Bear Canyon Podcast

On this weeks episode, I talk with Nan Blassingame a Cheyenne Arapahoe from Texas. Nan talks about how she was introduced into making Jingle Dresses, and where her inspiration came from.  Nan is a traditional pow-wow dress maker for her local area.  In what turns out to be miscommunication with her best friend, leads her to an Austin, TX fashion show.  Then the unexpected twists and turns that Nan experiences as she reaches New York Fashion Week 2019.

During this episode I have a round table discussion with Fate's Highway, a band from Gallup, NM. I talk with James Mecale and 'Korn' Johns.  We have a discussion about how the band me.  James and Korn speak about their new song and how they share a vision of playing music.  At the end of the episode, is Fate's Highway's new release "Leaving State of Mind."

In this episode I talk about the Pulitzer Prize book written by M. Scott Momaday (Kiowa), The House Made of Dawn. Mr. Momaday is the first Native American to win a Pulitzer Prize.  Some people call his book literature and other poetry.  This book is set in 1952, just after WWI and WWII and during Vietnam.  For some Native American men this era marks a time where they leave one world - a traditional world and embark into another word - a world of war.  This leaves most Native American men unable to cope.  Abel, the main character portrays a man trying to cope in two worlds.  This book paves the way for other Native American writers.

Listen to April K. Tsosie, Navajo residing in Denver, CO.  We talk about how her passion in art lead her to the Art Institution in Chicago, IL.  We discussion her determination to follow that passion and those who inspired and encouraged her to keep going forward.  

I am talking with Derek Hinkey, a Ft. McDermot Paiute Shoshone Native American from Las Vegas, NV.  Hr. Hinkey is one of the few Pro-boxers who is a Native American.  We talk about what led up to his boxing career, the moment he knew there was no turning back in Boxing.  We touch on his family history.  Lastly, what determination or what Native Grit means to him.  

Interview with Mr. Alex Begay and the steps he took to recreate a lost art.  The curiosity of one man who wanted to make a war bow started from a picture circa 1880.  The episode follows the steps he took, the determination he had and the perseverance to create a war bow.

This is the first episode, and I am talking with Blanca Iris Acuna Hatch a Taino Native American currently residing in Oklahoma.  She is nominated for the Native American Music Award (NAMA) 2019. In this episode we discuss goals, how to follow your dream, support and her song Ocean's Poet.

The Bear Canyon is about today’s Native American people.  The upcoming episode's is a hybrid podcast featuring Interviews, Solo dialogue and Round Table discussions about goals, determination and fulfilling your dream.  The stories are about modern Native Americans who are working and focusing on their destination at the same time motivating and inspiring.  This episode is an introduction of how and why I started and what to expect.