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.
In this week’s show Leah and Cole are live from the Minnesota State Fair with two great guests. We discuss Native representation at the fair and beyond.
Our first guest today is Andy Vig! Andy is an enrolled member of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, who is the director of SMSC’s community center, called Hoċokata Ti, which opened in 2019. We talked with him about Hoċokata Ti and SMSC’s exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair. SMSC is in its second year of being involved at the state fair. Their exhibit included information about the tribe, including their initiatives; Understand Native MN and Native Green. In addition, fairgoers were able to take home a beautiful calendar featuring Dakota seasons and language.
We also catch up with Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Band of Ojibwe), who appeared on our first State Fair show back in 2019. We talk with her about Native representation at the fair, and the growing representation in film and TVs, including Lt. Gov’s personal favorite Rutherford Falls.
Chi-Miigwech to Andy Vig and Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan for stopping out for our live show. We chatted with them live at the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday September 4th 2022.
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. Online at https://minnesotanativenews.org/
Subscribe to Native Lights wherever you get your podcasts
More from Native Lights
- From Lattes to Legacy: The Grand Opening of MiigWitches Brew
In this episode, we sit down with Jackson Ripley, a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, enrolled at the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jackson shares the inspiring story behind MiigWitches Brew, a cozy gourmet coffee kiosk he recently opened with his wife. Operating from an 8×10 ft. building, MiigWitches Brew is more than just … - Creating Representation: Nicholas DeShaw’s Path in Fiction and Storytelling
In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Bimibatoo Mishtadim DeShaw, an Ojibwe author, father, and educator. Nicholas masterfully blends his Indigenous heritage with imaginative fiction across a wide range of genres, from sci-fi and horror to children’s picture books. He shares his journey as a writer, discussing his latest projects, including a new graphic … - Stitch by Stitch: Janice LaFloe’s Journey of Indigenizing Montessori Education
In this episode, we speak with Janice LaFloe, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Executive Director of the Montessori American Indian Childcare Center (MAICC) in St. Paul. Janice shares her remarkable journey from being a Montessori parent to establishing one of the largest Montessori centers dedicated to American Indian children. Her …
AIM Begins 11-Week Walk for Leonard Peltier