Indigenous Insights: An Evaluation Podcast

Dr. Elizabeth Carlson-Manathara is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Laurentian University. She is a non-Indigenous scholar whose work focuses on the roles of non-Indigenous peoples in decolonization, reconciliation, Treaty, and LANDBACK; and on anti-colonial methodologies and decolonial change through public education and film. She is the author of the book Living in Indigenous Sovereignty and a filmmaker with the Stories of Decolonization Film Project.    Overview In this first episode of Season 4, host Gladys Rowe is joined by co-host Dr. Elizabeth Carlson-Manathara for the launch of a special spotlight series on anti-colonial and decolonial evaluation. Together, they explore the practices, tensions, and responsibilities of reimagining evaluation as a site of transformation rather than extraction. Elizabeth shares her origin story—from her upbringing in white communities in the U.S., to her early experiences working in an Indigenous school in Minneapolis, to her deeper learning through gatherings at Turtle Lodge in Manitoba. She reflects on her journey into anti-colonial praxis, the responsibilities of non-Indigenous peoples in decolonization, and the concept of living in Indigenous sovereignty. This conversation sets the stage for the season ahead—one that will feature Indigenous and non-Indigenous evaluators, scholars, practitioners, and knowledge keepers walking the path of decolonial and anti-colonial evaluation in different ways. Resources  Book: Living in Indigenous Sovereignty Film Series: Stories of Decolonization Film Project Turtle Lodge, Sakgeeng Manitoba: Turtle Lodge    Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod

In this episode Gladys gets to know three amazing guests, Olivia Roanhorse, Rebecca Rae, and Daphne Littlebear as they share stories about their evaluation journeys, their work as a team, and an Indigenous evaluation network that they have been nurturing in New Mexico.  Olivia Roanhorse, MPH, COO and Portfolio Lead, Roanhorse Consulting, LLC. Olivia provides leadership and oversight of key policy, research, and evaluation projects. Before joining RCLLC, Olivia was the Vice President of Programs for Notah Begay III Foundation for seven years where she oversaw the strategic and operational responsibilities for all program areas. Before returning to New Mexico in 2012, Olivia held several health program and policy positions in Chicago. She was a Policy Associate at the Ounce of Prevention Fund; a Project Coordinator for RWJF National Project: Finding Answers Program: Disparities Research for Change; and a Clinic Manager for Community Health, the largest free health clinic in Illinois. Olivia has a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois in Chicago and an undergraduate degree from Colorado College. Olivia attended Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health from 2018 to 2021 working on her Doctorate of Public Health. Recognizing that the institution did not value health equity and social justice, she withdrew and decided to instead focus on her lived experiences and the opportunity to co-design meaningful solutions with communities. Olivia is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and lives in Albuquerque, NM.   Rebecca Rae (Jicarilla Apache), MCRP, MWR, is a Research Lecturer III at the University of New Mexico’s College of Population Health. She is an Indigenous scholar and her expertise spans over sixteen years implementing community based participatory research (CBPR) projects and Indigenous participatory evaluation in partnership with Tribal communities. Her primary areas of research include Indigenous research methodologies, prevention/intervention research and Indigenous evaluation. She also has experience in curriculum and program development. She works closely with multiple tribal community partners to mentor, strengthen and enhance community members’ skills in program development, program implementation, data collection, data analysis, grant writing, research, and evaluation. She has served as an evaluator to tribal non-profit organizations, tribal programs, and national foundations. She also has 15 years of experience in Positive Youth Leadership Development, specifically serving as Senior Faculty with the Leadership Institute Summer Policy Academy (LI/SPA), a program that educates Indigenous high-school students on American Indian History, Federal Indian Law, Policy and Advocacy.   Daphne Littlebear is a mother, Indigenous researcher and evaluator, storyteller, educator, and gardener.  Daphne is from Santa Ana Pueblo and a descendant of the Mvskoke, Yuchi, and Shawnee Nations.  For more than 15 years, Daphne has worked in Indigenous education with Tribal education departments, school districts, state government, and nonprofit organizations.  She is dedicated to advocating for educational sovereignty and strengthening Indigenous lifeways.   Currently, Daphne serves as the research and evaluation manager for the National Indian Education Association, a Native-led nonprofit with the mission to advancing comprehensive, cultural-based education for American Indians, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiians.  As a first-generation college graduate, Daphne holds a bachelors in sociology and Native American studies and a master’s in public administration from the University of New Mexico. Presently, she is completing her doctoral degree at Arizona State University, where she is studying Indigenous education, social justice education and educational policy.  Daphne was admitted into the Tribal Data Fellows Program with the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and upon completion joined the NM Indigenous Evaluators Network. She has also been awarded a fellowship through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network, that supports local leaders to connect, grow, and lead transformational change toward a more equitable society.     Notes   Becca Rae, faculty page: https://hsc.unm.edu/directory/rae-rebecca.html   National Indian Education Association: https://www.niea.org/   Roanhorse Consulting: https://roanhorseconsulting.com/olivia   Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation: https://nb3foundation.org/about/   McNair program: https://mcnairscholars.com/about/   Tribal Data Champions Fellowship: https://usindigenousdatanetwork.org/2024/02/13/tribal-data-champions-fellowship-an-indigenous-evaluation-training/   Indigenizing Education: Transformative Research, Theories, and Praxis. 2022. Eds. Jeremy Garcia, Valerie Shirley, and Hollie Kulago. Information Age Publishing. https://books.google.ca/books/about/Indigenizing_Education.html?id=MW-zzgEACAAJ&redir_esc=y Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

In this first episode for a special Season 2, Gladys shares what she has been up to, the stories that provide direction in her life, and what listeners can expect in the next episodes. She recounts the power and necessity of story to hold a space for Indigenous resurgence and decolonial futures and shares some poetry - because that’s what she loves to do!  Resources from this episode Resurgence of Indigenous Nationhood: Centering the stories of Indigenous full spectrum doulas: https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/handle/1993/35171    Dr. Kathy Absolon: Kaandossiwin, 2nd Edition: How We Come to Know: Indigenous Re-Search Methodologies: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/kaandossiwin-2nd-ed    Quotes from Dr. Warren Cariou and Dr. Neal McLeod: https://www.wlupress.wlu.ca/Books/I/Indigenous-Poetics-in-Canada    Dr. Leanne Simpson: https://www.leannesimpson.ca/book/as-we-have-always-done  A transcript of this episode can be found here. These episodes in Season 2 have been made possible through support from Canada Council for the Arts. I am grateful for their support!  Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

Aneta Cram is a doctoral candidate with the School of Health at the Victoria University of Wellington in Aotearoa. Her doctoral research explores what Indigenous evaluation frameworks currently exist, how they were developed and the impact that they are having with the communities that they were developed for in order to provide guidance to support other Indigenous communities in developing their own community-specific evaluation frameworks.   Resources from the episode Te Korekoreka (Kai Tahu, Aotearoa New Zealand) : https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f1e3bad68df2a40e2e0baaa/t/619d4459f54f7b340d282557/1637696631217/KIATIPUTEAOMARAMA_24November2021_LabTSITTR.pdf   Ngaa bi nya (Australia): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1035719X18760141?journalCode=evja   The Evaluation with Aloha Framework: https://www.creahawaii.org/aloha   Na-gah mo Waasbishkizi Bimise Keetwaatino bundle: https://policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/na-gah-mo-waasbishkizi-ojijaak-bimise-keetwaatino-singing-white-crane-flying   Nan's article: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjpe/article/view/68444   Hot tips: Being a good guest in different cultural spaces.    Transcript from this episode can be found here. For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast and would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod

Tammy Mudge is L'nu (Illnew), from Glooscap First Nation, a mother of four and a member of the Mi'kmaq Nation. She is the Manager of Learning and Evaluation at Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax, a non-profit organization working to build an ecosystem of inclusive and meaningful participation in and among neighbourhoods, and a part-time faculty member at Acadia University, where she teaches Decolonizing Community Development. She is an active community member and Co-founder and Chair of the Glooscap First Nation Family Recreation Committee. Tammy is also a member of the Atlantic Indigenous Evaluation Stewardship Circle.    Resources from the Episode: Learning & Impact Stories from the organization: https://www.halifaxiseveryone.ca/stories  Progress Reports: https://www.halifaxiseveryone.ca/progress-reports   The show transcript is available here. For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast and would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

Dr. Michael Hart is a citizen of Fisher River Cree Nation and the vice-provost (Indigenous engagement) at the University of Calgary. He held a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Knowledges and Social Work through the University of Manitoba from 2012 to 2018. Dr. Hart also led the development of the Master of Social Work in Indigenous Knowledges program at the University of Manitoba and was the inaugural director for the program. He was the founder of the Aboriginal Social Workers’ Society and a board member for 17 years since its launch in 2001. His work has spanned Canada, including Manitoba, Quebec and Yukon, and includes many internationally based projects and events in such places as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Norway. These projects include being the Editor of the Journal of Indigenous Social Development since 2015.    Journal Article: Indigenous Worldviews, Knowledge, and Research: The Development of an Indigenous Research Paradigm  The show transcript is available here.  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast and would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

Larry Bremner, President and Partner at Proactive Information Services, established in 1984 to provide social research services to the not for profit and public sectors.  Resource connected to the episode: Recently Larry Bremner became the Co-Editor for the new section of the Canadian Journal of Program, Evaluation: Roots and Relations. The purpose of Roots and Relations (RR) is to honour our lineage, grow our kinship, and sustain our intergenerational legacies of Indigenous wisdom and practices in and through evaluation. R&R will work to sacredly hold traditional knowledge, celebrate and make visible culture and language utilization, protect and assert sovereignty, provide space for Indigenous voices and celebrate Indigenous wisdom and innovations in and through the lens of evaluation. Journal Article: Creating new stories: The Role of Evaluation in Truth and Reconciliation    The show transcript is available here. For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast and would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

In this first episode, Gladys introduces herself, her journey into the work of Indigenous evaluation, and what you can expect this season.   Resources from this episode Na-gah mo Waasbishkizi Ojijaak Bimise Keetwaatino: Singing White Crane Flying North Gathering A Bundle for Indigenous Evaluation    Winnipeg Boldness Project - https://www.winnipegboldness.ca/    The show transcript is available here.  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast and would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

Toni (she/her) is a descendant of white settlers, mostly from Britain, Ireland, Wales who was born and raised here, in Treaty One territory, in the heart of the Metis nation in Winnipeg MB, Canada. She is a daughter, sister, wife, parent, friend, community member, and a member of the 2SLGBTQQIA* community. Toni has a deep love for animals and the beauty of Mother Earth. She is committed to dismantling the systems, structures, and processes of colonization, oppression and injustice that cause harm, imbalance, and injustice. This must be work focused on the personal, organizational and systems levels. She believes we all have the capacity to heal ourselves, Mother Earth and continue to flourish as communities. She also believes on this journey, we need others -always - to walk with. All that we do is relational. Toni has a Master of Social Work from the University of Manitoba with a specialization in Leadership/Social Policy/Administration in not-for profits and over 25 years of experience working with people, communities, systems, and organizations. She has spent over 20 years providing direct clinical services, works in the not-for-profit sector at the executive level and is the owner and primary operator of Resurgence Consulting & Counselling Overview In this second episode of this spotlight series, hosts Dr. Gladys Rowe and Dr. Elizabeth Carlson-Manathara sat down with Toni Tilston-Jones—a leader, community advocate, and executive director—whose career has been rooted in dismantling systems of oppression and reimagining organizations through anti-colonial and decolonial practices. Toni shares her origin story, growing up in white settler spaces, navigating queerness in a society that denied belonging, and early experiences working with Indigenous youth in the justice and child welfare systems. These moments sharpened her understanding of oppression and fueled her lifelong commitment to system change, healing, and justice. In this episode, the conversation explores how decolonizing organizations must begin from the inside out—addressing racism and oppression before inviting Elders or community knowledge keepers into the work. Toni shares how she has used policy as a lever for change through a staff-led committee and analysis tool, leading to transformative shifts such as a compassionate leave policy and space for ceremony. Together, Gladys, Liz, and Toni reflect on evaluation as a practice of transformation, highlighting the development of a youth-led wellness card deck and staff reflection tools that center belonging, connection, and relationship as measures of well-being. At the heart of it all is Toni’s leadership philosophy—grounded in love, humility, and vulnerability—shaping a path away from hierarchy and toward shared leadership and relational accountability.   Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://www.gladysrowe.com/podcast (Scroll to the bottom to subscribe to the newsletter!) If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

In this season 3 finale, Gladys pauses in gratitude and looks back across a season filled with stories of disruption, creativity, and community-rooted evaluation. Drawing on the night sky as a guiding metaphor, she reflects on how each conversation this season has been a bright star in a larger constellation of Indigenous resurgence and systems change. Gladys shares what she has learned about holding space as a host, artist, and relative—how art and joy deepen evaluation, how protocol and relationship guide the work, and how community knowledges continue to root evaluation practices. From canoe journeys and star stories to poetry and collective reflection, this episode invites listeners to see evaluation as a living practice of wayfinding and belonging.   Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

In this episode, Gladys is joined by Natalie Nicholson, Pearl Walker Sweeney, and Roxanne Johnson—leaders and practitioners at Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming, an Anishinaabe-led women’s and family wellness clinic in Northern Minnesota. Together, they reflect on their journey of building a culturally grounded evaluation practice rooted in Anishinaabe values and relationships. From the origin story of Mewinzha, founded by Natalie's mother Millicent, to the development of a collaborative, community-centered evaluation approach, this conversation highlights the importance of being led and rooted within community priorities. Stories shared demonstrated the power of relational accountability, creativity, and reciprocal learning in designing programming that centers relatives' experiences. The guests share stories of how evaluation at Mewinzha isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about reflecting on their bundles, centering community wisdom, and continuously nurturing the spirit of the work. We share elements of the evaluation bundle, including the reflective and arts-based methods that have supported the team to walk in a good way, and how this Anishinaabe evaluation approach might offer lessons in leadership and transformation for the field. Bios Natalie Nicholson DNP, APRN, CNP, ILC is Arikara/Anishinaabe, Board Vice President, Clinical Director, DNP, APRN-CNP, OLY. She is enrolled in The Three Affiliated Tribes, Fort Berthhold, ND (Arikara), descendant of Red Lake Nation (Ojibwe) and Danish ancestry. Natalie has over 23 years of nursing/clinical experience in maternal infant women's health serving American Indians in northern Minnesota. She received my Doctorate in Nursing Practice from John's Hopkins School of Nursing in 2022, preparing me to lead in establishing our clinic and changing how healthcare is offered in our community. She leads the clinic administratively and provides medical/cultural care focusing on prenatal, postpartum, lactation and women's healthcare integrating spiritual, social, emotional and physical health. Fun note, she’s an Olympian!   Pearl Walker-Swaney, MPH, CD, CLC, ILC, RYT, is Lakota/Dakota/Anishinaabe enrolled in Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and from White Earth Nation. Pearl is a certified doula, yoga teacher, and student of energy therapy with a passion for lactation education. She has been in birth work for almost a decade and carries a deep appreciation of our cultural practices that support overall well being. Pearl is a mother, crafter, earring maker, enjoys family walks, poetry, children’s books, and loves dogs.    Roxanne Johnson, RDN, CDCES, CLC, ILC, is Anishinaabe enrolled in the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Tribe in Belcourt, ND. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for over 20 years working for tribal communities in Minnesota and California. She is passionate about ancestral foodways and American Indian wellness teachings. She enjoys teaching about making healthful changes starting in the kitchen. Roxanne is mom of 3 children, self-taught chef, crafter, and enjoys walking and traveling.    Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod

In this episode of Indigenous Insights, host Gladys Rowe welcomes Dr. Carolee Dodge Francis, Joseph Jean, and Linnea Hjelm for a conversation on kinship, mentorship, and the role of culturally responsive Indigenous evaluation. Together, they share how evaluation is more than a technical process, it is a relational practice that centers community, reciprocity, and the responsibilities evaluators carry in honoring Indigenous ways of knowing. Dr. Dodge Francis shares insights on Indigenous kinship as a framework for evaluation and mentorship, while Joseph and Linnea reflect on their experiences as emerging evaluators navigating academia and community-based research. The conversation highlights the importance of intergenerational knowledge-sharing, humility in evaluation, and the need to challenge extractive research practices. Tune in for a rich discussion on transforming evaluation through Indigenous values, fostering mentorship rooted in care, and ensuring that evaluation serves as a tool for strengthening relationships and building decolonial futures.   Dr. Carolee Dodge Francis is a Native American (citizen of Oneida Nation) qualitative social behavioral researcher, Chair of the Civil Society and Community Studies Department and Endowed Lola Culver Professor within the School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin - Madison. She strives to intertwine community engagement, research scholarship and student mentorship as a reflection of her cultural understanding within a contemporary context that is focused upon the well-being of Indigenous populations. Dr. Dodge Francis has over 30+ years’ work experience in public health/community wellness, Indigenous evaluation & program development, and community-based participatory research. She intersects curriculum adaptation and culture to create culturally responsive educational materials for urban and rural Native American communities. Dr. Dodge Francis is a published author and has been a Principal Investigator with federal and foundation funding entities for the past two decades. Joseph Jean (He/Him) is a mixed Dinè (Navajo) queer Ph.D. student in Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research aims to address social injustices and improve community health for Indigenous and Queer communities with whom he identifies with. He holds an M.P.H. from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where he specialized in social and behavioral health and biological sciences. He has held various positions, including lecturer, teaching assistant, program assistant, and research assistant for numerous University-affiliated centers, institutes, and laboratories. His experiences include designing, collecting, and reporting on qualitative and quantitative research methods. His academic and professional interests include public health, evaluation, Indigenous frameworks, and health behavior theories. Email: jdjean@wisc.edu    Linnea Hjelm, MS, is a PhD Candidate in the Civil Society and Community Research department in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Human Ecology. Linnea is a mixed, Hispanic woman who has a rich cultural background that merges her Swedish and Mexican roots. As a graduate student, she has received a comprehensive training in community-based participatory research methods and transformative evaluation design, and has applied these approaches in projects with many unique community partners. Building from her experiences as a peer educator and crisis advocate, Linnea’s dissertation research explores the impacts of youth leadership and engagement in sexual violence prevention, specifically in the context of a county-level sexual violence resource center, with whom she has been a collaborator for 4 years.   Show Notes Articles  Kinship pathways: Nurturing and sustaining resilient, responsible, and respected indigenous evaluators, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ev.20537 Rooted in perpetuity: Weaving grandfather teachings as an ongoing journey for CRE, IE, and evaluators, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ev.20567 Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod

In this heartfelt episode of Indigenous Insights, host Gladys Rowe sits down with An Garagiola, an evaluator, researcher, writer, and PhD student. An shares her remarkable journey from overcoming personal and systemic challenges to becoming a passionate advocate for Indigenous research sovereignty. She reflects on her work with CEDAR (Community Engagement for Decolonizing and Advancing Research) and the Truth Project, discussing the importance of building trust, centering community voices, and challenging colonial frameworks in evaluation and research. An offers powerful insights into the role of Indigenous evaluation in healing and empowerment, posing thought-provoking questions about shifting from deficit narratives to strength-based approaches. She also highlights the importance of relationships, cultural frameworks, and grounding research and evaluation in Indigenous ways of knowing. This episode is a call to action for evaluators, researchers, and institutions to embrace transformation and honor the wisdom of Indigenous communities.   An Garagiola, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, MPP is a mother, PhD student, researcher, and writer born and raised in the Twin Cities. An’s dissertation focuses on Indigenous research sovereignty. She serves as the Research Manager at CEDAR (Community Engagement for Decolonizing and Advancing Research) a community-based research center at the Native American Community Clinic and GRA in the School of Family Medicine at the University of Minnesota. She works to Indigenize wellness research, identify sources of holistic well-being, and influence systems change through a cultural framework. As a mixed-race Anishinaabekwe of Ojibwe and European descent, An’s work blossoms from relational and place-based roots. An was UMN’s coordinator for The TRUTH Project  and co-author on Misplaced Trust where her research unearthed Minnesota’s system of land speculation and wealth transfer from Native Nations that continues to this day.  As an Organizational Development Consultant and founder of Echo Maker Consulting, An works primarily with Indigenous practitioners to rematriate Indigenous management, development, research, evaluation, and data sovereignty into internal and external partnerships. She is passionate about designing plans which help systems become more equitable, sustainable, and accessible for people who institutions continue to marginalize. She frames her work in the following: “How might systems maximize equitable transformation for Indigenous and communities of color, and how might relational ways of knowing and being merge with anti-colonial efforts that transform systems into ecosystems of holistic well-being?   Show Notes NACC’s website: https://nacc-healthcare.org/ Towards Recognition and University-Tribal Healing (TRUTH) Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) TRUTH Project Page:  https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/truth-project/ UMN TRUTH Project Page: www.z.umn.edu/truthproject   https://www.firstnations.org/gallery/misty-blue-audrianna-goodwin-and-an-garagiola/ A link to our most current research with Grist: https://grist.org/project/indigenous/land-grant-universities-indigenous-lands-fossil-fuels/    An’s Personal websites: EchoMaker Consulting:https://sites.google.com/view/echo-maker-llc/about  Poetry and creative works: https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/an-gb/home   Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/ If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service.

Community Stories in Indigenous Evaluation with Veronica LaJoie In this episode of Indigenous Insights, host Gladys Rowe sits down with Veronica LaJoie, a dedicated member of the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, artist, and Indigenous evaluation specialist. Veronica shares her transformative journey into evaluation, beginning with foundational teachings from the Indigenous Evaluation Framework and scholars and leaders who have offered a pathway into how to approach this work in a good way. The conversation weaves through culturally grounded and strength-based approaches to evaluation, including the integration of art-based methods like ribbon work to honor community stories. Veronica offers listeners an invitation into the rigor, care, and reciprocity needed for Indigenous evaluation to flourish, reflecting on her work with cancer survivors and the importance of centering Indigenous values in evaluation processes. Veronica offers a spotlight on the power of community-driven storytelling, data sovereignty, and the growing influence of Indigenous frameworks in shaping a more equitable future. Bio   Veronica A. LaJoie is affiliated with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She is a dedicated member of her community and a devoted single mother to her son.   With a background in biosciences and public health, she has worked with the Indigenous Evaluation Framework in non-profit work, state departments, and Tribal programs and communities. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Evaluation Association.   Veronica is committed to culturally grounded, strength-based, and collaborative approaches that honor Indigenous values, promote individual and population wellness, and empower community voices.An artist at heart, Veronica integrates art and traditional practices into her work and life. She believes in the power of cultural expression to foster healing and insight.   Show Notes    The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel VanDerKolk: https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score  Research is Ceremony by Dr. Shawn Wilson: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/research-is-ceremony-shawn-wilson    Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

In this episode Gladys speaks with Shelby Corley, CEO of Three Hive Consulting and founder of Eval Academy. Shelby reflects on her journey into evaluation, drawing from her background in anthropology and health services to build a responsive and impactful consulting practice. Through Three Hive, Shelby emphasizes flexibility, relationship-building, and doing good work that aligns with community values. The conversation explores how Eval Academy was born out of a desire to share practical evaluation tools and learning opportunities, making evaluation more accessible for practitioners at all levels. Shelby also discusses her personal reflections on identity and reconciliation, explaining how these themes shape her approach to leadership and evaluation. Join this engaging discussion to hear how Shelby and her team are transforming evaluation practices, supporting reconciliation, and cultivating a learning space where evaluators grow alongside the communities they serve. Shelby Corley is a Credentialed Evaluator who has been conducting research and evaluations in the health and human services sectors for over fifteen years. She is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, CEO of Three Hive Consulting, and co-founder of Eval Academy. Shelby is committed to building evaluation capacity and growing clients’ skills in using evaluation insights to drive impact. She loves facilitating evaluation learning, and her approach has been described as “delivering content with meat in a fun and interesting way.”   Show Notes    Three Hive Consulting: https://www.threehive.ca/ Eval Academy: https://www.evalacademy.com/ University of Alberta free course, “Indigenous Canada”: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html OCAP training: https://fnigc.ca/ocap-training/take-the-course/   Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

In this episode host Gladys Rowe engages in a powerful conversation with Indigenous feminist philosopher and educator Shelbi Nahwilet Meissner. Shelbi shares her journey into evaluation through her work on Indigenous language reclamation and her deep engagement within Indigenous research methods. She discusses the significance of relationship-building, the centrality of kinship and gender diversity, and the creation of the Indigenous Feminist Evaluation Framework. Shelbi also highlights her role as the founding director of the Indigenous Futures Lab and her inspiring work on community-driven projects. Together, Gladys and Shelbi reflect on how Indigenous knowledge systems, felt knowledge, and artistic practices like basket weaving can transform research and evaluation processes. This episode is a rich exploration of Indigenous feminist approaches to evaluation and the importance of centering community voices and diverse knowledges. Shelbi Nahwilet Meissner (Luiseño & Cupeño) is an Indigenous feminist philosopher. Shelbi researches, teaches, and consults on Indigenous research and evaluation methods, cultural and language reclamation, Indigenous epistemologies, Indigenous feminist interventions in critical social work, and land-based feminist coalition-building. Shelbi is fascinated by the intersections of Indigenous knowledge systems, caretaking, power, and trauma. Shelbi is a proud first-generation descendant of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, and is of both Luiseño (Payómkawichum) and Cupeño (Kupangaxwichem) descent. She is an assistant professor in the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at University of Maryland, College Park and the founding director of the Indigenous Futures Lab, a hub of Indigenous feminist research and evaluation.   Show Notes    Shelbi Nahwilet Meissner’s website and Indigenous Futures Lab: https://www.nahwilet.com/ My Two Aunties: https://www.indianhealth.com/tribal-family-services (scroll down) “Indigenous Feminist Evaluation Methods: A Case Study in ‘My Two Aunties’”: https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/full/10.3138/cjpe-2023-0042   Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod

In this episode, host Gladys Rowe is joined by Heather Burke and Cheyenne Williams for a conversation about the power of community-led learning and environmental stewardship. The guests share their experiences working on The Xwulqw'selu Riparian Guardians Program in Cowichan territory, highlighting the importance of centering Indigenous knowledge holders in education. The discussion also explores how institutions like Vancouver Island University are shifting toward more responsive, land-based learning approaches in collaboration with Indigenous communities. Tune in for a rich dialogue about decolonizing education, building lasting relationships, and holding and resourcing space for communities to lead their own stories of environmental restoration and stewardship.   Heather Burke, BA, MA is Métis with ancestral ties to the former Red River Settlement, a historical Métis community. She has Indigenous and European ancestry on her father’s side and English and American ancestry on her mother’s side. Heather is the Manager, Indigenous Initiatives in the Office of Indigenous Education and Engagement at Vancouver Island University. Heather works to centre and amplify Indigenous voices through sharing promising practices and teachings coming from Indigenous learners, communities, families, the VIU community, and other learning partners as a way to be accountable to these groups and honour the responsibility to be transparent and authentic in our work together.   Cheyenne Williams is from Cowichan Tribes, with roots in both Tsaminat Village and Kyuquot on the west coast of Vancouver Island. She also has ancestry from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Cheyenne is dedicated to environmental stewardship in her role with Cowichan Tribes, where she is developing a riparian guardians program to address environmental concerns in her community. Her work is informed by deep connections with community members and an understanding of the land, combining traditional knowledge with modern environmental practices to restore and protect Cowichan territory.   Show Notes   The Office of Indigenous Education Engagement at Vancouver Island University: https://indigenous.viu.ca/ “Xwulqw’selu Sta’lo’: Quw’utsun Mustimuhw Hwialasmut tu Tumuhw.” By Heather Burke, Cheyenne Williams, and Maureen Thomas. Feb 16, 2024. https://news.viu.ca/community-classroom/community-classroom-blog/xwulqwselu-stalo-quwutsun-mustimuhw Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod

In this episode, Gladys sits down with Dr. Pālama Lee, Dr. Brandon Ledward, and Nina Murrow to discuss Native Hawaiian wellbeing and Indigenous evaluation frameworks. Together, they share their journeys into the field of evaluation, exploring how ancestral knowledge, community-driven approaches, and data sovereignty are transforming health and social outcomes for Native Hawaiians. The group reflects on the significance of the Kūkulu Kumuhana Wellbeing Framework and the ʻImi Pono Hawai‘i Wellbeing Survey, offering insights into the collective power of Indigenous self-determination, culture, and spirituality in shaping brighter futures.   Brandon C. Ledward, Ph.D. Born and raised in Kailua, O’ahu (Hawai‘i), Brandon now resides with his wife and three young children in Kapolei. A graduate of the public school system, he went on to earn a MA and PhD in Anthropology at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. As a Principal Strategist in Kamehameha Schools’ Strategy and Experience group, Brandon blends ‘ōiwi (Native Hawaiian) intelligence, systems thinking and foresight to strengthen and advance our lāhui (Native Hawaiian community). He is passionate about culture- and ‘āina-based (land-based) education as well as indigenous approaches to research and evaluation. Brandon relies on his ‘ohana (family), surfing, and music for joy and inspiration. Dr. Palama Lee Pālama is the Director of Research and Evaluation at Lili‘uokalani  Trust, a private operating foundation established by Hawai‘i’s last queen, Lili‘uokalani. His research focuses on wellbeing, illuminating the strengths and assets of Native Hawaiian families and communities. His PhD is in Social Welfare and he is a licensed clinical social worker. Pālama is a lover of Italian Dry Salami, a staunch defender of the conjunction “and”, and most evenings find him nerding out either reading, Netflixing, or gaming.    Nina Murrow. Nina's journey began in Philadelphia, PA, but she now proudly calls Honouliuli, Oʻahu, (Hawaiʻi), her home, where she resides with her husband and two children. With a profound passion for public health, Nina is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology and Health Informatics at The George Washington University. In her role as a Clinical Data Analyst at The Queen's Health System, Nina works within the departments of Native Hawaiian Health and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice, & Caregiver Wellness. Her primary focus lies in leveraging clinical and social determinant of health (SDoH) data to address health disparities. Nina's research concentrates on the intersection of Native Hawaiian health, clinical outcomes, SDoH, and epigenetics. Beyond her professional pursuits, Nina finds immense joy in spending quality time with her ʻohana (family), indulging in reading, and exploring her culinary skills through cooking.   Show Notes Lili‘uokalani Trust: https://onipaa.org/ Kamehameha Schools: https://www.ksbe.edu/ The Queen’s Health Systems: https://www.queens.org/ Kūkulu Kumuhana Wellbeing Framework: https://kawaiola.news/mauliola/kukulu-kumuhana-wellbeing-framework/ Results of 2023 Imi Pono Survey: https://www.ksbe.edu/research/imi-pono-hawaii-wellbeing-survey   Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

In this final episode of the special season that has focused on the arts and arts based practices in evaluation, Gladys reflects on the learnings she has gathered from the stories shared and on an inspiring exhibit from her recent visit to the Tate Modern in London.  From this episode: About Richard Wagamese's Medicine Walk (2014). https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-friday-edition-1.5260084/as-it-happened-the-archive-edition-richard-wagamese-on-his-2014-novel-medicine-walk-1.5230835  About Thamesmead Codex: https://hyperallergic.com/805326/diary-of-a-british-town-thamesmead-codex/ Leanne Simpson, As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom through Radical Resistance: https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517903879/as-we-have-always-done/ These episodes in Season 2 have been made possible through support from Canada Council for the Arts. I am grateful for their support!  Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod 

In this episode we learn more about multidisciplinary artist Mi’gmaq artist and storyteller Brandon Mitchell from Listuguj First Nation. Dive into Brandon’s journey from childhood stories to a career in graphic novels and animation, and how he now empowers others to tell their own stories. Explore the intersection of art, culture, and evaluation in this inspiring conversation.   Brandon Mitchell is Mi’gmaq from Listuguj First Nations in Quebec and currently resides in the unceded Wolastoqiyik Peace and Friendship Treaty territory of Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is a husband to Natasha Martin and father to Brayden and Bryce Mitchell. He carries a diploma in animation and design from the New Brunswick Community College of Miramichi and a master’s degree in education from the University of New Brunswick. He is a multidisciplinary artist with over 20 years of experience in the field of graphic novels, gaming, and animation. For the past four years he has applied his craft of storytelling in the role of Learning Facilitator at the Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation.   Resources from Episode: HighWater Press (books available for purchase): https://www.portageandmainpress.com/Contributors/M/Mitchell-Brandon Brandon Mitchell’s comics homepage: https://birchbarkcomics.com/ Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation: https://ulnoowegfoundation.ca/ Indigenous Story Studio (previously Aboriginal Health Network): https://istorystudio.com/about-us/ Nigweg Collective: https://www.nigwegcollective.com/ The transcript from this episode can be found here. These episodes in Season 2 have been made possible through support from Canada Council for the Arts. I am grateful for their support!  Email: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: indigenousevaluationpodcast@gmail.com  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod