonna Peltier Yawakie’s Gift for Connecting Tribal Communities through TechnologyRead More
Michael Lyons’ Gift for teaching Ojibwe Language with Puppets, Cartoons, and Song
On today’s show, we talk with Anishinaabe author and artist, Michael Lyons, who is the creator of “Boozhoo Nanaboozhoo,” The program explores Ojibwe language and culture, through skits, music, and conversations.
Michael Lyons’ Gift for teaching Ojibwe Language with Puppets, Cartoons, and SongRead More