Native Edge

Any questions or comments please send here! In our 60th episode, we welcome journalist Debra Krol of the Arizona Republic . Debra, a member of the Xolon (also known as Jolon) Salinan Tribe in California, has had a storied career covering some of the most important topics in Indian Country, including Standing Rock and the intense debate over mining development of Oak Flat in Arizona. Chris and Yvet...

Any questions or comments please send here! We're back with another episode of the Native Edge podcast! It's election season across the United States, so we brought in someone who understands the importance of voting and standing up for what you believe in. Our guest is Jennifer Jermaine, a Justice of the Peace in Maricopa County, Arizona. Judge Jermaine, who is a first generation descen...

Any questions or comments please send here! It's Labor Day week, so who better to join the podcast than someone who knows the ins and outs of tribal workforce? That expert is HR consultant Karla Bylund. Karla is now the Principal for Tribal HR Support for REDW Advisors and CPAs, which bought the company Karla founded n 2015 - Soaring Bird Solutions, LLC. Karla is also one of the National Cent...

Any questions or comments please send here! In episode 57, Navajo ultramarathoner Greg Secatero joins Chris and Yvette in studio. Greg is the first Indigenous runner to complete the "Grand Slam of 200s" - four 200+ mile races that include 150,000 feet of climbing, done in just six months. He was also the first Indigenous athlete to reach the "1,000 mile club" by completing the...

Any questions or comments please send here! Chef Kris Harris, owner of Kris Fresh Frybread in Phoenix, joins the podcast for Episode 56. Kris, who has been a client of The National Center, shares her journey from welder to owner of an exciting new restaurant known for - you guessed it - its frybread. Born on the Tohono O’odham Reservation, Kris learned to cook at age nine under the tutelage of her...

Any questions or comments please send here! For episode 55 we're back in our Mesa studio with Katie Oyan, President and CEO of IndiJ Public Media, the parent company of Indian Country Today. Katie shares her story of growing up in rural South Dakota to becoming an editor at one of for foremost media brands in the world - the Associated Press. She has now been CEO of IndiJ for about a year, wh...

Any questions or comments please send here! And last but not the least of our RES 2026 interviews, we welcome journalist (among many other professions) and 40 Under 40 program alumni Kate Nelson (Tlingit). Chris and Yvette sat down with Kate to talk about her fascinating career and journey of self discovery. This includes collaborating with renowned Indigenous chef Sean Sherman on his new cook boo...

Any questions or comments please send here! We're continuing our series of conversations from RES with DJ Carrasco (Tewa-Puebloan), a former professional baseball pitcher who is now the founder and CEO of Native Nations. Native Nations is a nonprofit that seeks to boost Native American participation in diamond sports (baseball and softball) through programming, training, hosting tournaments,...

Any questions or comments please send here! In the latest Native Edge, Chris and Yvette welcome Amber Schulz-Oliver, Executive Director of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI). Based in Portland, Oregon, ATNI is a nonprofit organization representing 57 Northwest tribal governments from Oregon, Idaho, Washington, southeast Alaska, Northern California and Western Montana. Amber shares h...

Any questions or comments please send here! Episode 51 of the Native Edge features a conversation with Larry Wright, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians. Larry shares his journey from (unexpectedly) entering tribal leadership with the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, to leading an 80-year-old organization in NCAI.  Chris and Yvette talk about the extensive collaboration between...

Any questions or comments please send here! In the fourth installment of our RES interview series we welcome Mark Fox, Chairman of the MHA Nation in North Dakota. Chairman Fox chats with Chris and Yvette about his leadership and the investments the tribe made after reaching the difficult decision to responsibly development its energy resources. Now, crude oil developed on MHA lands are responsible...

Any questions or comments please send here! In the third installment of our RES interview series, Chris and Yvette chat with John Oceguera. John is the CEO and owner of the public affairs firm Strategies 360, which has had a long relationship with The National Center. He is also a member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe. John shares his fascinating story of going from fire chief, to politician (in...

Any questions or comments please send here! We have a very special guest for episode 48 of The Native Edge podcast - Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas! Taboo was a major presence at RES 2026, where he participated in a conversation with Chris on the mainstage and performed an impromptu set at the Indigenous Fashion Show that brought the house down. We were lucky to grab Taboo for a few minutes for an a...

Any questions or comments please send here! The first episode from our RES conversations features Mary Jane Oatman, Executive Director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association. Mary Jane - and yes, she confirms that is indeed her given name - chats with Chris and Yvette about how she found her way into the cannabis industry and plant medicine, its potential for Indian Country, and the chall...

Any questions or comments please send here! We're back! Over the coming weeks we'll be sharing some fantastic interviews from RES, ranging from rock stars to distinguished tribal leaders. But first, we have a special episode recorded prior to RES featuring an old friend of the National Center - Dr. Eric Trevan. Dr. Trevan is a former President and CEO of The National Center and current P...

Any questions or comments please send here! One of the best parts of the Reservation Economic Summit is recognizing the latest class of the Native American 40 Under 40 award winners. The awards reception will take place on the evening of Tuesday, March 24 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. To talk about the 40 Under 40 program - which just welcomed its 18th class - we invited the two members of our s...

Any questions or comments please send here! In the latest episode, Chris and Yvette visit the Western Spirit Museum in Scottsdale for a conversation with museum CEO Todd Bankofier. Yvette recently joined the Board of the museum - billed as Scottsdale's Museum of the West - and has personal connections to the art and artists featured in its impressive building located in downtown Scottsdale. T...

Any questions or comments please send here! Episode 43 features a very special guest - National Center Board Chairman Derrick Watchman. Chairman Watchman has served the organization for decades, and his involvement with The National Center goes back nearly 40 years, when he first attended the very first RES for the same reason that many people do - to find a job! Derrick shares his story - a &quot...

Any questions or comments please send here! For Episode, 46 Chris and Yvette welcome OXDX founder Jared Yazzie to the Mesa studios. Jared shares his journey from an engineering student at the University of Arizona to finding his true passion in graphic arts and screen printing - and becoming one of Indian Country's most sought-after artists. Learn more about some of Jared's collaboration...

Any questions or comments please send here! Happy New Year and welcome back to the Native Edge! We're kicking off 2026 with a very special guest - 2025 Native Woman Business Owner of the Year, Chelsee Pettit . Chelsee came all the way from Canada to our Mesa studio to share her inspiring journey, from learning financial literacy on the fly to building an extremely successful Indigenous clothi...

Any questions or comments please send here! As we wrap season 2 of the The Native Edge during the holiday season, The National Center team reflects on their favorite traditions - some unique, and many shared despite growing up in places as different as Washington state and South Louisiana. Regular hosts Chris and Yvette are joined by Nicole Watson, Erin Abrahamson, and Kyia Jackson (with producer...

Any questions or comments please send here! We're bringing you a special episode of the Native Edge, recorded at the Native Art Market in Scottsdale, Arizona. Co-founder Heather Tracy and her mother Denise Rosales joined us during the holidays last year , and we're excited to be on-site with Heather and her sister Shea Tunney in 2025. Learn about the latest developments at the Native Art...

Any questions or comments please send here! For episode 38, we welcome baseball player Jordan Brewer, who will soon suit up for the inaugural season of the Loco Beach Coconuts - one of the six teams that compete in "Banana Ball." Jordan joined us virtually to discuss his career path, from high school football and baseball star, to junior college, to Big 10 Player of the Year at the Unive...

Any questions or comments please send here! For episode 37, co-hosts Nicole Watson and Yvette Fielder welcome hip hop artist Nataanii Means (Oglala Lakota, Diné, Omaha) to the Mesa studio. Nataanii shares his journey from the Navajo Reservation to becoming a successful musician, and explains how hip hop fits squarely in the Indigenous tradition of storytelling. In addition to his music, Nataanii h...

Any questions or comments please send here! For the third installment of our Native American Heritage Month series, we welcomed Ron "Hawk" Spoerl, President and CEO of Aambé Corporation, to our Mesa studio. Aambé is a platinum sponsor of RES 2026, and is doing incredible work across Indian Country, particularly in health care where they are helping tribes tap into a multi-trillion-dollar...