Broken Lands: A Podcast About Reparations and Honoring Our Treaties

For the first time on this podcast we will be inviting our listeners and Patreon members to what we are lifting up as an "elder share." Whenever we offer our listeners and members an "elder share," we kindly request that you pause, open and shift (ie., POS) Pause - come to a still point Open - turn all attention to heart center Shift - breathe in and out of your heart center (4...

In a world that values profit over the truth that sets truth free (i.e., prophet), there is always a need for truth-tellers. So, when a film comes along whose sole purpose and original intent is to set truth free, what will truth-seekers do once they elect to view the documentary? Sugarcane is both a masterpiece of art through nonfiction storytelling and a clarion call to sacred action. Anyone who...

In a world that values profit over the truth that sets truth free (i.e., prophet), there is always a need for truth-tellers. So, when a film comes along whose sole purpose and original intent is to set truth free, what will truth-seekers do once they elect to view the documentary? Sugarcane is both a masterpiece of art through nonfiction storytelling and a clarion call to sacred action. Anyone who...

There's a saying in many ancient traditions, that without love in the heart, life is like a sapless tree in a barren desert.  At 6 foot five, Bryan Newland stands tall, and yet his heart flows within a spiritual current, that knows that he is known by his Creator Spirit who sits atop the crown of this beloved son, sibling, husband, parent, friend, and Ojibwemowin student. Perhaps, of all his accol...

An ancient Tamil proverb from the 1st Century shares a bit of indigenousness from south India; "Without love in the heart, life is like a sapless tree in a barren desert." It is our privilege to cross half of the northern hemisphere to reach New Delhi where we find Seema Shalini Lugun (Adivasi - Munda) from Orisa, India. Seema Shalini shares her world view that has grown from rural triba...

Continuing to center the voices and values of our Indigenous relatives among us, we hear from Colleen Bernu (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa). Deacon Colleen in the Lutheran world represents authentic diversity and in her experience of the church there remains a process of colonization that presents an extractive arena to navigate as a native woman. Bernu simultaneously walks in the Ind...

During this episode, we explore beyond primary education into secondary education that leads to higher education for Native American youth. Chip Beal points out ways that Native American students can access and afford to go for higher education. According to professor Beal, there is a double standard within the current system of higher education that he and others are trying to correct. One import...

Center School builds up trustworthy protocols and processes across generations, which might be its greatest gift to educating citizens of Turtle Island and Mother Earth. As George Spears shares insights on the edge of unitive vision, we can listen to the real possibility of American Indian Education for Everyone coming along, very soon, in order to involve all our relations in being human on this...

Join us for part one of our conversation with Richard and Lorraine White, founders of Nawayee Center School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Richard shares a fascinating history of how the school, combining both Indigenous and Western education, emerged. The voices of indigenous youth landed on his heart, leading him to build and develop this place through advocacy. www.centerschool.org Cover art by: @c...

Join us for part 2 of our conversation with Rev. Dr. Paul Reynolds. He is a Kaupapa Māori Health researcher, an ordained priest in Te Hāhi Mihinare (Anglican Church), and a fledgling Indigenous theologian. He shares what led him to his work and discusses some of the ongoing processes involved in reclaiming cultures, traditions, knowledge, and faith. We also explore some acknowledgments and convers...

In this premiere episode, we welcome Rev. Dr. Paul Reynolds. He is a Kaupapa Māori Health researcher, an ordained priest in Te Hāhi Mihinare (Anglican Church), and a fledgling Indigenous theologian. He shares what led him to his work and discusses some of the ongoing processes involved in reclaiming cultures, traditions, knowledge, and faith. We also explore some acknowledgments and conversations...

For our Season 2 finale, join us for an in-depth conversation with Marty Two Bulls Jr., who shares his journey as an artist and educator honoring his Lakota heritage while navigating the complexities of the contemporary art world. Marty opens up about the challenges of maintaining cultural integrity and the importance of community-based art initiatives. He offers his perspective on the role of art...

This week, we return to our conversation with Chef Sean Sherman, where things get spiritual. We continue our discussion of the brutality of colonization, and in response, think about making our values more human-centered and our food more healthy. Specifically, we hear Chef Sherman discuss the historical trauma that has been handed down from church-sponsored boarding schools to Native Americans, a...

Chef Sean Sherman is the owner of the Indigenous restaurant Owamni and the executive director of the nonprofit North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS). We had the privilege of sitting down to talk with him about the many ways that food can foster stronger Indigenous identity and health. Chef Sherman also tells us about the long, difficult process of gathering knowledge about In...

We hear more from Chase Iron Eyes in this episode. He talks about how boarding school survivors in South Dakota don't have legal redress for abuses that occurred over 40 years ago. He also shares his view that churches should be involved in the cultural preservation of Indigenous knowledge systems and languages. He believes that along with this, there is an obligation for churches to evolve th...

Chase Iron Eyes recalls the road that took him into studying the law and ultimately into being an activist. He also highlights some key cases that shaped his view of the challenges that Natives face in the U.S. judicial system. Some of these challenges include jury members' prejudice against Native Americans, but also the judges themselves, who in many cases are ignorant of, or disregard, key...

Chief Dwaine Perry of the Ramapough Lunaape Nation joins us to touch on a variety of issues. He shares about how he sees Land Back not as a movement, but as a moral way of viewing the world, and how the stealing of land continues today. He also speaks about his people's collaboration with the Presbyterians in his area that goes back generations. We also hear about his effort to help stage a Wo...

We are joined by Sarah Augustine, the co-founder and Executive Director of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery. Join us in this vital discussion on this oppressive doctrine and how to build true solidarity. Sarah talks about what led her to this work. She also discusses the ways descendants of settlers and settlers can best support the coalition’s model for cultural and structural...

We continue with the second part of our conversation with Grace Goldtooth (Executive Director of Dakota Wicohan) and Dallas Goldtooth (Actor, Writer, Comedian, Reservation Dogs). Grace shares with us how her community developed a learning space called the Cansayapi Wicoicage Oti (Lower Sioux Intergenerational Cultural Incubator), which provides free educational services for the community. They als...

Grace Goldtooth (Executive Director of Dakota Wicohan) and Dallas Goldtooth (Actor, Writer, Comedian, Reservation Dogs) are siblings with a deep love for one another. Although they have careers in different fields, their rootedness in their Dakota heritage, and their commitment to preserving and celebrating it, deeply informs the work they both do. Grace describes her organization, Dakota Wicohan...

This episode's guest has a long, storied family history tied to the Osage Reservation which led to her playing an on-screen role in the new film Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese. As a descendant of family members murdered in this region, it was a logical step for her to be part of the screen depiction of these events. She shares about the filmmaking process and the care...

This episode's guest, Holly Bird, has worked tirelessly throughout her career in a long list of advocacy roles. She is co-executive director of Title Track, an organization that focuses on youth empowerment, water protection, and racial justice. She also has served both as a Tribal Judge and Tribal Supreme Court Justice since 2008. In this episode, she shares about her work on the frontline, i...

In this introductory episode for season 2, we introduce a new co-host to our show. Leora brings to the table a long history of working in the field of intergenerational healing. She tells us about her work, and she and co-host Matthew Cobb begin discussions on how they are going to create a space for authentic conversation for this season of Native American guests spanning several vocational field...

In our final episode of season 1, we are going to hear from two generations of Ojibwe women. Deacon Colleen Bernu (Director for Evangelical Mission and Synod Minister for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of ELCA) and also from her high school daughter, Johanna. They share with us about what living together well might look like. Specifically, they reflect on the...

This episode features a dialogue between two women residing in the Northeastern Minnesota region: Colleen Bernu, an Ojibwe woman, and Randi Alreck, a woman of Norwegian descent. They share about their respective cultural backgrounds, and how they have learned to live well together by standing on the common ground that they share. By common ground, we mean both the literal ground of Northeastern Mi...