Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine

We round out Season 2 of our Native Lights podcast by exploring the cultural influences that have shaped the work of two celebrated and accomplished Native artists. Chaz Wagner (Bois Forte Ojibwe) is a musician, singer, traditional drummer, and co-leader of the Native American rock band, War Bonnet, which was nominated for two 2019 Native Grammy Awards. Dyani White Hawk Polk (Sičangu Lakota), is a mixed media visual artist. Dyani has earned many grants, fellowships, and awards, including “Artists of the Year” from the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper.  The honor was shared with five of her peers for their work curating the ground-breaking “Hearts of Our People” touring exhibition, launched in June of 2019 at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Hosts: Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Cole Premo (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), siblings, musicians, and contributors to Minnesota Native News. In-studio Guest: Melissa Townsend, producer & reporter Theme Music: Cole Premo Links: https://www.warbonnetofficial.com/ https://www.dyaniwhitehawk.com/ You can reach us at: nativelights@ampers.org Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/

In this episode, two stories highlight significant work to build supportive environments for Native people to heal and thrive. Kwe Pack is a spectacular group of Native women supporting each other to run long-distance trail races. Kwe Pack has been featured on Good Morning America, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and Oprah Winfrey’s World Vision Tour.  This group encourages each other to draw on their inner strength; to heal and flourish in all areas of their lives. We also talk with hosts Leah and Cole’s brother Bryce Premo (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) about how facing his own struggles with depression and anxiety brought him tools that he now shares with others in his work in mental health advocacy and suicide prevention.  As a youth leader at the Division of Indian Work, a Safe Talk presenter, and Sober House manager, Bryce explains how helping create supportive environments for others is the best medicine for himself. Hosts: Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Cole Premo (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), siblings, musicians, and contributors to Minnesota Native News. In-studio Guest: Melissa Townsend, producer & reporter Theme Music: Cole Premo Links: Find Kwe Pack on Facebook National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK(8255) Or Text HOME to 741741 You can reach us at: nativelights@ampers.org Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/ **

The program explores the unstoppable power when two visionaries come together to bring a special project to life. We meet Deb Foster (Ojibwe), the Executive Director of Ain Dah Yung and Mike Laverdure (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota), a partner with DSGW Architects.  Deb Foster and Mike Laverdure both played leading roles in the creation of Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung, a beautiful new apartment building in St. Paul, where formerly homeless Native young adults can live, reconnect to culture, and get job skills. Hosts: Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Cole Premo (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), siblings, musicians, and contributors to Minnesota Native News. In-studio Guest: Laurie Stern, producer & reporter. Theme Music: Cole Premo Links: http://adycenter.org/ https://www.aises.org/about/board/michael-laverdure https://dsgw.com/category/projects/native-american/ You can reach us at: nativelights@ampers.org Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/

  This episode explores work being done towards authentically and accurately representing Native people, communities, and our stories. Rebecca Crooks-Stratton (Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community) is the Secretary/Treasurer of her tribe, and now she leads "Understand Native Minnesota," an ambitious campaign to support Native American narrative change in Minnesota’s K-12 education system, as a way to raise awareness and constructively overcome misunderstandings and misperceptions. Chad Germann (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) is the Founder and CEO of Red Circle, one of the nation’s top Native-owned advertising agencies.  Chad Germann is a rising success in the Twin Cities ad agency world, specializing in marketing and advertising for Casinos, and is known for his notable ads bringing awareness to the #NotYourMascot movement. Both leaders talk with us about their careers, their motivations, and gifts for doing this work. Hosts: Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Cole Premo (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), siblings, musicians, and contributors to Minnesota Native News. In-studio Guest: Laurie Stern, producer & reporter. Theme Music: Cole Premo Links: https://www.understandnativemn.org/ https://redcircleagency.com/ You can reach us at: nativelights@ampers.org Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/ **  

  Respected Anishinaabe elder and well-known physician, Dr. Arne Vainio (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) tells the story of how he became one of only 3,400 Native physicians in the United States. He is currently a family physician at the Fond du Lac tribal clinic. His story is about class divisions, lateral violence, and the unwavering generosity of people in his Native community. Hosts: Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Cole Premo (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), siblings, musicians, and contributors to Minnesota Native News. In-studio Guest: Melissa Townsend, producer & reporter Theme Music: Cole Premo Links: https://www.wearehealers.org/doctor/dr-arne-vainio/ You can reach us at: nativelights@ampers.org Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/

We kick off our new season with a story from Mnicoujou [mini-co-jew] Lakota doula, Takayla Lightfield. She stands side-by-side with Native women supporting the birth of the next generation. Takayla Lightfield (Mnicoujou Lakota, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota), is a self-employed doula who also works at the Division of Indian Work and is a breastfeeding consultant in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Hosts: Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Cole Premo (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), siblings, musicians, and contributors to Minnesota Native News. Theme Music: Cole Premo Additional Music: Leah Lemm Links: Division of Indian work  https://www.diw-mn.org/ Send a note to us: nativelights@ampers.org Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota.  Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/ **

Boozhoo everybody! It’s a BONUS episode of Native Lights - We’re celebrating our first season with a LIVE show from the Minnesota State Fair! The theme of Native Lights is to let people’s voices and stories shine, people who have found their purpose and a way to share their gifts with the community. Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo speak with more fabulous guests who are shining bright: 1. Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan - Peggy Flanagan is a citizen of the White Earth Nation and only the second Native American woman to ever be elected to statewide executive office in U.S. history. https://www.facebook.com/LtGovFlanagan/ 2. Sarah Wheelock - Twin Cities Native Lacrosse https://www.facebook.com/Twin-Cities-Native-Lacrosse-1488367821441753/ 3. James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, creator of "Ojibwe Word of the Day" http://www.jamesvukelich.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jamesvukelichkaagegaabaw/ 4. Allison Waukau – Allison is Menominee and Navajo and is the new Community Liaison for the Hennepin County library on Franklin Ave in Minneapolis https://www.facebook.com/allisonwaukau 5. Rhiana Yazzie, Navajo founder of Twin-Cities based New Native Theatre, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.  Rhiana talks about current production: Rez Sisters Play https://www.facebook.com/newnativetheatre/ 6. Leah Lemm performs her song "Anything" and Cole Premo performs an untitled original song. Leah Lemm and Cole Premo are siblings, musicians and proud members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Both are contributors to Minnesota Native News. The podcast “Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine” can be found at http://ampers.org/native-lights-podcast/ Native Lights podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse and radio for Minnesota’s communities. Made possible with funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.  

Many Native people are dissatisfied with the media portrayal of Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.  In this episode, we hear from a Native reporter who is changing the very framework for how stories are told. A Native spokesperson talks about how she found her voice and her ability to speak for her community.  And a group of Native women talk about the barriers to reaching out to reporters and being heard. Simone Senogles: Development Coordinator for The Indigenous Environmental Network, the Red Lake Nation. Dr. Kate Beane, Scholar, historian, teacher and documentary filmmaker, Flandreau Santee Dakota and Muskogee Creek Wab Kinew: Author, Journalist, TV and Radio host for CBC, Legislator, Manitoba Assembly, New Democratic Party) Pipe-carrier, activist, and hip-hop rapper (winner of Aboriginal Peoples’ Choice Music Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop CD), Ojibway of Onigaming First Nation Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo also speak with MN Native News producer/reporter Melissa Townsend. Theme Music: Cole Premo Special Music:  Leah Lemm “Rebeginning” Links: https://www.ienearth.org/ https://www.visionmakermedia.org/films/ohiyesa http://rpm.fm/artist/wab-kinew/ Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/ Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: nativelights@ampers.org

In the era of #metoo and #timesup many Native women are making culturally specific, safe spaces for each other to heal from sexual violence. In this episode, Native women share their perspectives on healing and building resistance to a mainstream culture that seems to idle in the face of sexual violence against Native women. Ikidowin Peer Education Program and Youth Theater Acting Ensemble presents a play called “Everything is a Circle,” written by Illusion Theater and  directed by Curtis Kirby III. Ojibwe Elder Sharon Day is the Executive Director of Ikidowin, a program of the Indigneous People's Task Force. Jenny Miller: Program Executive with YMCA youth intervention services Eileen Hudon: Activist, Ogichidakwe Council of Female Warriors, Elder, Anishinaabe Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo also speak with MN Native News producer/reporter Laurie Stern. Theme Music: Cole Premo Special Music: Strong Woman Song, led by Eileen Hudon and healing drum circle at the Elders Lodge in St Paul Links: http://www.illusiontheater.org/ikidowin-s-everything-is-a-circle http://indigenouspeoplestf.org/youth-education/ https://www.ymcamn.org/our_cause/how_we_help/help_kids_thrive/youth_intervention_services https://womenspress.com/Content/Special-Issues/Changemakers/Article/2018-Changemaker-Eileen-Hudon/3/29/5588 Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/ Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: nativelights@ampers.org

This show is about family — in all its different forms.  A lot of Native families have been disrupted one way or another by government sponsored genocide. But there have always been Native women and men working to repair that disruption. This episode features five amazing women doing this incredible work. Heidi Grika: Mother, White Earth Band of Ojibwe Jasmine Grika: Nokomis Circle liaison at Ain Dah Yung Center in St Paul, Cheyenne River Sioux and the Red Lake Nation Lucy Favorite: Executive Director, American Indian Family and Children's Services Shana King: Parent Advocate at the Indian Child Welfare Law Center in Minneapolis, Vice-Chair of the American Indian Family Services Center in St Paul, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation Sandy White Hawk: Founder of Indian Orphans Association and First Nations Repatriation Institute, Sicungu Lakota, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo also speak with MN Native News producer/reporter Laurie Stern. Theme Music: Cole Premo Special Music: Leah Lemm “Rocket Ship” Links: http://adycenter.org/staff/jasmine-grika https://aifacs.org/ http://www.icwlc.org/about-the-indian-child-welfare-act-law-center/staff/ http://www.wearecominghome.com/   Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/ Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: nativelights@ampers.org

In this episode the conversation turns toward themes of identity and how Indigenous artists find themselves communicating their identity in their art. Briand Morrison: Guitarist, Musician, Composer, son of the late George Morrison, the well-known visual artist, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Kayla Aubid: Writer, Lakota, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Waase Aubid: Painter, artist, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Hosted by Leah Lemm and Cole Premo Theme Music: Cole Premo Special Music: “Spark in an Endless Black” by Cole Premo Links: Briand Morrison’s music: http://www.briandmorrison.com/ Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/ Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: nativelights@ampers.org

All the stories in this first episode are about purpose: the idea that we’re all created to do something special. When you do it, you feel fulfilled, because you’re contributing your gifts to your community.  We hear from people who are living their purpose and inspiring others to do the same. Rob Fairbanks: Comedian, Social Media Entertainer, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Renee Gurneau: Teacher, Elder, the Red Lake Nation Jody Beaulieu: Activist, Elder, the Red Lake Nation Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo also speak with MN Native News producer/reporter Melissa Townsend. Theme Music: Cole Premo Special Music: “Earth” by Leah Lemm Links: Rob Fairbanks YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrkYVTbGG3bn2dEkrB4vDKg Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/ Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: nativelights@ampers.org

  Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis. On this show, Host Leah Lemm reflects on the moments of beauty during challenging times. Leah is joined by reporter Melissa Townsend and together they review and reflect on some of their inspiring conversations with community members.  Minnesota Native News launched several programs in response to the pandemic in addition to this one, including Native Lights: Biidaapi, a podcast hosted by Leah Lemm and her brother Cole Premo. And in the last six months, we've learned so much from Native voices in MN. Some of the voices highlighted in this show include James Vukelich (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), Maggie Thomspon (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Rafael Gonzalez - a.k.a.Tufawon - (Dakota, Boricua), Dr. Shelbie Shelder (Little River Band of Ottawa Indians), Susan Beaulieu (Red Lake Nation), and Patina Park (Mnicoujou Lakota). We hear how people are connecting with one another, how they're recognizing and working to resist injustice and inequities, and how they've learned to cope with the shared trauma of the pandemic.   A big thank you to all who have shared their stories and reflections.  

Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis. On today’s show, how two different musicians find creative ways to make and share their music, even as the pandemic continues. Leah visits with Annie Humphrey, an Anishinaabekwe mother, grandmother, and an award-winning musician who’s been a presence on the music scene for decades. Annie tells Leah how she is enjoying her time outdoors, playing board games with family, and what inspires her songwriting. And she shares some unreleased lyrics that she’s working on, much to Leah’s delight. We also hear from Rafael Gonzalez, also known as Tufawon, a hip-hop artist who is Dakota and Boricua, and grew up in South Minneapolis. Reporter Melissa Townsend talks with Tufawon about his music, his work for justice, and how changes brought on by the pandemic have pushed him to innovate and find new ways to bring his music to new listeners, something he says is definitely a silver lining.

Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis. On today’s show, Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) looks at how parents and families are grappling with the challenge of heading back-to-school as the pandemic continues. Reporter Melissa Townsend spoke with three different parents about how they are gearing up for the school year and making decisions that best meet the needs of their school-age children. We hear from Ryan Dixon (Oglala Sioux Tribe) who lives in Lower Sioux Indian Community and is a Dakota language teacher. Ryan Dixon has three children – a college freshman, a 9th grader, and a 7th grader. Ryan teaches in two high schools and the tribal immersion program. We also hear from Susan Beaulieu (Red Lake Nation) who lives in Brainerd, MN. She has 4 kids, ages 21, 10, 6, and 2 years old.  Susan Beaulieu works for the UMN Extension with Mille Lacs and Fond du Lac on opioid abuse prevention and treatment, and her husband works outside the home. And we hear from Sheila Lamb (Eastern Cherokee and White Earth Ojibwe) who lives in Cloquet near Fond du Lac. Sheila Lamb has two daughters – a high school junior and senior, and her youngest is on the autism spectrum so she’s been homeschooling for about a year with an IEP. Sheila works at Lifehouse with vulnerable youth who have been trafficked and she has been working from home since the start of the pandemic with a flexible work schedule.

Anishinaabe writer Marcie Rendon has just been awarded the prestigious McKnight Distinguished Artist Award for 2020. Rendon is a citizen of the White Earth Nation who lives in south Minneapolis. She is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, play write, author and poet. The McKnight honor comes with 50-thousand dollars. Reporter Melissa Townsend talked with Rendon about her work and the most recent recognition. This is the extended, edited version of their conversation.

  Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis. On today’s show, Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) looks at how tribal leaders and health care providers are ensuring tribal community members are getting the care and information they need. Joining Leah is Community Health Nurse Teri Morrison, who has lived and worked on the Bois Forte Reservation for 18 years. Teri shares how the tribe’s emergency response team has been preparing for crises, including viral outbreaks, for years. And Teri emphasizes the continued importance of battling COVID fatigue, by providing timely and accurate information. We also hear from Daniel Frye, Director of Indian Health Services in the Bemidji Area, which includes Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the urban center of Chicago. Melissa Townsend reports on how the Indian Health Services works with tribes in the region to manage the complex logistics of COVID testing, as needs shift and change. At the beginning of the pandemic, we heard from Stacy Hammer, the Director of Community Health at the Lower Sioux Health Care Center, who spoke about how this crisis will reveal both strengths and areas that need improvement.  We reflect on her words, and on our gratitude to all the health care workers helping to keep us informed and safe as we continue to encounter all the unknowns of this COVID-19 pandemic.  

Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis. On this show, Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) continues her look at how parents of very young children and specifically how new moms are facing the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic Leah’s guest today is Shashana Craft (White Earth Nation) who works for Headway Emotional Health as a Family Spirit Infant Parent Support Specialist and is also the founder of the Minneapolis Indigenous Breastfeeding Support Circle.  Leah and Shashana talk about breastfeeding, the stresses parents of little ones are facing right now during the pandemic, and how to build strong support. Shashana shares how learning traditional practices can be especially during these times. We also hear from Dr. Anne Eglash, with the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin, about how breastfeeding helps a baby’s immune system and may offer extra protection if they become ill with COVID-19. Additional resources for new moms and moms-to-be: Pregnancy and Post-Partum Support Minnesota: 612-787-7776. Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7-NATIVE or 1-844-762-8483. Look for the Minneapolis Indigenous Breastfeeding Support Circle on Facebook.

Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis.   On this show, Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) looks at how parents and teachers are facing the challenges and opportunities of getting back to school, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.  The state is providing data-driven guidance, which allows local school districts to determine what’s best for their students when it comes to returning to classrooms, distance learning, or a combination method.   Leah talks with Andrea Fairbanks (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), a mother and educator, who speaks about considerations from both the parental and educator perspective when it comes to the new school year. Andrea shares her insights about online learning: what works well and what is lost by not being in the classroom.   MN Native News reporter Melissa Townsend talks with Native educator Govinda Budrow (White Earth Nation) about the challenges and opportunities distance learning created for Native students and families. They have a thoughtful conversation about the unique challenges to Native students, including those in special education.   And Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan conveys an empathetic and hopeful message to students, parents, and educators, as she speaks to the challenge of balancing health and safety with meeting the educational needs of all students.

Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis. On this show, Host Leah Lemm reflects on the themes of rising to the challenge of the pandemic, respecting the virus, and coping with many unknowns. Leah is joined by reporter Melissa Townsend and together they review and reflect on some of their wonderful conversations with community members. Minnesota Native News launched several programs in response to the pandemic in addition to this one, including Biidaapi Podcast hosted by Leah Lemm and her brother Cole Premo. Through dozens of interviews with folks in Indian Country in Minnesota, we stayed connected and learned a lot over the last four months. Some of the voices highlighted in this show include Vanessa Goodthunder (Lower Sioux Indian Community), Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Nation), Anishinaabe M.C. Tall Paul (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), elder Sharon Day (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa), addiction counselor Sharyl Whitehawk (Lac Courte de Oreilles Ojibwe), Anishinaabe elder and healer Dennis Jones (Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation), actress Isabella Star Leblanc (Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota), and Anishinaabe artist Robert DesJarlait (Red Lake Nation). We heard about passing the time while staying home, keeping up healthy practices, and using technology to stay connected. During the blur of days in quarantine, we also faced the tragedy of George Floyd’s killing which unearthed deep pain around police brutality and long-standing racial inequities.  We are so grateful to all our relatives for sharing their wisdom, insights, and hope, as we support one another during these difficult times.