Young & Indigenous

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!

Young and Indigenous Podcast welcomes local author, musician, and professor, Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe! Her memoir Red Paint: The Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk, is the topic of discussion in this great episode as she weaves together themes of trauma, connection to the land and the healing power of culture.

We'd like to welcome the newest member of the YAI team, Cyrus James! Join us as we get to know our newest member of the team in this short episode!

Thank you for your support this past year, here’s some of our favorite moments from 2023! Thank you to everyone who helped and supported us on this journey, we look forward to another year of sharing indigenous knowledge and values:)

Gather round! In this special Christmas episode, immerse yourself in the spirit of the holidays with a collection of short stories created by the Young and Indigenous team. Join us by the virtual fireplace, from tales of Sasquatch and the Basket Lady to setting a trap for Santa Claus; each story will put you in the holiday spirit!!!

Jaiyah Saelua is the first openly trans athlete to compete in a FIFA sanctioned qualifier.  Tune in to our discussion about soccer, fa’afafine, working on Next Goal Wins with Taika Waititi, and advocating for transgender rights in the sports world.

Bella gets deep with Jason LaClair, learning about his life creating Coast Salish art and his journey to wellness. Jason’s story is an example of strength, hope, inspiration, and belief that you can climb out of the darkness of addiction. Honoring his ancestors, he healed and transformed his life and you can now see his art all around Bellingham and the Lummi Community. We are all so proud of you.

Join us for an authentic conversation on Thanksgiving with Noelani Auguston. We’ll discuss history, personal stories, and embracing cultural diversity in this holiday reflection.

The YAI Team sat down to take a Love Language Quiz and discuss our love languages. Tune in to find out how we show ourselves and others love:) To take the quiz we did, click here! https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language

Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates and honors our history and culture. It represents a recognition of our resilience, heritage, and the ongoing struggles we continue to face. It’s a day to raise awareness about the rich diversity and enduring traditions of Indigenous cultures while also acknowledging the historical injustices and challenges we continue to face.

The YAI team got to sit down with a couple of our friends from The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to talk about their experiences, hear their stories, and learn what Canoe Journey means to them.

A week after getting done with Tribal Canoe Journey Paddle to Muckleshoot, the YAI team sits down to reflect on our time, our favorite Canoe Journey stories, and, oh, did we mention Free got new tattoos? Shout out to the West Shore Canoe Family!

Oonugwito (greetings), today’s episode starts a new introduction series for our YAI team members starting with Wykeklyaa Curleybear, a kwinayl (Quinault) Tribal member. We learn who she is and where she comes from, and how she got to where she is today.

Tina Joe is a language teacher here in Lummi.  She speaks to Bella about the importance of language, culture, and passing it down to the next generation. We learn more about language as it ties to ceremony, and how it connects us to our ancestors.

You may have heard this voice before. Welcome our newest YAI team member, Free!

Descending from Nooksack and Lummi heritage, musical artist Lil Jim talks to Roy about fitness, mental health, and weaving together culture and music. Listen in to hear how influencing indigenous youth kept him in the music game, what defines native hip hop, and what is in store for the HGS SAVAGE Fam! You can listen to more Lil Jim and the HGS Savage Fam here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kQZ...

Social media. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Meditation can be used as a way to heal trauma. Join us as we follow CSSP team member Amanda Frank in a guided meditation where we explore the houses in our heads. Bekabon, Amanda Frank, from Minto, Alaska is has dedicated her life to healing through storytelling as a writer and professional email sender.

How are you doing? When you say you’re ok, are you really ok? In this episode we check in with each other; this starts our latest series centered around youth and mental health. At Children of the Setting Sun we start our week off with check-ins, where we speak from our hearts to ensure that we connect with each other before we start the work. This helps to know what our peers are carrying. The YA...

You may have heard these voices in a few episodes. Welcome new team members, Wykeklyaa and Roy!

In the Lummi language, the term for killer whale is qwe’lhol mechen, meaning “our relatives below the waves”. Once called “Lolita”, then “Tokitae”, and now “Sk’ali Ch’elh-tenaut”, The Sacred Sea organization is working to bring our relative back home to the Salish Sea. She was taken from her home in 1970 and has been at Miami Seaquarium ever since. The Sacred Sea organization is a 501c3 non-profit...

What does it mean to be a woman? What does it mean to be a Tribal woman? Selena or Hailey? Join us as we discuss identity and inspirations with the YAI team. Featuring voices of our female mentors Frances Charles and Amy Cordalis. Thank you to Apple Podcasts for featuring Young and Indigenous during Women’s History Month.

“Our stories have to be told. If you have it in yourself at all anywhere to be a writer, do it. Because the world needs your voice, needs your story. You never know who is going to encounter it and whose life it’s going to change.” This inspiring interview with Rena Priest flows through the beauty of childhood, the nurturing hand that is culture and some uplifting encouragement to future writers....

“Doubt isn't always a bad thing but it becomes a bad thing when you let it override what you are capable of.”-- Hidatsa Tribal Member Benairen Kane and Bella have a conversation about acting, his identity growing up as an urban Native outside his reservation, and the importance of humor to get you through life. This interview took place on the set of “Canoe Journey” where CSSP embarked on filming...

Buffy Sainte-Marie, a Cree musician, artist and activist, has always been ahead of the curve. For six decades, she’s fought for Indigenous rights and visibility through her work. Today, we’re sharing a special episode from the folks over at PBS’ Webby Award-winning podcast American Masters: Creative Spark. Their host Joe Skinner sits down with Sainte-Marie for a compelling conversation about her c...