Real Native Roots: Untold Stories Podcast

In this episode of Real Native Roots: Untold Stories, I sit down with Delano Saluskin (Shii) of the Yakama Nation, a respected leader whose nearly 80 years of life and more than five decades of service have been dedicated to his people, culture, and community. Together, we explore his journey from a childhood shaped by hardship and resilience to becoming a bridge builder, Tribal Chairman, advocate...

In this deeply heartfelt episode of Real Native Roots: Untold Stories, Vickie sits down with her dear friend, business partner, and “sister soul,” Barbara Roloff, for a conversation about identity, belonging, flowers, healing, and what it means to truly bloom later in life. 🌻 Barbara shares her journey growing up in a beautifully multicultural adoptive family, reconnecting with her Native Hawaiia...

In this episode of Real Native Roots: Untold Stories, Vickie sits down with Ameerah Suina Thomas, a 27-year-old Afro-Indigenous woman of Laguna Pueblo and West African descent whose voice carries both clarity and fire. Together, they explore what it means to be fully present in your body, how culture lives through everyday practices, and why food, music, language, and movement are not just traditi...

2025 Story Recap with Tara Denetsosie-Lovato. In our first episode of 2026, Tara joins me to reflect on the voices, lessons, and medicine shared by our 2025 guests — from sovereignty and leadership to land, language, and coming home. We revisit the wisdom of artists, activists, aunties, and culture bearers who reminded us that culture is living, leadership is relational, and hope is a practice. Ta...

In this powerful episode of Real Native Roots: Untold Stories, Vickie welcomes her longtime sister and truth-teller Dar “Diamond D” for a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about identity, land, governance, media, healing, and courage. Dar is Mohawk, a border-tribe woman raised between matriarchs, ironworkers, longhouses, cities, and ceremony. Her life story moves from the St. Lawrence River...

In this powerful and intimate episode of Real Native Roots: Untold Stories, Vickie sits with Ojibwe leader, culture-bearer, and newly appointed President & CEO of First Peoples Fund, Tina Kuckkahn. Together, they explore the teachings that shaped her: her grandparents’ wisdom, the Seven Teachings, the prayerful reminder of “tobacco first,” and the deep spiritual ties to land, water, and ancest...

In this heartfelt and laughter-filled episode, host Vickie Oldman welcomes the magnetic and wise Jack Soto — a Navajo and Cocopah relative whose life journey weaves through wind, forest, and laughter. Together they explore what it means to find healing through pause, place, and presence. Jack shares stories of his roots — from his parents’ “Beans of Destiny” love story to his own evolution through...

In this powerful episode of Real Native Roots: Untold Stories, Vickie sits down with Shoshoni Hostler—a Yurok regalia maker, therapist, mother of five, and fashion designer whose viral shell dress stunned the world and sparked powerful conversations about cultural reclamation, representation, and resistance. From her Northern California homelands, Shoshoni shares what it means to create wearable m...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories Podcast is honored to welcome Jacqualine Qataliña Schaeffer — a visionary Alaska Native leader, artist, and grandmother whose wisdom runs as deep as the Arctic waters she grew up near. In this episode, Jackie opens a window into her ancestral teachings, climate advocacy, traditional healing, and the living heartbeat of her community’s food systems. From seal skin...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories Podcast is honored to feature Claudia Oldman—a grounded and wise Navajo matriarch, storyteller, and beloved auntie. In this tender, laughter-filled episode, Claudia joins her niece and host Vickie Oldman to reflect on healing, kinship, forgiveness, and what it means to show up fully as ourselves. From boarding school memories to Bee Gees ballads, Claudia offers de...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories Podcast is honored to introduce Jaeden Huenemann—a 25-year-old Diné (Navajo) artist of Korean and German descent who is forging his own path in the world of music. Jaeden’s journey as a musician has been deeply shaped by his family. From an early age, he learned discipline and organization at home while witnessing the passion for music through his uncle, a profess...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories proudly presents the multifaceted Gary Farmer—actor, singer, and artist extraordinaire. A natural storyteller, Gary shares untold stories that will move you to tears, make you laugh, and surprise you in the most unexpected ways. Describing himself as a “gentle and goofy guy,” Gary also speaks passionately about his belief in the power of hemp and his optimism for...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Willow Blythe Carroll, a tribally enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribe. An award-winning Indigenous storyteller encourages us to have grace, get to know our real version of ourselves, recommit to our roots, and tell our own stories. Raised by a single mother and inspired by her late grandfather, Willow continues to light the path for futu...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Juan Dominguez, the Burn the Wagon podcast host. Juan was adopted by a full-blooded Pomo Whapo woman who raised him on the Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria Reservation in California. Juan shares his journey on the reservation, growing up fast, embracing his feminine side, writing poetry, healing, embracing his spiritual practice, and so much more. Join us...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents the renowned Navajo illustrator Jack Ahasteen. Not only a gifted illustrator, Mr. Ahasteen is also a poet, wisdom keeper, storyteller, and a gentle, humble gift to us all. Mr. Ahasteen shares his time at Belmont (Navajo Camp), where he started drawing at age five. He shares how his gift of drawing stemmed from wanting to put a smile on his mother’s face....

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Loren Anthony, a Diné (Navajo) relative to many. Originally from the Chuska Mountains located within the Navajo Nation, Loren deeply loves his community and does his best to stay grounded through integrity, compassion, reciprocity, and humility.  Hear his story about music, movies, sobriety, manifestation, community projects, his healing journey, and so m...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Loren Anthony, a Diné (Navajo) relative to many. Originally from the Chuska Mountains located within the Navajo Nation, Loren deeply loves his community and does his best to stay grounded through integrity, compassion, reciprocity, and humility.  Hear his story about music, movies, sobriety, manifestation, community projects, his healing journey, and so m...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Otakwan Acahkos Iskwiw (Evening Star Woman), a grounded, powerful, traditional Métisse from the Métis Nation (Otipemisiwak) of St. Louis, Saskatchewan. Otakwan's main family lines are Boucher, Bremner, L'Ésperence, Guernon, Taylor, Hogue, and Prince. Hear how she weaves in her lived experience and inner wisdom of being a cycle breaker, learning self-love,...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents one of our podcast listeners, Donna Tenorio. Donna is from Santo Domingo Pueblo, is a new grandmother, and is a podcast fan. She shares her story and what she has learned from listening to podcasts. Hear how we recap and share what spoke to us from our fantastic, wise, loving, and amazing guests from 2023. Please follow and share. We are on Spotify, Apple...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Rebecca Adamson, a Cherokee descent whose roots are from Ohio and who grew up in North Carolina. Rebecca shares how nature has always been a source and a centering force in her life. She also shares her journey with relatives, her career, and her perspective on the next generation of leaders. Rebecca has been at the forefront of advocating and educating w...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Molina Jo Two Bulls (Lakota) and Bryan Douglas Parker (White Mountain Apache). Both were raised by strong, grounded, loving, and artistic families. Hear how these indigenous souls honor gifts their relatives and the art community share. Bryan and Molina believe art is a beautiful, creative modality that should be celebrated and encouraged. Join us as Moli...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Simon Moya-Smith, an Oglala Lakota and Chicano writer and journalist. Raised to stand up for the rights of Indigenous peoples, to rage against the use of Indian mascots, and later against police brutality and oil and gas pipelines, Simon continues to fight the good fight with humor, wit, and truth. Hear how his Indigenous Chicana mother, grandmother, and...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents MaryAnn Bullhead, a fierce, grounded, and nurturing Diné Lakota woman. Raised on the Navajo reservation by her mother and influenced by her Lakota ways while visiting with her father (Earl Bullhead), on the Lakota Reservation. MaryAnn finds herself dancing onto the path of serving our country. She served in the U.S. Navy, the N.M. Army National Guard, was...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Wade Fernandez/ Wiciwen Apis-Mahwaew (Walks With The Black Wolf). Wade is a heart and soul Indigenous man who's “deeply authentic, a” multi-award winning international touring artist and educator from the Menominee Nation. Winning numerous awards in multiple genres, Fernandez's musical style knows no bounds & the same goes for his educational style. A pas...

Real Native Roots: Untold Stories presents Ahsaki Chachere. Founder/CEO Ah-Shi Beauty . This indigenous boss babe shares her rez chronicles of family, how she landed multiple companies and dreams of helping her Nation. Grab a cup of joe and hear a natural storyteller seamlessly weave her Diné bizaad (Navajo language), humor, and life experiences with such wisdom and grace.  You can find Ahsaki Cha...