Young & Indigenous

In this episode, we speak with Tallie Jones, former Executive Director of Mindport Exhibits, about growing up in Whatcom County, her evolving understanding of Indigenous history, and the role education plays in shaping public awareness. She also reflects on closing a meaningful chapter at Mindport Exhibits and the conversations that led to the building being gifted to Setting Sun Circle. This new...

In this new podcast series, we explore what Land Back can look like in practice while challenging the lack of cultural awareness surrounding the history of Whatcom County. Through conversations with community members, we aim to share a fuller and more truthful understanding of this place and the Indigenous peoples who have called it home since time immemorial. In this episode, we speak with Darrel...

In this powerful episode, co-hosts Santana and Haley sit down with Chief Beverly Cook of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, to discuss the toxic legacy of industrial contamination along the St. Lawrence River. They explore how pollution from General Motors, Reynolds Metals, and Alcoa Aluminum led to dangerously high levels of PCBs in the water—and how that contamination ultimately made its way into wom...

This special crossover episode marks the launch of our Young and Indigenous at Bioneers series and continues the ongoing conversations from Healing Women Heals Mother Earth. Co-hosts Haley and Santana speak with Amy Bowers Cordalis, a Yurok attorney and activist, about the historic removal of the Klamath River dams. Recorded live at the 2025 Bioneers Conference, the conversation explores how resto...

In this mic drop of an episode that launches the YAI at BIONEERS series, Raven and Santana sit down with Emmy-nominated host, writer and public speaker Baratunde Thurston. In this conversation they discuss healthy masculinity, storytelling as resistance, and maintaining Indigenous values in the age of AI. Together, they explore what it means to carry and protect information in an era of knowledge...

In this special series, the Young and Indigenous podcast team dives into conversations with 16 Indigenous and allied environmental leaders, recorded over three days at the 2025 Bioneers Conference. With a crew of eight young Native changemakers, this marks our most ambitious series yet — capturing voices from across Turtle Island and beyond. From water protectors to culture keepers, the interviews...

Wykeklyaa, Haley, and Santana get into what it’s like navigating the world as Indigenous women — from the people who shaped them to the stereotypes they’re still breaking down. We’ve been calling this the women’s episode and honestly… what if every month were Women’s History Month? It’s real talk on growing up on the rez, pushing back on expectations, and finding your own way. Oh, and did we menti...

Tune in as a powerful group of Young and Indigenous women share their raw, real, and deeply personal stories as caregivers. From being sisters, aunties, and cousins to navigating love, loss, and legacy — they open up about the humor and hard truths of caring for those they love most.

Frances Charles is a proud member of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. She has served as the chairwoman for over two decades. She is a dedicated advocate for dam removal, salmon restoration, and the protection of Mother Earth and traditional homelands. Listen as we discuss her leadership as Chairwoman, the Elwha Dam removal, and how she takes care of her mind, body, and spirit. Healing Women Heals Mo...

Kayeloni Scott is a proud member of Spokane who also descends from Nez Perce. She is the director of the Columbia and Snake River Campaign working to recover salmon populations and a free flowing Snake River. Listen in as we discuss the work she’s involved in, the power of supporting each other as women, and how she takes care of her mind, body, and spirit.  Healing Women Heals Mother Earth i...

Vanessa Castle is a proud member of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Tribal Engagement Coordinator at Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group. Listen as we discuss the work she’s involved in, the Elwha Dam removal, and how she takes care of her mind, body, and spirit. Healing Women Heals Mother Earth is a podcast series highlighting the unique role Indigenous women play in cultural preser...

Tune in with Alyssa Macy, a proud member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and CEO of Washington Conservation Action. Listen as we discuss the work she’s involved in, overcoming cancer, and how she takes care of her mind, body, and spirit. Healing Women Heals Mother Earth is a podcast series highlighting the unique role Indigenous women play in cultural preservation, environmental steward...

Tokala Tatum is a writer, director, producer, and overall creative descending from the Yakama and Rosebud Sioux Tribes. Tune in to see how he is continuing to push Native American storytelling through different mediums and how his culture and upbringing have influenced his art.

Do you vote? Setting Sun staff members from different backgrounds all answer one question: Does voting matter?  Discussion from both tribal and non-tribal backgrounds, tune in to find out why we vote!

Dionisio or “Nish” Romero is a Coast Salish artist, carver, and canoe paddler from the Nooksack Tribe in Bellingham, Washington.  After almost 2 years in industry, Nish is a gallery-level carver at just 24 years old.  Nish takes after his great grandfather, Spud Cooper, another master carver.  Listen in as we discuss the carving life, cultural teachings, and how he follows in his gr...

During the Bioneers Conference in March of 2024, YTLP members Roy, Free, Raven, and Cyrus were blessed with the opportunity to sit down with Oren and Rex Lyons. Oren Lyons is the Wolf Clan Faithkeeper of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. A lacrosse player, father, climate activist, and a highly respected elder across Indian Country, Oren Lyons joins us with his son Rex to speak...

Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled tribal member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants , which has earned Kimmerrer wide acclaim. Her first book, Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses , was awarded the John Burroughs Medal for outstanding natu...

Alexander is the policy lead for RE Sources ’ land use and water protection programs. Alexander completed a graduate program in Environmental Policy at Western Washington University in 2022, where his research focused on how community-driven forest stewardship can help restore the Nooksack watershed. Having grown up in southern Oregon, Alexander graduated from the University of Oregon with a degre...

Happy Mother’s Day! Join Wykeklyaa and Roy as they sit down with their mothers to talk about the true essence of motherhood. From cherished memories to the joy and challenges, its a heartwarming episode you won’t want to miss!

NSEA is the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association. Darrell Grey has been the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) Project Manager for nearly 30 years leading conservation projects and managing restoration efforts in his time with the organization.  James Vanderhoort joined NSEA after graduating from Western Washington University and will step into the role of co-project manager as...

We continue our PLANTS series with Sadie Olsen, a proud member of the Lummi Nation. Sadie is also a co-founder of Whiteswan Environmental (WE), an Indigenous led 501(c)(3) whose mission is to support community healing through the natural, cultural and historical restoration to the Salish Sea for 7th generation sustainability as a measure of ecological health protection for all. Sadie shares about...

Continuing on from our last episode, Morgan Brown is a Tsimshian mother, auntie, sister, and daughter. Morgan works as the Environmental Education Coordinator and Indigenous Science Educator for the Swinomish Tribe. She considers her students to be some of her biggest teachers. Morgan’s inspiration and knowledge fall in the realms of traditional plant medicine, first foods, seed keeping and seed r...

Morgan Brown is a Tsimshian mother, auntie, sister, and daughter. She primarily works in the public high school with Indigenous youth. Morgan considers her students to be some of her biggest teachers. Morgan’s inspiration and knowledge fall in the realms of traditional plant medicine, first foods, seed keeping, seed reMatriation, weaving, Sm’algyax language revitalization, poetry, birth keeping, m...

Anna Cook is a member of the Swinomish Tribe in the Pacific Northwest of Washington state. Anna grew up in and around the Swinomish community learning about what it means to be Swinomish. Living with her parents and grandparents, Anna learned to live off the land, and to be grateful for everything provided by it. Anna continued her passion for plants after school, making her way back home to help...

Challenge your growth and establish your roots in this all new series: PLANTS! PLANTS is a podcast series dedicated to sharing indigenous plant knowledge and values. Come learn and grow with us on this journey, as we delve further into the world of PLANTS!