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This episode of Native Circles, with co-hosts Dr. Davina Two Bears and Dr. Farina King, features a conversation with Dr. Wade Campbell on Indigenous archaeology, Diné (Navajo) deep history, and how Diné communities have navigated relationships with ancient sites, land, and story over generations. Wade reflects on growing up in the Four Corners, reconciling Diné teachings with archaeological practice, and why he approaches ruins and ancestral places with respect rather than fear. He discusses his work on 18th-century Diné defensive sites, the importance of recognizing mobile Indigenous lifeways in the historical record, and how archaeology, oral history, and community knowledge together illuminate longer-term Diné histories that stretch far beyond the written archive.  Dr. Wade Campbell (Diné, Kinyaa’áanii and Bilagáanaa) is an assistant professor of Archaeology and Anthropology at Boston University. His research traces the historical relationships between Diné communities and other local groups in the US Southwest, including the Pueblos, Spanish, and Americans. Wade is engaged with a range of questions related to patterns of Diné settlement and economic activity across the greater Four Corners region, with a particular focus on incipient Indigenous pastoralism and related shifts in land-use, social organization, and diet/subsistence practices. Resources: Wade Campbell, assistant professor of archaeology and anthropology, Boston University webpage. The Four Heavens: A New History of the Ancient Maya (2026) by David Stuart (see https://www.thefourheavens.com/) Becoming Hopi: A History, co-edited by Wesley Bernardini, Stewart B. Koyiyumptewa, Gregson Schachner, and Leigh J. Kuwanwisiwma (University of Arizona Press, 2023). Campbell, Wade, Thompson, K. F., & Begay, R. M. (2021). "Naasgo: Moving Forward—Diné Archaeology in the Twenty-First Century." Kiva, 87 (3), 253–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/00231940.2021.1951553 Campbell, Wade. (2024). "Collaborating with Diné communities: Reconsidering the 'pueblito' through a Diné-oriented archaeological lens." Archaeology Southwest Magazine, 36 (3&4), 24–27. "Wade Campbell: Diné Pastoral Landscapes: A Lens on Power & Equity in the US Southwest" YouTube video (2023).

In this special episode of Native Circles, Dr. Farina King brings together Oklahoma-based contributors to COVID-19 in Indian Country: Native American Memories and Experiences of the Pandemic, co-edited by King and Dr. Wade Davies and published by Palgrave Macmillan. Their conversation reflects on the devastating effects of COVID-19 across Indigenous communities while centering stories of resilience, survivance, sovereignty, healing, humor, and the determination to carry culture and community forward. King begins by remembering her Aunt Florence, a beloved Diné elder and bearer of language and culture who passed away during the pandemic. The episode then features contributors Dr. Kelly Berry, Midge Dellinger, and Jennifer Frazee, along with the voices and perspectives of RaeLynn Butler, Linda Dellinger, and Kiana Hamilton. Kelly Berry reflects on working with Native elders and educators at Riverside Indian School during the pandemic, where teaching new technologies developed into opportunities for sharing food, humor, stories, and cultural knowledge. Midge Dellinger discusses her COVID-19 oral history work with Muscogee citizens and the importance of documenting the pandemic in Muscogee voices for healing and future generations. Jennifer Frazee, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, considers the effects of colonialism and intergenerational disruption on Native families while sharing how Indigenous “aunties,” language learning, and digital communities became sources of connection and resilience. The episode also includes the reflections of Mvskoke elder Linda Dellinger and RaeLynn Butler, Secretary of Culture and Humanities for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and co-author of one of the book’s chapters with Dellinger, whose oral histories emphasize the importance of protecting elders, documenting Indigenous experiences, and caring for one another. Kiana Hamilton, an Osage and Cherokee graduate student in Native American Studies at the University of Oklahoma, reflects on how the pandemic exposed longstanding inequities while also demonstrating tribal sovereignty, innovation, and the enduring strength of Native governance and community. Together, these voices ask us to remember COVID-19 not only as a period of extraordinary grief and loss but also as a story of Indigenous presence and continuance. The conversation highlights the ways Native peoples continued to adapt, teach, remember, laugh, govern, preserve language, care for one another, and move forward during one of the most difficult times of the twenty-first century. Resources: COVID-19 in Indian Country: Native American Memories and Experiences of the Pandemic, edited by Farina King and Wade Davies (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024) "COVID Recollections: 'Documenting COVID-19: A Panel Discussion on Community-Based Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic,' Now Available Online," Library of Congress Blogs (March 2025) "A Twenty-First Century Pandemic in Indian Country: The Resilience of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Against Covid 19," Mvskoke National Library Archive Riverside Indian School School of Choctaw Language, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Diné Doctor History Syllabus by Farina King

In this episode, Dr. Farina King and Eva Bighorse sit down with Joseph Perez (who is of Nooksack descent), an actor, U.S. Army veteran, Bronze Star recipient, and law student, to discuss his inspiring journey of resilience, service, and purpose. Joseph reflects on his recent acting roles, including appearing alongside Emma Stone in The Curse, and his commitment to increasing Indigenous representation in the entertainment industry. He also shares how his studies in Native American Law and Entertainment Law, along with his new YouTube channel, JD Ready, are helping him advocate for Indigenous communities and mentor aspiring law students. Together, they discuss the power of pursuing dreams, overcoming adversity, and inspiring Indigenous youth and people from all backgrounds to embrace their potential and create positive change through storytelling, education, and perseverance. Resources: JD Ready on YouTube @realjosephperez on Instagram Joseph Perez on IMDb Cupertino (TV Series 2026) on IMDb "Q&A with Nooksack Actor Joseph Perez" by Kaili Berg "Rising Star Joseph Perez On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry"

In this episode, Dr. Farina King and guest co-host Dr. Kiara Vigil talk with the editors and contributors of the new book Lyda Conley and the Fight to Preserve Huron Indian Cemetery, which tells the story of a trailblazing Wyandot lawyer and activist who defended the burial grounds of her family and ancestors in Kansas City. This work focuses on the life and legacy of Eliza ("Lyda") Burton Conley, a Wyandot woman whose fight to protect her people’s burial ground continues to shape how we think about federal Indian law, sovereignty, and memory in the United States. Lyda is widely recognized as the first Indigenous woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, but as our guests remind us, she never stood alone. Her sisters Ida and Helena, and generations of Wyandot women, shared in the labor of defending their cemetery and their community, both in the courts and on the ground. Our guests—historian and educator Dr. Tai Edwards, Wyandot Nation of Kansas member and editor Stephanie Bennett, researcher and writer Samantha (Sam) Gill, and Wyandotte playwright Madeline (Maddie) Easley—discuss how their collaborative book brings together biography, archival documents, oral histories, and theater. They talk about reading newspapers and treaties against the grain, navigating access to scattered archives, and recording oral histories with living relatives and tribal leaders. The book offers not just a narrative of Lyda’s life but a source reader and teaching tool that invites more research and classroom conversation. Together, the editors and contributors frame Lyda’s story as a refusal to accept erasure—what they call “fighting for memory, fighting for honor.” Their work reminds us why this story matters now, in a moment when Indigenous lands, ancestors, and rights are still contested, and when community-based scholarship and art can help chart more just futures. The University Press of Kansas launched the Lyda Conley Series on Trailblazing Indigenous Futures several years ago named in honor of Lyda Conley. Kiara Vigil, Tai Edwards, and Farina King serve as co-editors of the series, and they have hoped for a book to acknowledge and highlight the life and work of Lyda Conley. Finally, that hope is realized with this new book. Resources: Order the book Lyda Conley and the Fight to Preserve Huron Indian Cemetery  Samantha Gill, blog piece titled, “Lyda Conley: Women’s History Everyone Should Know” (March 2026)  “As a thank you for reading the UPK blog, enjoy 20% off this new book when you order directly from the University Press of Kansas website. Use code: 24BLOG2026 at checkout. Because protecting scholarship and empowering informed citizens starts with readers like you. Good through the end of 2026.” Madeline Easley website Native Circles Episode 20: The Lyda Conley Series on Trailblazing Indigenous Futures

In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Davina Two Bears and Dr. Farina King speak with Dr. Carlton Shield Chief Gover about how Indigenous scholars are reshaping archaeology from within. Carlton reflects on his journey into a field long seen in Native communities as a “colonial science,” and how he now practices what he calls American Indian archaeology, which is centered on tribal sovereignty, government-to-government relationships, and the specific histories and priorities of Native Nations such as the Pawnee Nation. A citizen of the Pawnee Nation, Carlton is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Assistant Curator of Archaeology at the University of Kansas, with affiliate appointments in Museum Studies and Indigenous Studies. He earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Colorado-Boulder, where his dissertation, "The Seeds of Ethnogenesis," examined the formation of Central Great Plains Villages through Indigenous perspectives and advanced chronological modeling. His research focuses on Great Plains archaeology, Indigenous/American Indian archaeology, and the integration of oral traditions with archaeological science. The conversation highlights how treating oral traditions as rigorous historical records, combined with tools like radiocarbon dating, can overturn long-standing academic narratives about migration, corn agriculture, and the deep homelands of Native Nations. Carlton, Davina, and Farina also discuss the emotional and spiritual realities of working in museum collections, the importance of NAGPRA and tribal cultural centers, and why public-facing work like the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast is vital for sharing knowledge with Native communities and inspiring the next generation of Indigenous archaeologists. Resources: Carlton Shield Chief Gover official University of Kansas Department of Anthropology faculty webpage Great Plains Archaeology Podcast A podcast hosted by Dr. Carlton Shield Chief Gover on the Archaeology Podcast Network, focusing on the archaeology, histories, and communities of the Great Plains region. NAGPRA and Tribal Sovereignty in Practice For listeners interested in the legal and ethical context Carlton discusses (sovereignty, compliance, and NAGPRA), see the U.S. National Park Service’s official NAGPRA page. Indigenizing Archaeology: Putting Theory into Practice (University Press of Florida)

In this episode of Native Circles, co-hosts Dr. Farina King and Eva Bighorse speak with Dr. T. Christopher (Chris) Hoklotubbe and Dr. H. Daniel (Danny) Zacharias, co-authors of Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation (2025). Chris Hoklotubbe, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, holds a ThD from Harvard and serves as Director of the Indigenous Theology Circle and Coordinator of the Graduate Studies Group for NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community, the first accredited theological institute designed, developed, delivered, and governed by Indigenous peoples. Danny Zacharias is a Cree-Anishinaabe/Métis and Austrian scholar from Winnipeg, Manitoba (Treaty One Territory) with ancestral ties to Treaties Two, Three, and Five. He lives in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia) and is Associate Dean and Professor of New Testament Studies at Acadia Divinity College, as well as adjunct faculty and journal editor for NAIITS. Together, they explore what happens when the Bible is read from Turtle Island through Indigenous histories, geographies, and intellectual traditions. The conversation examines scripture’s entanglement with colonization, missionization, and boarding schools, and highlights Indigenous survivance, responsibility, and resurgence. Rather than treating the Bible as a text detached from land and power, Chris and Danny open space for Indigenous-centered approaches that honor both sacred text and sacred place. Resources: Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation by T. Christopher Hoklotubbe and H. Daniel Zacharias Civilized Piety: The Rhetoric of Pietas in the Pastoral Epistles and the Roman Empire by T. Christopher Hoklotubbe Stringing Rosaries: The History, the Unforgivable, the Healing of Northern Plains Boarding School Survivors by Denise K. Lajimodiere NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community

Co-hosts Dr. Davina Two Bears and Dr. Farina King talk with Choctaw archaeologist Dr. Joe Watkins about the changing dynamics of Indigenous archaeology from AIM-era protests and NAGPRA to tribal historic preservation offices and global collaborations with the Ainu in Japan. Watkins reflects on walking between academic and tribal worlds, why archaeology is a set of techniques rather than “the truth,” and how Indigenous communities are redefining what it means to study and protect their own pasts. A member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Dr. Joe Watkins has been involved in archaeology and heritage preservation initiatives for more than 50 years. He has published more than 100 book chapters and articles, and his books include Indigenous Archaeology: American Indian Values and Scientific Practice (2000); with Carol J. Ellick, The Anthropology Graduate’s Guide: From Student to a Career (2nd Edition, 2023); with George Nicholas, Working as Indigenous Archaeologists: Reckoning New Paths Between Past and Present Lives (2024); and Indigenizing Japan: Ainu Past, Present, and Future (2025). He has taught at multiple universities and worked for the National Park Service on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) program in Washington, D.C. He served as President of the Board of Directors of the Society for American Archaeology, 2018–2021, and in 2025 received the Society for American Archaeology’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Often described as an “archaeological elder,” Dr. Watkins has mentored generations of Indigenous students and practitioners, helping to open pathways for Native Nations and communities to define and direct research about their own lands, histories, and futures.  Resources: "Meet Dr. Joe Watkins, PhD," Ancient Art Archive "What does it mean to be human?"- Joe Watkins (Emeritus) Indigenizing Japan: Ainu Past, Present, and Future (University of Arizona Press) by Joe Watkins Working as Indigenous Archaeologists: Reckoning New Paths Between Past and Present Lives (Routledge) edited by George Nicolas and Joe Watkins Indigenous Archaeology: American Indian Values and Scientific Practice by Joe Watkins

In this episode of Native Circles, Drs. Farina King and Davina Two Bears meet Dr. Brittany Penner to discuss her memoir, Children Like Us: A Métis Woman’s Memoir of Family, Identity, and Walking Herself Home (Regalo Press, 2025), recently named one of Indigo’s Best Books of 2025. Penner, a family physician of Anishinaabe, Cree, and European settler lineage, was adopted at birth into a white Mennonite family during what is known as the Sixties Scoop in Canada, an era of state-sanctioned Indigenous child removal that remains central to Indigenous Studies conversations about kinship disruption, settler colonialism, and cultural continuity across North America. Together, they explore what it means to “walk home” in an Indigenous sense, not simply a return to place, but a return to story, lineage, language, community, and relational accountability. The conversation engages questions of adoption, survivance, and belonging while also considering the ethical and intellectual work of reclaiming Indigenous identity. This episode invites listeners into a powerful dialogue about home, healing, and Indigenous futurity. Resources: Brittany Penner's website Learn more about Brittany Penner's new book Children Like Us: A Métis Woman's Memoir of Family, Identity, and Walking Herself Home (2025) "The Sixties Scoop" educational resources shared by the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at the University of British Columbia "Exploring Identity: Who are the Métis and what are their rights?" (2019 CBC article)

This episode features a rich and timely conversation between Native Circles co-hosts Dr. Farina King and Eva Bighorse and the co-editors of the anthology Beyond the Glittering World: An Anthology of Indigenous Feminisms and Futurisms, Stacie Shannon Denetsosie, Kinsale Drake, and Darcie Little Badger. Bringing together the work of 22 authors, including "women, two-spirit people, and people of marginalized genders," the book is a genre-spanning collection that centers Indigenous feminisms, futurisms, and the enduring power of story as a form of resistance, care, and world-making. In this episode, the co-editors reflect on the vision behind the anthology, its collaborative spirit, and the ways Indigenous writers engage poetry, prose, and speculative modes to challenge colonial narratives while imagining more just and livable futures. Listeners are introduced to the editors’ creative and intellectual journeys and to the significance of Beyond the Glittering World as both a literary and societal intervention. The conversation also directly addresses the contemporary context shaping Indigenous storytelling, including book bans and anti-DEI initiatives that seek to restrict what can be taught, read, and spoken. The episode discusses Darcie Little Badger’s decision to decline a speaking invitation at Weber State University in the fall of 2025 due to imposed limits on her freedom of expression, underscoring the real and immediate stakes for Indigenous writers and scholars. Throughout the episode, the editors and hosts emphasize Indigenous feminisms as practices rooted in sovereignty, relationality, and accountability, and they return repeatedly to the power of stories to survive erasure, to speak truth, and to insist on Indigenous presence and futures even in the face of silencing. Resources: Order and learn about the anthology Beyond the Glittering World: An Anthology of Indigenous Feminisms and Futurisms through the publisher Torrey House Press: https://www.torreyhouse.org/beyond-the-glittering-world Contributing authors include: Conley Lyons | Moniquill Blackgoose | Trisha Moquino | Amelia Vigil | A.J. Eversole | Dominique Daye Hunter | Heid E. Erdrich | Pte San Win Little Whitema | Cheyenne Dakota Williams | Ha’åni Lucia Falo San Nicolas | Amber McCrary | Arielle Twist | Maritza N. Estrada | Danielle Shandiin Emerson | Chelsea T. Hicks | Shaina A. Nez | Ayling Dominguez | Samah Serour Fadil | Andrea Rogers | Kinsale Drake | Stacie Shannon Denetsosie | jaye simpson Stacie Shannon Denetsosie's website Kinsale Drake's website Darcie Little Badger's website Jessica Miller, “An Indigenous author felt compelled to cancel her Utah appearance after this university gave her a list of banned DEI words,” Salt Lake Tribune, December 4, 2025. NDN Girls' Book Club website

In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Farina King and Dr. Davina Two Bears welcome Amy Bowers Cordalis, a member of the Yurok Tribe and author of The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family’s Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life (October 2025). Amy discusses her family’s generations-long fight to protect the Klamath River, a vital ecosystem and life line of the Yurok people. She shares insights from her book, which chronicles this history and the landmark legal battle that led to the removal of four dams, one of the world’s largest river restoration efforts. The dam removal reopened the river’s flow and revived long-endangered salmon populations. Amy Bowers Cordalis is a fisherwoman, attorney, and mother from the village of Rek-Woi at the mouth of the Klamath River. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group, she leads work that uplifts tribal sovereignty and advances environmental restoration across Indigenous homelands. A former general counsel for the Yurok Tribe and attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, Amy is widely recognized for her leadership and vision, honored as both a UN Champion of the Earth and a Time 100 climate leader. Together, we talk about restoration, responsibility, Indigenous knowledge, and how the river “remembers” the care of all its relatives- human and more than human. Resources: Order The Water Remembers at Barnes & Noble and other major booksellers https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/amy-bowers-cordalis/the-water-remembers/9780316568951/ https://amybowerscordalis.com/ https://www.ridgestoriffles.org/about-us

This special episode of the Native Language Protectors and Carriers series features Freddie Lewis, a dedicated Choctaw language instructor at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Farina King talks with Freddie about the challenges and joys of sustaining Indigenous languages such as Choctaw. Freddie shares personal stories about his family’s experiences with boarding schools, the power of community-led language revitalization, and how teaching connects generations. The conversation highlights the rich legacy of the Choctaw Code Talkers, the significance of cultural memory, and exciting new projects bringing the Choctaw language to young learners and mass media. Freddie Lewis is recognized by the Choctaw Nation as a certified language teacher and has over 12 years of experience teaching multiple levels of Choctaw at the University of Oklahoma (OU). In addition to his university work, he leads community classes, collaborates with museums, and involves his students in projects that support language learning and cultural preservation. Listeners are especially encouraged to check out the powerful new short documentary (about 14 minutes long) Voices of Valor, which honors the Choctaw Code Talkers and shines a light on their enduring impact. The film will be screening at the Native Nations Center event room on the OU Norman campus on November 11, 2025, starting at 9 am Central Time. Resources: "Voices of Valor Film Debut," The Middle Ground Choctaw Code Talkers: Telephone Warriors "Native American Languages at OU" Choctaw Language Classes, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Choctaw Cultural Center First Americans Museum Classroom VR Trunks: Choctaw Code Talkers 1918 Marvel ECHO x Choctaw Nation "‘Sinners’ Puts ‘Truth on Screen’ for the Mississippi Band Of Choctaw Indians," AP June 6, 2025. Learn more about the efforts to protect and support the study of Native American languages (and all languages) at the University of Oklahoma through the following petitions: Oppose the Removal of Foreign Language Gen Ed requirements at the University of Oklahoma Keep Indigenous Languages Alive at OU For more information about the Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair, see the hyperlink.

In this episode, host Dr. Farina King is joined by Dr. Anton Treuer and Dr. Chelsea Mead to explore the transformative partnership between Bemidji State University and Minnesota State University, Mankato, dedicated to revitalizing the Ojibwe language. The conversation delves into the power of intergenerational learning, the use of technology to bridge distances, and the importance of community in language preservation. Anton and Chelsea share personal stories, discuss the challenges and triumphs of building university-based Native language programs, and reflect on the healing and strength that come from reconnecting with ancestral languages. Listeners will gain insight into the collaborative efforts that are making a difference for students, families, and communities across Ojibwe country and beyond. Dr. Anton Treuer is a Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University, renowned author, and leading advocate for Indigenous language revitalization. He was raised near the Leech Lake Reservation of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in north-central Minnesota, although his mother is enrolled in the White Earth Nation (also known as the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe). Anton has dedicated his career to building Ojibwe language programs, developing teacher training initiatives, and fostering equity in education. His work has had a profound impact both regionally and nationally, and he is recognized for his engaging teaching style, community leadership, and commitment to cultural preservation. Dr. Chelsea Mead is a settler-colonist/non-Indigenous scholar who grew up in Anishinaabeg homelands of Michigan and now works in Dakota homelands of Minnesota. She is a Professor of History and American Indigenous Studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and has been learning Anishinaabemowin since she was a college student herself. Her research examines how educational institutions can be accountable to their pasts while supporting Indigenous students and communities in the present. Chelsea is also a contributing author to the edited volume COVID-19 in Indian Country, sharing insights on language, community, and resilience. Resources: Chelsea M. Mead, "Maawanji’idiwag: They Come Together," in COVID-19 in Indian Country: Native American Memories and Experiences of the Pandemic, eds. Farina King and Wade Davies (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024). Anton Treuer, Everything you Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2023 revised & expanded edition) Anton Treuer's website- https://antontreuer.com/ "Multi-Campus Collaboration Funding: Ojibwe Language" (2023) Ojibwe Language Programs, Bemidji State University For more information about the Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair, see the hyperlink.

This episode features voices from a panel on the collaboration, “Indigenous Truthtelling of Boarding Schools,” held at the University of Oklahoma in August 2025 and funded by a NHPRC-Mellon Planning Grant for Collaborative Digital Editions in African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American History and Ethnic Studies. The panelists share their experiences studying Native American boarding schools and discuss plans for a digital edition with scholars at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University, Utah State University, and Indigenous communities. The project connects universities and archives with Native Nations and communities to develop educational resources about boarding schools and to expand public access to records, oral histories, and community knowledge. This episode includes: Farina King (Navajo Nation citizen), professor of Native American Studies at OU and co-host of Native Circles. She researches Indigenous histories, especially boarding school experiences, and collaborates on projects linking oral histories, archives, and community engagement. Sarah Milligan, head of the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at OSU. She partners with the Chilocco National Alumni Association to digitize memorabilia, record oral histories, and create educational tools that support truthtelling and remembrance. Teagan Dreyer (Choctaw descendant), PhD candidate in history at OSU. She researches the impacts of boarding schools on Native identity and community resilience. Erin Dyke, associate professor of curriculum studies at OSU. She focuses on truthtelling, Indigenous-led education initiatives, and transforming curriculum to confront legacies of colonial schooling. Asa (Ace) Samuels (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes citizen), first-generation OU student. He mentors Native youth in cultural practices and serves as a facilitator for Mending Broken Hearts, a healing program addressing intergenerational trauma linked to boarding schools. Kelly Berry (Apache Tribe of Oklahoma citizen), a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer in Native American Studies at OU. Berry is a descendant of boarding school survivors and researches histories of Indian boarding schools, including Carlisle, Chilocco, and early mission schools. Blaine McLain, head archivist of Special Collections at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He manages archival collections related to the Cherokee National seminaries and regional histories. Britton Morgan, undergraduate student research assistant at NSU from Muskogee, Oklahoma. He works with NSU archives, focusing on materials related to Indian boarding schools. Michelle Martin, independent scholar in Arizona and former NSU faculty. She studies the Tullahassee Mission School and the legacies of interracial marriage tied to boarding schools.  Cheyenne Widdecke, master’s student in anthropology at OU, specializing in archaeology. As a Graduate Research Assistant, she surveys archival collections, examines boarding school site records, and conducts oral history research with the Sac and Fox Nation. Mary Harjo (citizen of the Muscogee/Creek Nation), boarding school alumna. She attended federal Indian boarding schools from 1st through 12th grade and later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work at OU. A survivor of discrimination and abuse, she became a social worker and mentor, sharing her lived experiences to inform truthtelling and healing efforts.

Heather Tanana (Diné), a law professor at the University of Denver and associate faculty member with the Center for Indigenous Health at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, joins host Farina King to discuss her chapter in COVID-19 in Indian Country: Native American Memories and Experiences of the Pandemic. Her chapter, “The Intersection of the Law and Health: Water (In)security in Indian Country,” asserts that access to clean water is essential for health, culture, and community well-being, yet nearly half of Native American homes lack safe drinking water or basic sanitation compared to less than 1% nationwide. This episode examines the ongoing crisis of tribal water insecurity and the work still needed to close the gap. Resources: tribalcleanwater.org is a website that contains a lot of resources, including some reports such as "Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities"In the episode, Heather makes a reference to this grassroots and community organization: https://tonizhoniani.org/"Water Is Life: Law, Systemic Racism, and Water Security in Indian Country," an article by Heather Tanana, Julie Combs, and Alia Hoss: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/hs.2021.0034 "Abandoned Mines, Abandoned Treaties: The Federal Government's Failure to Remediate Abandoned Uranium Mines on the Navajo Nation," an article by Nadine Padilla: https://lawreview.colorado.edu/print/volume-96/abandoned-mines-abandoned-treaties-the-federal-governments-failure-to-remediate-abandoned-uranium-mines-on-the-navajo-nation-nadine-padilla/Heather Tanana, "The Intersection of the Law and Health: Water (In)security in Indian Country," in COVID-19 in Indian Country: Native American Memories and Experiences of the Pandemic, eds. Farina King and Wade Davies (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024).

At age 40, Robert Collins realized that the Potawatomi language was still alive, which changed the course of his life. Now a dedicated language instructor for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and various universities across Oklahoma, Collins shares his journey from machinist to language protector. In this episode, he emphasizes the sacredness of Bodwéwadmimwen (Potawatomi language), innovative teaching methods, and his dream of creating future generations of Potawatomi speakers and educators. This episode is a part of the special series on Native Language Protectors and Carriers, tracing how one man’s calling ignites a community’s hope. Dr. Farina King narrates this episode, and special thanks to Brian D. King for editing the Language Protectors and Carriers series. Robert Collins is a Citizen Potawatomi Nation member of the Delonais family and Thunder Clan. He serves as the Interdepartmental Potawatomi Language Lead at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center and teaches Potawatomi at the University of Oklahoma and other institutions. Collins designs curriculum for early childhood, college-level, and community language programs. He is a lifelong student of Bodwéwadmimwen that he now helps others reclaim. Learn more about the efforts to protect and support the study of Native American languages (and all languages) at the University of Oklahoma through the following petitions: Oppose the Removal of Foreign Language Gen Ed requirements at the University of Oklahoma Keep Indigenous Languages Alive at OU For more information about the Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair, see the hyperlink. Learn more about Native American Languages at the University of Oklahoma. Additional Resources: Citizen Potawatomi Nation Language Department- https://www.potawatomiheritage.com/language/ "Collins Speaks on Learning Potawatomi Language" (December 2024) Tina Bridenstine, "Program helps build Potawatomi language resources," Native Oklahoma (May 2025)