Native ChocTalk

Meet Linda Cooley (Yurok tribe), CEO of Mad River Brewing Company in beautiful Blue Lake, California! And look out, world – because this American Indian CEO is out to help her tribe and the planet too. After profitability, Linda set out to put a portion of Mad River Brewing funds to good use by helping her Yurok Nation and the land in the area. For instance, their Undammed Seltzer promotes the rem...

This is the story of the resurrection of a tribe who had lost its sovereignty and ultimately, its hope. And it’s the story of a retired elder who had a vision and devoted his remaining years to bringing the tribe back to its glory. It’s also the story of a young new Chairman who led a tribe from corrupt and chaotic leadership to flourishment and victory. Today, you’ll hear the inspiring story of A...

“I tossed my hair, my braids glowing in the sunlight. I walked my horse forward, recalling Papa’s words, often said in a most authoritative tone. ‘Get off that pony and walk in the wildflowers, Little Bird. Touch the flowers and feel their petals. They are soft, like feathers. Touch the bark of the trees. Their bark runs in circles, like our lives. The tree grows roots and spreads leaves over the...

“Indian Makes Attempt to Kill”. That’s the newspaper article heading I mentioned a few years back in the Facebook group, “Indian Territory and Oklahoma History” in order to share about my Uncle Cicero Coley shooting through the window of his white guardian’s house in an attempt to kill him for stealing his land allotments. I had come to what I thought was the end of my years of research about my C...

In season 2, episode 10, I interviewed Composer, Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate about his upcoming and unprecedented opera, “Shell Shaker, a Chickasaw Opera”, the first opera ever written in the Chickasaw language. And now I’d like to introduce you to 2 award-winning Native opera singers who you’ll find performing in that upcoming opera, February of 2023 at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA...

Part 3 of 3 "I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive." These are the words spoken on the deathbed of probably the most well-know Native American warrior in history, known as Geronimo. Some considered him a warrior, and many viewed him as a “sell-out, while others thought of him as a popular Native “character”, representative of all Indians in North Amer...

“Whatever high crimes and mass deaths and lasting pain can be attributed to the perpetrators of genocide on innocent people, the truth is, we must forgive. And what of the Choctaw-Irish connection? We cannot blame the people standing before us for the mistakes their ancestors made. The wrong we are attempting to right in this volume is ignorance. Ignorance of the truth about the Irish Potato Famin...

2 of 3 "I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive." These are the words spoken on the deathbed of probably the most well-know Native American warrior in history, known as Geronimo. Some considered him a warrior, and many viewed him as a “sell-out, while others thought of him as a popular Native “character”, representative of all Indians in North America....

Part 1 of 3 "I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive." These are the words spoken on the deathbed of probably the most well-know Native American warrior in history, known as Geronimo. Some considered him a warrior, and many viewed him as a “sell-out, while others thought of him as a popular Native “character”, representative of all Indians in North Amer...

It was early morning as the Choctaw Mississippi families eagerly approached the train. A mother reached for her 3-year-old daughter’s hand to help lift her into the box train, her pudgy toddler fingers grasping tightly as she boarded the steel box on wheels for the very first time. The little girl looked up at her ishki (her mamma), as she asked in her Choctaw tongue, “Are we leaving home?” Her mo...

Become the CEO of “You, Inc.”. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Know that you’re here for a reason and a purpose. These were the words of successful businessowner and CEO of Native Advisory, Lacey Horn when I asked what advice she had for other Native women (and people in general). In this no-holes-barred conversation, Lacey and I discuss: • How even CEOs make mistakes • The pitfalls, lessons-l...

For centuries, he provided nourishment for hundreds of families. And for countless winters, his wooly coat sheltered them from the freezing, bitter winds. He’s the American Bison. And as this beautiful creature was nearly erased from the earth, he still survived and carried on in all his majesty, just as our Choctaw people also live on. My guests, Amy and Ian Thompson of Nan Awaya Homestead are so...

For centuries, he provided nourishment for hundreds of families. And for countless winters, his wooly coat sheltered them from the freezing, bitter winds. He’s the American Bison. And as this beautiful creature was nearly erased from the earth, he still survived and carried on in all his majesty, just as our Choctaw people also live on. My guests, Amy and Ian Thompson of Nan Awaya Homestead are so...

I recently caught up with Dr. Art Martinez from the Chumesh Tribe while he was at the Washoe Tribal Concessions at the beautiful Meeks Bay at Lake Tahoe. Dr. Martinez is a Trauma Specialist, and Clinical Psychologist. He’s also the Co-Director for the Center for Native Child and Family Resilience and more. Dr. Martinez has spent his career promoting the healing of historical trauma within our Amer...

They were forbidden to practice their culture and to speak in their Native tongue. And yet, in World War I, that very language would surprise the Germans and ultimately contribute to victory! Many know of the Navajo Code Talkers, but what most don’t realize is that in World War I, it was the Choctaw who were the first to begin Code Talking. I come to you today from the beautiful First Americans Mu...

Native ChocTalk Presents: Season 3, Episode 2: “Say Her Name: Karissa Hodge (Choctaw & Caddo) on Our Missing Murdered Indigenous Women–Chahta” A word of warning about today’s content – I’ll be speaking with Karissa Hodge, President and Founder of Missing Murdered Indigenous Women-Chahta. Although you’ll hear stories that are disturbing, they’re necessary to be told, in hopes that the missing may b...

It was the 1800s and the days of the old wild west. As more settlers inhabited our Choctaw peoples’ lands in Mississippi and later Indian Territory, laws had to be put in place to attempt to tame the incoming unknowns. But who would enforce these rules on Native lands? Every story needs a hero, and in today’s episode, you’ll hear about our brave Choctaw heroes who rode through the pine wood forest...

He was raised in a home with no electricity and no running water on his family’s Indian allotment land in western Oklahoma – out where that bright red dirt could both stain your clothes and, in some ways, stir that Okie pride. From red dirt, ancient village country living to Mechanical Engineer specializing in aerodynamics, my guest’s stories on this last episode of Season 2 do not disappoint! I’d...

The Trail of Tears. It’s the story of heartbreak and sorrow for those who didn’t survive, as well as for those who did. And for us as descendants of the survivors, when we hear the phrase, “Trail of Tears” we are immediately taken to a place of mourning for those who suffered. As much as there’s acknowledgement of this tragedy, there’s also hope and inspiration. This is truly the Choctaw way. Ther...

Last September, I stopped by Choctaw Nation Headquarters and enjoyed my conversation with Robert Baker, who contributes to our Choctaw language department on a daily basis. In this episode with Robert, you’ll hear about: • His great great grandfather, Ben Carterby, a Code Talker in World War 1 • How Choctaws played a big part in the War of 1812 • Robert’s war reenactments • His experience playing...

Most people have heard about the Trail of Tears, or what’s called the “Removal”, in which our Indigenous people were removed from their lands starting in the early 1800s and were relocated to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). The Choctaw were the very first to make the trek from Mississippi to their new home. The journey was deadly for some. Many of our people passed away due to harsh weather condi...

Most people have heard about the Trail of Tears, or what’s called the “Removal”, in which our Indigenous people were removed from their lands starting in the early 1800s and were relocated to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). The Choctaw were the very first to make the trek from Mississippi to their new home. The journey was deadly for some. Many of our people passed away due to harsh weather condi...

I stopped by Riverside Indian School in my hometown, Anadarko, Oklahoma last summer to hang out with my friend, Terry Ware and what a great conversation we had! This is a must-listen, dear listeners as you’ll have the pleasure of hearing: • Terry singing a Kiowa hymn and the happy birthday song in Kiowa • About Riverside Indian School’s upcoming 150-year celebration in May of 2022! • The history o...

There was something comforting about the familiar scent of cedar that permeated from the wood burning stove inside the hogan each evening (“hogan” being the traditional home for the Navajo, in this case built of wood, with a dirt floor). The stove had 3 vents. And little sleepy James would watch the shadows from the vents on the walls, like fire dancing. As his heavy eyelids would slowly cover his...

There are many mysteries out there - many that will never be solved. And some mysteries are so frustrating, they’ll leave a gap in your soul. One of those such puzzles in life is that of we American Indians trying to figure out the stories and history of our ancestors. Most of our history is told and passed down by oral tradition. So centuries of our own stories have never be heard as they’ve fade...