Advertise on podcast: Nihizhi, Our Voices: An Indigenous Solutions Podcast

In Episode 6, co-host Dr. Lyla June Johnston (Diné/Tsétsêhéstâhese) speaks with Margo Robbins (Yurok), Co-founder and Executive Director of the Cultural Fire Management Council, Co-lead of the Indigenous People’s Burn Network, and member of the International Indigenous-led Fire Network. Margo is a mom and a grandma, and lives on the Yurok Reservation in far Northern California, United States. Margo shares how carefully working with fire can help water return to the land, create healthier habitats for plants and animals, and support the renewal of important species. Together, Lyla and Margo explore cultural burning as a relationship with the land based in care, responsibility, and knowledge passed down through generations. Don't miss this conversation! Listen to “Reclaiming Fire: Cultural Burning with Margo Robbins.”

In Episode 5, co-host Dr. Lyla June Johnston (Diné/Tsétsêhéstâhese) speaks with Dr. Nelly Masayi (Luhya), an Indigenous academic from western Kenya, about the role of Indigenous knowledge in protecting biodiversity, addressing climate change, and sustaining communities. Together, they explore the impacts of colonization on Indigenous cultures, land ownership, food systems, and women’s roles. Don't miss this conversation! Listen to “Indigenous Kenya: The Power of Luhya Knowledge to Protect Biodiversity with Dr. Nelly Masayi.”

In Episode 4, co-host Lyla June Johnston (Diné/Tsétsêhéstâhese) speaks with Tanaya Winder (Shoshone, Ute, Diné, and Paiute), an accomplished author, singer-songwriter, poet, and motivational speaker, about burn out and working from our heart’s purpose. Tanaya combines storytelling, singing, and poetry to delve into themes of healing, love, and discovering one's purpose—what she calls "heartwork," as a form of medicine and encourages individuals to harness their voices as a source of power.   Don't miss this conversation! Listen to “Caring for Self, Caring for Community: Lessons in Leadership with Tanaya Winder.”  To learn more about her work, visit: www.tanayawinder.com

In Episode 3, co-host Aimee Roberson (Chahta/Chikashsha) speaks with Alicia Moncada (Wayuu) and Avexnim Cojtí (Maya K'iche') about what it means to be Indigenous, how all of humanity has Indigenous roots, and the fierce love needed to care for and ensure the continuance of our cultures, communities, and connections to Mother Earth. Don't miss this conversation! Listen to “Fierce Love: Balancing Nurture and Defense of Our Communities.”

In Episode 2, one of our hosts, Dr. Lyla June Johnston (Diné/Tsétsêhéstâhese), speaks with Burhan Sönmez about the revitalization of the Kurdish language.  Listen to “Healing Our Future: Mother Earth Medicine with Lyla June and Aimee Roberson”.

In Episode 1, our hosts, Dr. Lyla June Johnston (Diné/Tsétsêhéstâhese), Cultural Survival Board Member, and Aimee Roberson (Chahta/Chikashsha), Cultural Survival Executive Director, discuss their inspiration for this new podcast rooted in the wisdom of their ancestors. Aimee and Lyla honor Indigenous cultures and values and invite listeners to collectively dream and co-create a future of mutual flourishing rooted in Ancestral Intelligence. Listen to “Healing Our Future: Mother Earth Medicine with Lyla June and Aimee Roberson”.

In this Episode, Dr. Lyla June Johnston speaks with Aimee Roberson, Executive Director of Cultural Survival, to announce an exciting new transition! Lyla June and Nihizhi Podcast are joining forces with Cultural Survival to launch a brand new podcast called "Mother Earth Medicine"! Aimee and Lyla will now co-host the new show, combining their extensive networks with Indigenous communities to better help us interview, highlight, and platform amazing grassroots Indigenous leaders, thinkers and practitioners from around the world! For all those who have known and loved Nihizhi Podcast, please know that this is only a continuation of our power with a larger media team and the beautiful presence of Aimee Roberson. Stay tuned!

In this episode, we speak with Tela Troge, a Shinnecock Nation matriarch, lawyer, and kelp farmer, Indigenous to what is now known as Long Island, NY. She shows us how ushering life back into the Shinnecock Bay is not as hard as it seems. By fighting against the billionaire class that tried to take up the land of the area, and pushing against patriarchy that tried to limit women's leadership, she and her sisters are planting sugar kelp in the Shinnecock Bay with extraordinary results. Her message inspires hope that, even in the most troubled waters, we can take action to reverse environmental damage and heal the land. If Tela can do it, we can all do it! She shows the light of how to walk down this path of regeneration and restoration.

Karelle Hall and Courtney Streett share their experience in the colonial state of Delaware as Nanticoke Tribal Members to bring back their ancient seeds, carry on the ways of their ancestors, and thrive in the face of ongoing colonization.  They also speak with host Lyla June (www.lylajune.com) on the topic of Afro-Indigeneity and their collective work to abolish blood quantum and celebrate pluralistic identities and intra-diversity.  Follow their work at: https://www.nativerootsde.org/ Karelle Hall: https://anthro.rutgers.edu/academics/graduate/graduate-students/cultural-anthropology/1035-karelle-hall Courtney Streett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-streett-a671a631

In this episode, host Lyla June interviews Justin Adams, co-founder of Ostara and chair of Embercombe. The episode discussion revolves around reconnecting with the earth through the lens of European indigenous roots. Unlike the traditional focus on Turtle Island's Indigenous peoples, this episode explores pathways for individuals of European descent to reclaim ancestral relationships with the land. Justin shares insights on addressing the colonial legacy of European ancestors, grappling with historical shame, and acknowledging privilege as part of a broader effort to heal and restore harmony with the earth. To learn more about Ostara, visit https://www.ostaracollective.org/ To learn more about Embercombe, visit https://embercombe.org/who-we-are/

This episode, host Lyla June is in conversation with Theresa "Bear" Fox, a song carrier and knowledge bearer of the Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk Nation) from Akwesasne Territory in northeastern Turtle Island. Together, they explore her journey as a community member, her deep connection to her culture, and how she came to carry the songs and stories of her people. This heartfelt exchange offers insight into the preservation of traditions and the power of music and storytelling. Learn more about Theresa "Bear" Fox on her official website. Stream her music on Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Music. Doante or learn more about the Akwesasne Freedom School on their website.

In this episode, host Lyla June interviews Charlene Nijmeh, the chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, which is comprised of all known surviving American Indian Lineages aboriginal to the San Francisco Bay Region. Throughout the episode, the discussion focuses around the powerful history of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, stories of resilience, and the "Trail of Truth", a 90-day horseback journey across the United States, all the way from San Francisco to Washington, beginning August 4th. With a strong sense of public service and duty towards her tribal communities, Charlene sits at the helm of the "Trail of Truth" protest and is determined to make sure that the voices of the unrecognized tribes are heard. To learn more about the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, visit Muwekma.org. To donate to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, vist https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=NJSTHL7GYM7WE. To learn more about Charlene Nijmeh, visit CharleneforCongress.com.

In this episode, host Lyla June interviews Dean Barlese, an elder and spiritual leader from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and Max Wilbert, writer and community organizer whose been part of grassroots political work for 20 years, and is the founder of Protect Thacker Pass. Their discussion focuses around the status of the lithium mining project to be built on Thacker Pass, a physical feature located in Humboldt County Nevada, traditional and unceded territory of the Paiute and Shoshone people, currently designated as United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public land. The traditional Paiute name of Thacker Pass is Peehee Mu’huh. Now it is also the site of a massive lithium mine under construction, that is destroying the area and valuable habitat for the creatures who live there. Throughout the episode, our guests touch on how they are fighting against this project and why everything we do counts, and matters. To learn more or get involved, visit ProtectThackerPass.org To donate, visit GiveButter.com To read the autobiography of Billy Haywood, visit Archive.org

In this episode, host Lyla June talks with Maria Azhunova of the Buryat-Mongol Indigenous Peoples, Director of the Land of Snow Leopard Network. Their discussion focuses around the significance of the Snow Leopard, it's meaning and how they are spreading awareness and education on this sacred animal, as well as protecting the animal from humans and outside dangers that can interfere with the endangered snow leopard, who lives in the mountains of South and Central Asia. Throughout this episode, they also talk about how interconnected all indigenous beings are, human and non-human and how to reflect on your own connection. To learn more about the Snow Leopard, visit snowleopardconservacy.org or landofsnowleopard.org.

In this episode host Lyla June talks with  Shelly Covert, spokesperson for the Nisenan Indigenous Nation, native to Grass Valley & Nevada City areas of northern California. Co-founders of CHIRP (California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project) Shelly Covert and Ember Amador discuss their $2.4M GoFundMe campaign to recover sacred lands stolen during the California  Gold Rush. As of the publishing of this episode, they have already raised $2M. We discuss the tragedy of having to buy back stolen lands, but also celebrate that stolen wealth is being put towards the return of Indigenous lands. We request more support, and also celebrate that this small native nation, nearly extinguished by the California genocide and state-funded bounty hunting of indigenous peoples, is making a roaring comeback in the 21st-century. CHIRP's mission to preserve, protect and perpetuate Nisenan Culture is informed by the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribal Council, which assesses and identifies the needs and best practices of their Tribal citizens. This episode  focuses on their fight and journey to buyback the Nisenan homelands and how CHIRP is able to uplift their community and impact those around them to donate, volunteer and stay informed about the buyback. To learn more about CHIRP, visit chirpca.org or their social media: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or Twitter To learn more about the Nisenan Tribe, visit nisenan.org