Native Lights

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 also catch up with Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Band of Ojibwe), who appeared on our first State Fair show back in 2019.

Native Representation at the Great Minnesota Get-TogetherRead More

Today we’ll chat with State Representative and Entrepreneur Jamie Becker-Finn (Leech Lake). Recently she celebrated the opening of her coffee shop – Makwa Coffee. We talk with Jamie about the first few weeks of Makwa Coffee, how she got the idea amidst the pandemic and how the community has supported Makwa so far.

Jamie Becker-Finn’s Path to Bringing Community TogetherRead More

On today’s show, Leah and Cole chat with Marisa Miakonda Cummings (Umonhon). She’s the President/CEO of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. The MIWRC empowers Native women and families to exercise their cultural values and integrity, and to achieve sustainable lifeways, while advocating for justice and equity.

Marisa Miakonda Cummings’ Gift for Leadership and Empowering Native WomenRead More

On today’s show, we talk with Megan Lhotka, a descendant of the White Earth Nation. Megan is a Facilitator for the White Earth Indigenous Parent Leadership Initiative (IPLI), a training program that guides parents to become leading advocates for children using a cultural lens.

Megan Lhotka’s Gift For Teaching and Family EmpowermentRead More

Tadd was recently appointed to the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents, where he is serving the 8th Congressional District and as the first Native person to be a part of the school’s governing body. Tadd talked about how he got to be appointed to the board; what the board does and why it’s important for the school to finally have Native representation and dialogue with tribal nations.

Tadd Johnson’s Gift of Leadership and AdvocatingRead More

She talks about how culture leads the work she does and how Native teachings help empower, educate, and mentor Native families, children, and childcare providers. Barb has led numerous projects that aim to improve childcare systems throughout Indian country.

Juliet Rudie Leads Minnesota’s new Office of Missing And Murdered Indigenous RelativesRead More

She talks about how culture leads the work she does and how Native teachings help empower, educate, and mentor Native families, children, and childcare providers. Barb has led numerous projects that aim to improve childcare systems throughout Indian country.

Barb Fabre’s Gift for Empowering Native Families and ChildrenRead More

We talk with Emma about the impacts of environmental issues locally and nationally, and how caring about those issues led her on her journey of storytelling. Emma co-hosts and reports on Indigenous issues as a part of Native Roots Radio’s daily radio show “I’m Awake” and for us at Minnesota Native News. 

Emma Needham’s Gift For Uplifting Indigenous PerspectivesRead More

On today’s show, we talk with Darek Delille (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Artistic Producer at New Native Theatre, community organizer, musician and audio artist. Darek now lives in Southeast Minneapolis after living on Fond du Lac for many years.

Darek DeLille’s Gift for Building Up Community & Audio ArtsRead More

Today, a lively conversation with Khayman Goodsky (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa) a Duluth filmmaker. Khayman tells about how she first found her path, her love of comic books and cosplay, and how she enjoys the whole collaboration process.

Filmmaker Khayman Goodsky’s Gift for Visual Storytelling and CollaborationRead More

On today’s show, we talk with Great-Grandmother Mary Lyons (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) a spiritual advisor, storyteller, activist, wisdom keeper, and revered elder. Mary Lyons is the founder of the Minnesota Coalition on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and serves as a counselor for the women’s sobriety group, which she also co-founded, called Women of Wellbriety International.

Great-Grandmother Mary Lyons’ Gift for Sharing Indigenous Traditions & Spiritual GuidanceRead More

On today’s show, we talk with Joe Rainey (Red Lake Nation), an Ojibwe Pow Wow singer, music archivist, and collaborative music maker. Joe grew up in south Minneapolis and now lives in Wisconsin with his wife and five children.

Joe Rainey’s Gift for Pow Wow Singing and Collaborative Music MakingRead More