Best Native American Podcasts (2024)

1
Larry Edd (Navajo) Part 2

5h ago

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When Larry's wife became a Christian he noticed a real change in her life. He saw how peaceful she was, even when they were encountering spiritual darkness. He wanted what she had. Larry speaks about the reality of death, the emptiness he saw in ritual, and the hope that he has found in Jesus Christ.…

1
Indigenous playwrights take centre stage 54:08

3d ago54:08

54:08

“Humour is the WD40 of healing.” Indigenous playwrights are telling stories their own way – and it includes a lot of laughter! This week Rosanna explores what’s behind a shift in the theatre world that has Indigenous playwrights showing works on about a dozen of the biggest stages in Canada. They’re moving away from the early years of tackling most…

1
Larry Edd (Navajo) Part 1

7d ago

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Larry shares about the reality of spiritual darkness, traditions, and his quest for truth. He wasn't satisfied with the answers he was getting. He was looking for something he could confidently believe in.

1
Close Encounters of the Colonial Kind: Pt. 1 (ep 342) 1:06:15

9d ago1:06:15

1:06:15

This week: 'Close Encounters of the Colonial Kind,' the title of a talk given by our very own Kim TallBear (University of Alberta professor of Native Studies) at “Of the Land and Water: Indigenous Sexualities, Genders and Ways of Being,” hosted earlier this year in Whitehorse, YK by the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning. Although rooted in …

1
Dance revolution 50:04

10d ago50:04

50:04

Resistance and rebellion run deep in the history of dance in Indigenous communities. Margaret Grenier’s Gitxsan grandmother hid family items in her walls to protect important dance traditions from destruction. This week Rosanna speaks with dancers and choreographers about how they are reviving, restoring and re-imagining the art of dance.…

1
Nida Nelson (Aleut) Part 3

14d ago

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Nida's sister rejected her because of Nida's choice to follow Jesus. But years later tragedy would bring the sisters back together - closer than they had ever been. Then again, tragedy struck. But this time it would result in death. Listen as Nida shares what happened and the confidence she has that she'll see her sister again.…

1
Is the Supreme Court ruling on Canada's Indigenous child welfare law a victory for the status quo? (ep 341) 50:54

20d ago50:54

50:54

On this week’s Indigenous round table: legal limbo? Did the Supreme Court's recent rejection of Quebec’s constitutional challenge to Bill C-92 really cement the self-determination of Indigenous peoples on child welfare? Or did it seal in the status quo, one where the feds still hold all the cards and all the funds? A ruling described as “very beaut…

1
Nida Nelson (Aleut) Part 2

21d ago

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Nida finally found what she'd been searching for. You can hear the joy in her voice as she recalls the moment that she did. She was at peace with God. But life was still filled with challenges. Find out what happens next as she comes home from church to a husband whose been drinking.

1
Sarah Keyes, "American Burial Ground: A New History of the Overland Trail" (U Pennsylvania Press, 2023) 1:10:20

22d ago1:10:20

1:10:20

The Overland Trail into the American West is one of the most culturally recognizable symbols of the American past: white covered wagons traversing the plains, filled with heroic pioneers embodying the nation's manifest destiny. In American Burial Ground: A New History of the Overland Trail (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2023), University of Nev…

1
Gregory D. Smithers, "Native Southerners: Indigenous History from Origins to Removal" (U Oklahoma Press, 2019) 1:07:28

24d ago1:07:28

1:07:28

In his book, Native Southerners: Indigenous History from Origins to Removal(University of Oklahoma Press, 2019), Dr. Gregory D. Smithers effectively articulates the complex history of Native Southerners. Smithers conveys the history of Native Southerners through numerous historical eras while properly reinterpreting popular misconceptions about the…

1
Food and memory 47:08

24d ago47:08

47:08

For many Indigenous people, food memories are intricately tied to family, community and culture. Meet three Indigenous chefs who are using their food knowledge to transport people to the past and inspire Indigenous menus of the future.

1
Emily Legg, "Stories of Our Living Ephemera: Storytelling Methodologies in the Archives of the Cherokee National Seminaries, 1846-1907" (Utah State UP, 2023) 1:03:08

27d ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Stories of Our Living Ephemera: Storytelling Methodologies in the Archives of the Cherokee National Seminaries, 1846-1907 (Utah State University Press, 2023) recovers the history of the Cherokee National Seminaries from scattered archives and colonized research practices by critically weaving together pedagogy and archival artifacts with Cherokee t…

1
Nida Nelson (Aleut) Part 1

28d ago

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Nida said, "There were things I was doing that I didn't want to do. I was hurting my family. I wanted change in my life and I couldn't do it." That's not an uncommon place to be. But she didn't stay there.

1
Matthew C. Ward, "Making the Frontier Man: Violence, White Manhood, and Authority in the Early Western Backcountry" (U Pittsburgh Press, 2023) 1:18:23

29d ago1:18:23

1:18:23

For western colonists in the early American backcountry, disputes often ended in bloodshed and death. Making the Frontier Man: Violence, White Manhood, and Authority in the Early Western Backcountry (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2023) by Dr. Matthew C. Ward examines early life and the origins of lawless behaviour in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentu…

1
Ian Saxine, "Properties of Empire: Indians, Colonists, and Land Speculators on the New England Frontier" (NYU Press, 2019) 1:26:44

1M ago1:26:44

1:26:44

In Properties of Empire: Indians, Colonists, and Land Speculators on the New England Frontier (NYU Press, 2019), Ian Saxine, Visiting Assistant Professor of History at Bridgewater State University, shows the dynamic relationship between Native and English systems of property on the turbulent edge of Britain’s empire, and how so many colonists came …

1
Claiming space in the Great Outdoors 51:20

1M ago51:20

51:20

Join us as we check out some birds, hit the halfpipe and prepare for the sugar bush. You'll hear how Indigenous nature enthusiasts are empowering others to get outside and claim space in the Great Outdoors.

1
Deborah Taffa, "Whiskey Tender: A Memoir" (Harper, 2024) 1:03:16

1M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Today’s book is: Whiskey Tender: A Memoir (Harper, 2024), by Deborah Jackson Taffa, who was raised to believe that some sacrifices were necessary to achieve a better life. Her grandparents—citizens of the Quechan (Yuma) Nation and Laguna Pueblo tribe—were sent to Indian boarding schools run by white missionaries, while her parents were encouraged t…

1
Unflagging settler colonialism in Minnesota / Mni Sóta Makoce (ep 340) 54:17

1M ago54:17

54:17

This episode, another ‘mini’ INDIGENA (the easy-peasy version of MEDIA INDIGENA)—one where the first item went way longer than anyone expected! Joining host/producer Rick Harp on Tuesday, February 6th were Kim TallBear (University of Alberta professor in the Faculty of Native Studies) and Candis Callison (UBC Associate Professor in the Institute fo…

1
Sam Otter (Cherokee)

1M ago

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Alcohol had Sam. But Sam had friends who really cared for him. In fact, they cared enough not to be silent. He didn't like it when he saw Arthur coming because he knew what he was going to hear. Then his old drinking buddy started showing up - Buck was different now - in a good way, and he wanted that for Sam.…

1
Daniel Immerwahr, "How to Hide an Empire: The History of the Greater United States" (FSG, 2019) 1:19:28

1M ago1:19:28

1:19:28

“Is America an Empire?” is a popular question for pundits and historians, likely because it sets off such a provocative debate. All too often, however, people use empire simply because the United States is a hegemon, ignoring the country’s imperial traits to focus simply on its power. Dr. Daniel Immerwahr’s book How to Hide an Empire: The History o…

1
2SLGBTQ+ Love Songs 53:58

1M ago53:58

53:58

There are a lot of love stories out there, but not everyone can see themselves in them. This week we hear from Trans, Queer and Two Spirit artists on how they’re pushing against heteronormative narratives in today’s love stories and love songs.So everyone can see - and hear - themselves in love.

1
Matthew Kruer, "Time of Anarchy: Indigenous Power and the Crisis of Colonialism in Early America" (Harvard UP, 2021) 1:39:35

1M ago1:39:35

1:39:35

A gripping account of the violence and turmoil that engulfed England’s fledgling colonies and the crucial role played by Native Americans in determining the future of North America. In 1675, eastern North America descended into chaos. Virginia exploded into civil war, as rebel colonists decried the corruption of planter oligarchs and massacred alli…

1
Winnie Bair (Cree)

1M ago

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Have you ever felt wicked because of what someone else did to you? Winnie knows what it's like. How about losing someone close to your heart? She's been there too. Her life was filled with pain and shame. But things are different now... because of Jesus.

1
Gentle book, giant impact: 10 years of Braiding Sweetgrass 51:31

2M ago51:31

51:31

It was an invitation to reconnect with the land, but Robin Wall Kimmerer's bestselling book ended up being more of a call to action. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants is now ten years old. Robin tells us how her humble book of essays spread like seeds in the wind around the world, selling more…

1
Charlotte Coté, "A Drum in One Hand, a Sockeye in the Other: Stories of Indigenous Food Sovereignty from the Northwest Coast" (U Washington Press, 2022) 1:12:15

2M ago1:12:15

1:12:15

Food is at the center of everything, writes University of Washington professor of American Indian Studies Charlotte Coté. In A Drum in One Hand, A Sockeye in the Other: Stories of Indigenous Food Sovereignty from the Northwest Coast (U Washington Press, 2022), Coté shares stories from her own experience growing up and living in the Pacific Northwes…

1
Cynthia J. Sylvester, "The Half-White Album" (U New Mexico Press, 2023) 28:04

2M ago28:04

28:04

Cynthia Sylvester's The Half-White Album (University of New Mexico Press 2023) is a collection of stories, flash fiction, and poems revolving around the journey of a travelling band, The Covers. The stories are songs on the album, beginning with “Live at the House of Towers,” about a woman’s memories of her mother and home. The story of Shima (and …

1
Shawn Whitey (Navajo)

2M ago

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Shawn was close to his grandfather, who had a profound impact on his life. But there was someone else who would have an even greater impact on Shawn... someone who would change his life forever.

1
Suzanne Oakdale, "Amazonian Cosmopolitans: Navigating a Shamanic Cosmos, Shifting Indigenous Policies, and Other Modern Projects" (U Nebraska Press, 2022) 54:22

2M ago54:22

54:22

In Amazonian Cosmopolitans: Navigating a Shamanic Cosmos, Shifting Indigenous Policies, and Other Modern Projects (U Nebraska Press, 2022), Suzanne Oakdale focuses on the autobiographical accounts of two Brazilian Indigenous leaders, Prepori and Sabino, Kawaiwete men whose lives spanned the twentieth century, when Amazonia increasingly became the c…

1
Unmapped: NYC 54:08

2M ago54:08

54:08

We're headed to New York, baby! This episode is part of a travel series from Unreserved called Unmapped. The series invites us to look for the Indigenous presence in some of the most iconic travel destinations around the world. Meet the people who are nurturing community and raising the visibility of Indigenous pasts, presents and futures.…

1
The 'clean, green' face of colonialism (ep 339) 47:02

2M ago47:02

47:02

For our first mini INDIGENA of 2024, Candis Callison (associate professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and Graduate School of Journalism at UBC) and Kenneth T. Williams (associate professor with the University of Alberta’s department of drama), joined host/producer Rick Harp this Friday, January 19th to discuss: Norway to pay Sá…

1
Jess French (Cherokee)

2M ago

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Ever heard voices? Jess did. It shook him up. "So I went to Charles, but I didn't tell him what was going on in my thoughts. I asked him to give me a straight shot of whiskey, and I always had the pills to make me high or low, so I went into the bathroom and took those two elements, and what I was trying to do, I was trying to forget that voice."…

1
Leanne Trapedo Sims, "Reckoning with Restorative Justice: Hawai'i Women's Prison Writing" (Duke UP, 2023) 29:56

2M ago29:56

29:56

In Reckoning with Restorative Justice Hawaii Women's Prison Writing (Duke University Press, 2023), Dr. Leanne Trapedo Sims explores the experiences of women incarcerated at the Women’s Community Correctional Center, the only women’s prison in Hawaii. Adopting a decolonial and pro-abolitionist lens, she focuses mainly on women’s participation in the…

1
Daring to be different as Indigenous entrepreneurs 54:09

2M ago54:09

54:09

Many Indigenous entrepreneurs start their own businesses to fill a void that the mainstream is missing --because they want to create businesses that were better aligned with their values and the values of their communities. From coffee to tech to cosmetics, we hear from entrepreneurs who dared to do things differently. The result is business succes…

1
Scott Gac, "Born in Blood: Violence and the Making of America" (Cambridge UP, 2023) 39:01

2M ago39:01

39:01

Scott Gac's Born in Blood: Violence and the Making of America (Cambridge UP, 2023) investigates one of history's most violent undertakings: The United States of America. People the world over consider violence in the United States as measurably different than that which troubles the rest of the globe, citing reasons including gun culture, the Ameri…

1
Bob Moberly (Dene)

2M ago

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Growing up with alcohol can make a significant impact on a life... and hateful words from those who are close can cut like a knife. Today's Storyteller has experienced both. But, he has not been defeated. He is an overcomer.

1
Blast from the past 46:34

2M ago46:34

46:34

This we go back, waaaaaay back to our second episode ever as a national show. Unreserved turns 10 this year and we’re celebrating how far we’ve come and getting excited about the journey ahead.This episode features 2014 throwbacks to award-winning Cree journalist Connie Walker, Kagagi superhero creator Jay Odjick, Winnipeg visual artist Casey Adams…

1
Robert Michael Morrissey, "People of the Ecotone: Environment and Indigenous Power at the Center of Early America" (U Washington Press, 2022) 1:08:53

2M ago1:08:53

1:08:53

By putting the Midwest at the center of Vast Early America, University of Illinois historian Robert Morrissey reconfigures the power dynamics in the story of North America during the era of colonialism. In his award-winning People of the Ecotone: Environment and Indigenous Power at the Center of Early America (U Washington Press, 2022), Morrissey t…

1
Ralph Hamblin (Sac and Fox) Part 2

2M ago

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Alcohol really took a toll on his family, but for Ralph, it never took hold of him. What is it that made him different? Was it fate? Was it the choices that he made? You may be surprised by what he says. Listen in as Ralph shares the rest of his story.

1
Shaping a Syllabus for Indigenous Podcast Studies (ep 338) 53:51

2M ago53:51

53:51

For our final episode of 2023, a live audience recording from the spring, when we took part in the ICA 2023 Pre-conference, “20 Years of Podcasting: Mapping the Contours of Podcast Studies,” hosted May 24th and 25th at Toronto Metropolitan University. Entitled, “Independent Indigenous podcasting as knowledge production,” this four-person roundtable…

1
CN Indigenous advisory board goes off the rails (ep 337) 1:03:50

2M ago1:03:50

1:03:50

This week, our penultimate program of 2023 reunites Kim and Ken for another mini INDIGENA (the rough and ready version of MEDIA INDIGENA) to discuss an array of items, including: a response to pushback against our discussion (ep 334) about state vs. federal recognition of tribes in the U.S. the mass resignation of CN Rail’s Indigenous Advisory Coun…

1
Marcy Norton, "The Tame and the Wild: People and Animals after 1492" (Harvard UP, 2024) 1:00:38

2M ago1:00:38

1:00:38

In The Tame and the Wild: People and Animals after 1492 (Harvard University Press, 2024), Dr. Marcy Norton offers a dramatic new interpretation of the encounter between Europe and the Americas that reveals the crucial role of animals in the shaping of the modern world. When the men and women of the island of Guanahani first made contact with Christ…

1
Jack Glazier, "Anthropology and Radical Humanism: Native and African American Narratives and the Myth of Race" (MSU Press, 2020) 1:04:27

2M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

Paul Radin was one of the founding generation of American cultural anthropologists: A student of Franz Boas, and famed ethnographer of the Winnebago. Yet little is known about Radin's life. A leftist who was persecuted by the FBI and who lived for several years outside of the United States, and a bohemian who couldn't keep an academic job, there ar…

1
Max Deardorff, "A Tale of Two Granadas: Custom, Community, and Citizenship in the Spanish Empire, 1568–1668" (Cambridge UP, 2023) 1:38:20

3M ago1:38:20

1:38:20

In 1570's New Kingdom of Granada (modern Colombia), a new generation of mestizo (half-Spanish, half-indigenous) men sought positions of increasing power in the colony's two largest cities. In response, Spanish nativist factions zealously attacked them as unequal and unqualified, unleashing an intense political battle that lasted almost two decades.…

1
Ralph Hamblin (Sac and Fox) Part 1

3M ago

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Ralph grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He talks about his roots and talks about his grandmother who had a significant influence on his life. As you listen to him share his story, you'll understand why.

1
Laura Briggs, "Taking Children: A History of American Terror" (U California Press, 2020) 1:19:16

3M ago1:19:16

1:19:16

Laura Briggs’s Taking Children: A History of American Terror (University of California Press 2020) is a forceful and captivating book that readers won’t be able to put down, and that listeners from all sort of backgrounds will definitely want to hear more about. Weaving together histories of Black communities (in the US and the Americas more broadl…

1
Carbon Colonialism and Culpability (ep 336) 54:24

3M ago54:24

54:24

On this week’s round table: colonial carbon culpability. Calling it a “first-of-its-kind analysis,” a recent study by Carbon Brief has crunched the numbers on some 170 years of emissions, seen through the lens of climate justice. Entitled, “How colonial rule radically shifts historical responsibility for climate change,” the report adds a critical …

1
Tom Claus (Mohawk) New Years Special

3M ago

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The Storyteller New Years Special with Tom Claus (Mohawk) New Years Eve is a very special time in the Claus family. It was on that night many years ago on the Six Nations reserve that the family gathered together around the radio and heard a message that would change their lives forever. Listen as Tom reflects on the significance of that day. This …

1
On Native American Warfare: A Discussion with Author and Historian Wayne E. Lee 55:15

3M ago55:15

55:15

How did Native Americans make war, not with European settlers, but amongst themselves? Historian Wayne E. Lee, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, explores this often-neglected question in his book, The Cutting-Off Way: Indigenous Warfare in Eastern North America, 1500-1800 (The University of North Carolina Press, 2023).…

1
Songs and Stories for the Holidays 47:52

3M ago47:52

47:52

This week, ‘tis the season for traditions and gathering around songs and stories. Indigenous people love a good story! Especially during the long cold nights of winter. For Anishinabeg and Gwich'in Knowledge Keeper Jack Hoggarth, sharing traditional stories like those of the Anishinaabe spirit Waynaboozhoo is a connection to our ancestors. Communit…

1
Ep 40 Chunka Luta Podcast Cross-Upload: New Directions 2:15:30

3M ago2:15:30

2:15:30

Join the results of the Bands of Turtle Island rebrand that began at the end of 2022.We are far more than a podcast and I hope this episode explains the New Directions we are headed. I hope you all can understand the hiatuses, and inconsistency, and I hope now that there is an entire org backing this patreon; we can expand and remain consistent. Be…

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