Downstream Podcast

Before the launch of the podcast, CRBI hosted a live Panel Discussion, at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.  In this recording of the live event you will hear three indigenous leaders from the Muskogee, Cherokee, and Choctaw tribes share their perspectives on the challenges we face to conservation and what we can do to create more informed decisions for the future of our environment and communities....

When Marcus Briggs-Cloud began his journey to revitalize the Muskogee language, he realized that a large portion of the lexicon he wanted to revive was no longer viable because the colonial world had evolved so far from his ancestral ways of living. In this conversation, we discover what it takes to return to traditional ways of living, wherein his ancestral language remains relevant. You will hea...

LeAnne Howe is an esteemed novelist, poet, filmmaker, playwright, and member of the Choctaw Nation whose work resonates with vibrant humor and profound insight. In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of storytelling and humor. We explore how meditation and a mindful presence can dramatically influence our approach to new creative endeavors, from writing fiction to tackling pressin...

How did colonialism impact our communities and their sense of connection and belonging in the natural world?  ‘Aniyvwiya’, meaning first people, was the name ‘Cherokee’ people gave themselves before colonization.  In this week’s episode we talk to Elder Mary Crowe from the Qualla boundary of the Eastern Band Cherokee about the importance of knowing our history and the transformative power of langu...

How does our understanding of origin stories and spirituality impact the way we engage with our environment? In this episode, we talk to Reverend Chebon Kernell, Executive Director at the Native American Comprehensive Plan of the United Methodist Church and former Executive Secretary of Native American/Indigenous Ministries at the General Board of Global Ministries. We discuss how origin stories i...

'Gadugi,' roughly translating to 'service' in English, holds profound significance for the Cherokee community. In this episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Bryant, the founder and director of Appalachian State University’s Gadugi Partnership. Dr. Bryant shares insights into how this ethos of cooperation, both in caring for community members and the Earth, manifests in their com...

How do you keep hope alive when you are fighting for the right to clean water against seemingly insurmountable odds? In this episode, we talk to Rebecca Jim, Tar Creekeeper, and Executive Director of LEAD Agency in Miami, Oklahoma. Rebecca is a Cherokee whose ancestors called our watershed home and, to this day, consider many places in our watershed sacred sites. We discuss the challenges faced by...

Welcome to the Downstream Podcast! In Episode 1, your hosts Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman and Courtney Altice of Coosa River Basin Initiative, along with Dr. Jim Watkins of Berry College, map out the terrain we will explore over the next 8 episodes. They discuss the history of forced removal, why they felt it was important to incorporate the perspectives of indigenous people from Northwest Georgia and...

Welcome to Downstream Podcast, where members of the Coosa River Basin Initiative engage with Indigenous leaders and activists from the Cherokee, Muscogee, and Choctaw tribes in thought provoking conversations on the challenges of modern day conservation. For more information visit  www.coosa.org