Best Aboriginal Americans Podcasts (2024)

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Why Canada Needs Natives Needy: Part 3 (ep 352) 1:17:22

3h ago1:17:22

1:17:22

On this week’s collected, connected conversations (the third in our summer series): our third installment of Why Canada Needs Natives Needy, in which we debunk diagnoses of Indigenous impoverishment peddled by settlers, often to their own benefit. And while some come off as almost comical, others appear downright disturbing. Featured voices this po…

1
Ed Groat (Mohawk) Part 2

2d ago

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I tell people that I had a drug problem when I was young. Our church was Sunday afternoon on the reservation. I got drug to church on Sunday afternoon, and I got drug to church on Sunday evening, and I got drug to church on prayer meeting night. So that was my drug problem.

1
Why Canada Needs Natives Needy: Part 2 (ep 351) 58:21

10d ago58:21

58:21

On this week’s collected, connected conversations (the second in our summer series): part two of Why Canada Needs Natives Needy, our comprehensive look at the systematic incapacitation of Indigenous peoples, and how Canada’s overt efforts at social disintegration have fostered generations of individual displacement and disconnection. Featured voice…

1
Ed Groat (Mohawk) Part 1

9d ago

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Ed was raised by his grandma until she died when he was fourteen years old. His uncle was as close to a dad as he ever had. He didn't know who his real dad was. His grandma sent him to boarding school because she couldn't afford to keep him.

1
Frank Ward (Cree) Part 2

16d ago

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Frank speaks candidly about the quest for love. He shares how he would do things he knew weren't right in order to gain the acceptance of others. He would come to realize though that all he needed was found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

1
Why Canada Needs Natives Needy: Part 1 (ep 350) 55:50

14m ago55:50

55:50

The MEDIA INDIGENA 2024 Summer Series—our classic compendia of collected, connected conversations drawn from our voluminous eight-year archive—begins with the first in a five-part compilation, 'Why Canada Needs Natives Needy,' a wide-ranging rundown of all the ways this country has produced and perpetuates Indigenous dependency. And here in round o…

1
Frank Ward (Cree) Part 1

23d ago

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Frank grew up in the Cree community of Loon Lake, Alberta. He remembers good times with family in the bush, hunting and trapping. He reflects on the blessing of having a dad and a mom. And he speaks about his spiritual journey, how he came to understand that he had a problem he couldn't fix.

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Why Indigenous-led Genomics Matters: Part II (ep 349) 38:17

26d ago38:17

38:17

On this week’s round table—the last all-new episode before our summer series launches—the second half of our special live on location look at Indigenous-led genomics. Recorded at the Global Indigenous Leadership in Genomics Symposium at UBC back in May, part one brought us the basics of genomics, how it differs from genetics, and how Indigenous gen…

1
Emerson Falls (Sac and Fox) Part 2

1M ago

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Emerson joined the army. It was a rebellious time in his life and he was getting into trouble. One day, someone stole some money from another person's locker. The commanding officer told Emerson he knew that he had taken the money. When he asked why the CO thought that, the officer said, "because you're nothing but a worthless human being." Emerson…

1
Emerson Falls (Sac and Fox) Part 1

1M ago

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Emerson was raised in an urban setting away from the reservation. But home was where the relatives were and they would go back often. His dad raised the family Christian after being coming out of the traditional way. Emerson followed, but later began to question what he believed.

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Why Indigenous-led Genomics Matters: Part I (ep 348) 42:53

1M ago42:53

42:53

What is genomics? In what ways might Indigenous genomics differ from its mainstream counterpart? And why is it important they be Indigenous-led? Answers to those questions and more on this special edition of MEDIA INDIGENA, recorded live on location at the Global Indigenous Leadership in Genomics Symposium, hosted this past May at the University of…

1
Connie Hayes (Colville, Creek, Cherokee)

1M ago

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Though originally from Washington State, she was raised by her grandparents in rural Oklahoma. When she was three, her father was shot and killed. Thankfully, she had her grandparents who provided a stable, loving environment... and made a lasting impact on her life.

1
Paul Frost (Yup'ik) Part 3

2M ago

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"I wanted to go do these drugs cause I hadn't done them for quite some time and it was time for me to do them again. I used to go on three-day binges. I would disappear and my wife and kids didn't know where I was. They didn't know if I was dead or alive or nothing." Listen as Paul shares his battle with addiction and how it finally came to an end.…

1
Paul Frost (Yup'ik) Part 2

2M ago

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Working on the Alaska pipeline, Paul got into drugs and alcohol. It changed his life. His addictions had full control over him, until one night, when he had a dream so terrifying, that it caught his full attention.

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Close Encounters of the Colonial Kind: Part 2 (ep 347) 1:18:38

1M ago1:18:38

1:18:38

This week: our return to the realm of IZ, the personification of critical Indigenous studies as imagined by MEDIA INDIGENA regular Kim TallBear (University of Alberta professor of Native Studies), a character she embodied in her keynote at “Of the Land and Water: Indigenous Sexualities, Genders and Ways of Being,” hosted earlier this year in Whiteh…

1
Paul Frost (Yup'ik) Part 1

2M ago

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He was in a fist fight at least twice a week, every week for most of his schooling... because of the way he looked. He didn't fit in with the white kids... he didn't fit in with the Native kids. Listen as Paul shares about the early days of his journey and how that would influence his outlook in the days to come.…

1
Adrienne Kinney (Cheyenne/Arapaho) Part 2

2M ago

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Where was the peace that others seemed to have? As she looked around, she couldn't help but notice. How come she couldn't find it? It seems she'd been fighting for something all her life... perhaps just fighting to survive. She'd learned that in her youth. But she wanted what these folks had. Listen as she shares how she finally found what she was …

1
Adrienne Kinney (Cheyenne/Arapaho) Part 1

3M ago

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Adrienne recalls as a young girl how she was sick at school one day. As the teacher took her home, all she could think about was what they were going to find when they got there. She wanted to jump out of the car and run into the house so no one would see what she was afraid of.

1
Vince Garcia (Navajo)

3M ago

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Vince was kicked out of his home at the age of 11 because he stood in the way of his father abusing his mother. He quickly learned how to live on the streets of Chicago. Trouble was something he was very familiar with. His life was careening out of control and he was headed for disaster when God came into his life and changed everything.…

1
Ryan O'Leary (Ojibwe)

3M ago

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Ryan grew up with sports, but he was especially good at hockey... so good in fact that he was eventually drafted by a professional hockey team. He wasn't content though - something was missing.

1
Fort Stanwix, 1758 21:32

3M ago21:32

21:32

Send us a Text Message. This fort, and related treaty, is referenced in later treaties. Why? References https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Stanwix https://www.nps.gov/fost/learn/historyculture/index.htm https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/a-timeline-history-of-the-oneida-carry.htm https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/pontiacs-war-featur…

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Ray Sparklingeyes (Cree) Part 3

3M ago

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Ray shares how his grandfather told him stories that were handed down from his people... stories that were very scary and brought fear to him as a child. He shares one of these along with the impact that it had on him then, and the perspective that he has about it now.

1
Ray Sparklingeyes (Cree) Part 2

4M ago

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Ray recalls a sobering moment: "When I woke up, I was sick. Not only from what I had drank that previous night, but the burden of sin was heavy upon me. And not only that but, I was so sick I knew if I died at that moment, I wasn't prepared to meet God."

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From perogies to pemmican: what can two men switched at birth tell us about Indigenous belonging? (ep 346) 30:51

3M ago30:51

30:51

In this back half of our longer-than-expected mini INDIGENA, host/producer Rick Harp picks up where he left off (drinking deeply of coffee, commodity fetishism and character actor Wallace Shawn) with Kim TallBear (University of Alberta professor in the Faculty of Native Studies and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples, Technoscience and Soci…

1
Ray Sparklingeyes (Cree) Part 1

4M ago

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Ray grew up in northern Alberta. He loved ball games, dances, and the pleasures of life in his youth. But he had no peace. One of his friends though seemed to have what he was looking for. Ray noticed and was curious. Inner peace can be allusive, and finding it can be a journey. This was the journey Ray found himself on.…

1
Spilling the beans on Indigenous involvement in the coffee trade (ep 345) 30:38

3M ago30:38

30:38

For our latest mini INDIGENA (the sweet + sour version of MEDIA INDIGENA), we yank on the global supply chain linking locals in Campbell River, B.C. to the opening of what’s only the second “Indigenous-operated, licensed Starbucks store” in Canada. And just like last time—when our MINI went long on what we meant to be just our opening topic—our con…

1
Venus Cote (Saulteaux) Part 3

4M ago

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God tells us in His Word that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. That's exactly what happened to Venus. When she put her trust in Jesus God took her broken life and changed it. He made something beautiful out of the ashes of deep pain and grief. Life was still hard, but things were different now. God gave her purpose, hope, and a very br…

1
A Plethora of Pretendianism: Pt 2 (ep 344) 43:10

4M ago43:10

43:10

This week: building upon last episode's commanding talk by MI's own Kim TallBear, in which she highlighted the insatiable settler drive to consume all things Indigenous—including so-called ‘identity’ claims staked by individuals—host/producer Rick Harp discusses her insights with fellow roundtable regulars Ken Williams (associate professor with the…

1
Venus Cote (Saulteaux) Part 2

4M ago

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In deep distress Venus cried, "I can't do this anymore. I can not do this anymore." Her heart was so broken that she didn't believe it could be repaired. What would cause Venus to feel this way? And is there anything that could fix it? Join us for part 2 of Venus Cote's amazing story. And make sure that you don't miss part three... because the best…

1
Mississauga Treaties of 1820 15:57

4M ago15:57

15:57

Send us a Text Message. Land "purchases" made around the Credit River region. References: https://www.mississauga.ca/our-organization/about-our-organization/why-were-called-mississauga/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississaugas Archeologists have discovered a mystery at the bottom of Lake Huron https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sev…

1
Venus Cote (Saulteaux) Part 1

5M ago

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Venus' life got off to a tragic start. As a little girl she saw her dad kill her mom. And this was only the beginning our her heartache and pain. Listen as she opens her heart and shares about the early years of her life in part one of her remarkable journey.

51
A Plethora of Pretendianism: Pt. 1 (ep 343) 56:04

4M ago56:04

56:04

On this week’s program: a plethora of pretendianism! So much, in fact, it’s going to take two whole episodes to fit it all in. And here in part one, we take our deepest dive yet into the ultimate underpinnings of pretendianism—the political imperatives of whiteness. Driving the insatiable settler urge to possess every last thing, fueling the desire…

1
Larry Edd (Navajo) Part 2

5M 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
Larry Edd (Navajo) Part 1

5M 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.

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

5M 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
Nida Nelson (Aleut) Part 3

5M 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
Saginaw/Chippewa Treaty of 1819 15:25

5M ago15:25

15:25

Send us a Text Message. References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Saginaw Quebec Act 1774 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-act Sosin, J.M., ed. (1969). The Opening of the West. Harper & Row, New York. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/pontiacs-war-feature https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/art…

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

6M 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

6M 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
Nida Nelson (Aleut) Part 1

6M 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
Unflagging settler colonialism in Minnesota / Mni Sóta Makoce (ep 340) 54:17

6M 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)

6M 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
Winnie Bair (Cree)

6M 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.

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The Anglo-American Convention of 1818 14:28

6M ago14:28

14:28

Send us a Text Message. Who was involved in the creation of the Canada-USA International Border? References Treaty of 1818 - Wikipedia Albert Gallatin - Wikipedia United States House Committee on Ways and Means - Wikipedia Richard Rush - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush–Bagot_Treaty F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich - Wikipedia Henr…

1
Shawn Whitey (Navajo)

7M 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.

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

7M 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)

7M 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
Bob Moberly (Dene)

7M 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
Ralph Hamblin (Sac and Fox) Part 2

7M 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.

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

7M 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…

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