Indigenae Podcast

On the final episode of Indigenae, cultural practitioners Kathy McCovey and Lisa Hillman teach us about Indigenous stewardship and the sacred connection between land and our physical, spiritual, and mental wellbeing. Kathy McCovey, is a fourth-generation forester, archeologist, and Cultural Resource Specialist. She has dedicated her life to revitalizing traditional land management

Cari Herthel, Vice Chair of the Esselen Tribe, reckons with the complex and intergenerational trauma caused by human trafficking. As a survivor, Cari offers personal reflection, deep truths, and authenticity to connect with others and raise awareness for protecting our relatives; By experiencing and continuing ancestral practices —“I now know that it is a connection to my cultu

On Episode 20 of Indigenae, hosts Olivia Trujillo (Navajo), Sarah Stern (Cherokee), and Dr. Sophie Neuner (Karuk) share how this collection of stories came into being, what inspired the project, and lessons learned along the way.About Indigenae: https://caih.jhu.edu/programs/indigenae-podcastCheck out some of the podcasts that inspire us:This Land: https://crooked.com/podcast-serie

Birdie Lyons, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, was seven years old when she was taken away from her family. Not long after, she escaped from boarding school to return to her community and grow up immersed in Ojibwe culture. During the ceremonies to mark her First and Final Moons, Birdie received assignments and teachings that have guided her on her path to becoming a cultural practitione

In part two of our series on Two-Spirit wellbeing, we continue our conversation with Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth, who is a Diné and Laotian PhD student in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University. We dive into a discussion about Two-Spirit Autonomy, and sex and pleasure outside hetero norms. Souksavanh shares how experiencing pleasure can be an expression of s

On this of Indigenae, we move beyond gender binaries to explore the topics of Two Spirit identity, the sacredness of fluidity, and restoring balance. Joining us is Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth, a Diné and Laotian PhD student at Oregon State University, where they study Two-Spirit wellbeing, Native and Queer urbanization, BIPOC Masculinities, and MMIWG2S. “We can live in a limitles

Navajo Elder Phyllis Smith is an educator, breast cancer survivor, and patient advocate. Phyllis explains how her medical team, family support, and healthy dose humor helped her heal from cancer. “To see me here tells you that cancer, you can beat it. There’s all different ways, it depends on yourself. You’ve got to be determined, you’ve got to set yourself forward, you’v

Dr. Jenny Richards, an Assistant Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health, shares how Indigenous strengths-based research counters harmful narratives around coming of age, menstruation, and toxic masculinity. “Reinforcing how much social support we have in our culture, in our ceremonies, in the way we raise our children [...] is protective in and of itself

Taos Pueblo Doula Aspen Mirabal joins us for a conversation about birth equity, decolonizing birthing spaces, and supporting our birthing relatives. She shares her journey in birth work and talks about the unique role of doulas in re-matriating cultural traditions and ancestral birthing practices.Aspen Mirabal is the eldest of three daughters from Taos Pueblo. Aspen currently resid

Dr. Amanda Bruegl, a member of the Stockbridge and Oneida Nations, shares why cancer screening and cancer prevention are so important for our Native peoples, and how providers can be more sensitive to our unique cultural needs. She explains how to advocate for yourself and your body during visits with a health provider: “Bring a friend, bring your auntie, bring someone to a visit