Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations

Indigenous lifeways as solutions: Wakinyan LaPointe on staying grounded in the cultural teachings of song and the intelligence of Indigenous youth activists

Native Lights

In this episode, we chat with human rights advocate, singer, storyteller, and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities American Studies doctoral student Wakinyan LaPointe.

Wakinyan, a Sicangu (Burnt Thigh) Lakota citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, focuses his studies on Indigenous rights, human rights, and youth organizing. He describes how his work with Indigenous young people, Indigenous people across the globe, and water scholars has informed his understanding of how to generate a sustainable future. One strategy he shares is the deepening of Indigenous youth’s relationship with their ancestral waterways, which has shown to improve water and land health.

For Wakinyan, having his parents share stories and cultural traditions with him during his childhood – spent in Washington, California, and the Rosebud reservation before landing in Minneapolis – was foundational to his understanding of self and the world. Today, Wakinyan uses these teachings and those embedded within the songs he sings to reclaim his time from the “weeds of academia” and establish a healthy grounding to his days.

Tune in for an engaging conversation with one of today’s most vibrant, Indigenous artist scholars!

Subscribe to Native Lights wherever you get your podcasts

Apple PodcastsSpotifyRadio PublicRSS


More from Native Lights

  • Nikki Love (Pieratos): Keeping Relatives and Neighbors Safe in Uncertain Times
    Today, we are honored to welcome Nikki Love (Pieratos) to the Native Lights podcast. An enrolled citizen of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Nikki is the executive director of the Tiwahe Foundation, which is a community organization serving Native people around Minnesota. She’s also a part of the Metro Urban Indian Directors. Nikki shares her insight on what keeps her grounded and how keeping a prayerful attitude and a focus on the present helps keeps her from dwelling in fear and negativity.
  • Robert Lilligren: the Native community responds to Minneapolis ICE operations
    Today, we bring you a special edition of Native Lights. We’re talking with Robert Lilligren, CEO of the Native American Community Development Institute, which is based in Minneapolis. He is also a White Earth citizen. Robert discusses the unprecedented deployment of some 2,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents to Minneapolis, how that has impacted the Native community, and what Indigenous leaders and organizations are doing to educate and protect the community.
  • Victoria Marie: Learning to Surrender
    Today, we’re excited to present Victoria Marie, an enrolled tribal member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. She’s the founder and owner of Indigenous Lotus, a wellness program that combines yoga classes, tribal dance, exercise and meditation with an emphasis on helping people cope with stress and trauma. Those stressors can include PTSD, homelessness, sexual exploitation and poverty.