Podcasts about Navajo Nation

This is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veteran. SUBMITTED BY: @NativeAmerican_ on X Code Talker Thomas H. BegayThomas H. Begay was born on November 26, 1926, in a traditional Navajo hogan in a remote area south of Gallup, New Mexico, near Chichiltah and is one of the two last surviving Code Talkers from WWII. He grew up speaking only the Navajo language until age 13, when he was sent to an Indian boarding school in Fort Defiance, Arizona, where he learned English. Inspired by the attack on Pearl Harbor, Begay enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 16 in September 1943, though his age was considered flexible at the time. Military Service Initially aspiring to become an aerial gunner, Begay was instead selected for the Navajo Code Talkers program due to his fluency in Navajo. He completed specialized training and was assigned to the 5th Marine Division's Signal Company, specifically the 27th Marine Regiment. As one of approximately 400 Navajo Code Talkers, he helped develop and use an unbreakable code based on the Navajo language (Diné) to transmit secure messages during World War II. He served in the Pacific theater, notably during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, where he was sent as a replacement for a Code Talker killed in action. On the first day of the battle, two Code Talkers were killed and three wounded; Begay transmitted hundreds of error-free messages, contributing to the Allies' success by confounding Japanese codebreakers. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in July 1946. In 1947, Begay reenlisted in the U.S. Army as a communications specialist and paratrooper with the 7th Infantry Division. He saw intense combat during the Korean War, including surviving the brutal Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in late 1950. He left the military in 1953. Post-War Life and Career After his military service, Begay worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for 40 years on the Navajo Nation reservation. He began as an employment assistance officer, helping Navajos access jobs and education, and advanced to Agency Superintendent of the Chinle Agency, overseeing tribal trust programs. Motivated by his own experiences, he encouraged others, stating, "If I can be a Code Talker, any Navajo can go out and be anything." Begay has remained active in the Navajo Code Talkers Association, traveling to speak publicly, and has written and performed songs in Navajo about World War II. He resides in Window Rock, Arizona, and is described as a community leader and family man. Honors and Legacy Begay's military honors include the Presidential Unit Citation with three Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Korean Service Medal with five Bronze Stars. In 2001, he was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal for his service as a Navajo Code Talker. In 2023, he served as the World War II Veteran Grand Marshal in the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. As of November 2025, at age 98 (turning 99), Begay is one of only two surviving Navajo Code Talkers, alongside Peter MacDonald. His contributions symbolize Indigenous valor, resilience, and the pivotal role of Navajo Code Talkers in U.S. military history. honoringamericasveterans.org ___________________________________________________________ This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.With support from our friends at:Alamo Military Collectables, and Monical’s PizzaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veteran. SUBMITTED BY: @NativeAmerican_ on X Code Talker Thomas H. BegayThomas H. Begay was born on November 26, 1926, in a traditional Navajo hogan in a remote area south of Gallup, New Mexico, near Chichiltah and is one of the two last surviving Code Talkers from WWII. He grew up speaking only the Navajo language until age 13, when he was sent to an Indian boarding school in Fort Defiance, Arizona, where he learned English. Inspired by the attack on Pearl Harbor, Begay enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 16 in September 1943, though his age was considered flexible at the time. Military Service Initially aspiring to become an aerial gunner, Begay was instead selected for the Navajo Code Talkers program due to his fluency in Navajo. He completed specialized training and was assigned to the 5th Marine Division's Signal Company, specifically the 27th Marine Regiment. As one of approximately 400 Navajo Code Talkers, he helped develop and use an unbreakable code based on the Navajo language (Diné) to transmit secure messages during World War II. He served in the Pacific theater, notably during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, where he was sent as a replacement for a Code Talker killed in action. On the first day of the battle, two Code Talkers were killed and three wounded; Begay transmitted hundreds of error-free messages, contributing to the Allies' success by confounding Japanese codebreakers. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in July 1946. In 1947, Begay reenlisted in the U.S. Army as a communications specialist and paratrooper with the 7th Infantry Division. He saw intense combat during the Korean War, including surviving the brutal Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in late 1950. He left the military in 1953. Post-War Life and Career After his military service, Begay worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for 40 years on the Navajo Nation reservation. He began as an employment assistance officer, helping Navajos access jobs and education, and advanced to Agency Superintendent of the Chinle Agency, overseeing tribal trust programs. Motivated by his own experiences, he encouraged others, stating, "If I can be a Code Talker, any Navajo can go out and be anything." Begay has remained active in the Navajo Code Talkers Association, traveling to speak publicly, and has written and performed songs in Navajo about World War II. He resides in Window Rock, Arizona, and is described as a community leader and family man. Honors and Legacy Begay's military honors include the Presidential Unit Citation with three Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Korean Service Medal with five Bronze Stars. In 2001, he was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal for his service as a Navajo Code Talker. In 2023, he served as the World War II Veteran Grand Marshal in the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. As of November 2025, at age 98 (turning 99), Begay is one of only two surviving Navajo Code Talkers, alongside Peter MacDonald. His contributions symbolize Indigenous valor, resilience, and the pivotal role of Navajo Code Talkers in U.S. military history. honoringamericasveterans.org ___________________________________________________________ This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.With support from our friends at:Alamo Military Collectables, and Monical’s PizzaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Week’s SPECIAL Episode on the International Uranium Film Festival in Navajo Nation The International Uranium Film Festival (IUFF) came to Window Rock, the capital of Navajo Nation, for the fourth time to present films focusing on all dangers of the nuclear fuel chain, with a special emphasis on uranium mining. Fourteen films over two...

At an unexpected juncture in her life, artist Jordana Munk Martin turned to the legacy of her grandmother's trove of textile books. Edith Wyle founded the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles in 1973, curating unconventional exhibits and instilling a love of art in her family. Her granddaughter found inspiration and comfort in the books, then opened the library for other artists to explore. That original collection is now the core of Tatter, a nonprofit organization named for soft, worn, well-used textiles. It includes the iconic Tatter Blue Library, an array of classes, a journal, and retail. “We're really a conversation about cloth, housed in a cultural arts organization,” says Jordana. Tatter's educational offerings began with classes in stitching, adding online classes and presentations when in-person learning became unavailable. One longstanding subject is the World Embroidery Series, which has offered detailed instruction in dozens of stitches and introduction to the rich cultural origins. The library invokes the cultural and spiritual connotations of the color blue. In an elegant dark blue–paneled space, the collection includes not only books but also drawers of buttons, a collection of swatches following the stitch patterns in Barbara Walker's knitting treasuries, tools, and textiles. Tatter's holdings now include treasured collections of 12 women: embroidered samplers, thimbles, darners, textiles, tools, and a luxurious assortment of fiber art books and periodicals. The Brooklyn Museum recently transferred 200 objects to Tatter, reflecting the organization's deep and growing Brooklyn roots. Like Tatter, our conversation combines cultural inquiry with human connection. Links Read Jordana's description of the Tatter Blue Library at “The Building of a Library.” (https://tatter.org/the-building-of-a-library/) Fina a list of Tatter's online and in-person classes (https://tatter.org/events/). The third issue of Tatter's journal, entitled Blue (https://tatter.org/issues/issue-3/), is available online. Read updates on the organization's new home (https://tatter.org/230-ashland-place-capital-campaign/) in Brooklyn's Cultural District. This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/index.php) is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/). You'll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you'll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. Learning how to weave but need the right shuttle? Hooked on knitting and in search of a lofty yarn? Yarn Barn of Kansas (https://www.yarnbarn-ks.com/) has been your partner in fiber since 1971. Whether you are around the corner from the Yarn Barn of Kansas, or around the country, they are truly your “local yarn store” with an experienced staff to answer all your fiber questions. Visit yarnbarn-ks.com (https://www.yarnbarn-ks.com/) to shop, learn, and explore. Peace Fleece began in a small Maine town with a mission: to produce a yarn that brings together parties from areas of historic conflict, transcending boundaries through the commerce of wool. From Russian farmers to the Navajo Nation, the original owners set the foundation for meaningful trade. Today, the spinning mill at Harrisville Designs continues the tradition of sourcing fine wool from Navajo farmers, combining it with US wool and a touch of mohair to create the unique Peace Fleece blend. Visit our website at peacefleece.com (https://peacefleece.com/) to learn more.

Paranormal Heart Podcast welcomes Fellow UPRN Host of Don't Whistle At Night, Don Yazzie Date: November 4th, 2025 EP: 58 TOPIC: Skinwalkers vs Wendigos About Our Guest: Don Yazzie is a resident of The Navajo Nation. He has always been curious about the Supernatural, Paranormal and Unexplained Mysteries. Don has been a Bigfoot tracker for the last 8 years, and working with Jevning Research for 3 years with William Jevning. He is an experiencer of various events that would be considered high strangeness which include, encounters with (Yei'iitsoh= Sasquatch), the Goatman, Dogman as well as having had Skinwalker Sightings. He has been witness to a UFO and ET abduction. As a reservation investigator his reports of a Lizard Man, Little People, and a Centaur would be deemed outrageous to most. He has also researched UFO Bases, Portals as well as the Rake underground tunnels and entrances into Hallow Earth. Don feels that there is much more on the horizon waiting to be discovered. He has a new podcast called "Don't Whistle At Night Podcast “ right here on The United Public Radio Network and is working on his Upcoming book. Don's Links: YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@Dontwhistleatnightpodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558299687443

Joing Robert Pilot: MN State Rep Heather Keeler an Rhiana Yazzie An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, Written and Director of A WINTER LOVE is modern day, inter-tribal, love story

“The medicine man sits before a pile of hot coals spread out on the compacted red earth floor of his Hogan – the traditional home of the Navajo. “This is Native American church,” he tells me, pulling shiny black arrowheads and Golden Eagle feathers from his wooden medicine box, and twisting a thick translucent crystal before the flames. Sweat beads on my forehead: medicine men are believed to see premonitions in the burning coals that divine the nature of a patient's affliction. His eyes dilate – “I see a spider,” he says, “I see a dead man.”  A few miles away we are surrounded by the detritus of modern America but here, in Navajo country, it's as if I've slipped through the cracks into another world entirely.” In 2013, I spent a week living on the Navajo reservation with three local families. I wanted to understand the real Native America, beyond the caricatures and cliches so often portrayed in popular culture.  One night, I was invited into the home of a Medicine Man to take part in a traditional healing ceremony. It was one of the most powerful and moving experiences of my life. This is the story I wrote about that experience, and I dedicate it to those three families who welcomed me into their lives and trusted me with the honor of sharing it with you.  FIND OUT MORE Discover Navajo: if you want to visit the Navajo Nation is a way that benefits the local tribal people economically and through employment this is a great resource. It's got lots of great ideas for native led tours and experiences that will really make the culture of the navajo Nation come alive.  discovernavajo.com Ira Vandever, my guide and host, is involved in various Navajo community projects and is one of the most inspiring people I've ever met. Connect with him on Instagram: @navajohemp2020  NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH This episode is the first in our month-long series celebrating Native American Heritage Month. Over the years, I've been lucky to have so many incredible experiences with indigenous peoples around the world. I've learnt so much from them, and wanted to do something  that will hopefully inspire you to visit tribal owned tourism businesses and be inspired too.  Find out more at: NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.gov #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #NativeAmericanHeritage FOLLOW US: Instagram: ⁠@armchairexplorerpodcast⁠Facebook: ⁠@armchairexplorerpodcast⁠Newsletter: ⁠armchair-explorer.com⁠ PODCAST RECOMMENDATION Check out the Smart Travel Podcast: This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.  CREDITS Armchair Explorer is produced by ⁠Armchair Productions⁠. Aaron Millar wrote and presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to part three of our Cansayapi Trilogy in which we explore the 13th International Hemp Building Symposium, held Oct. 3-5, 2025, at the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Southwestern Minnesota. Part Three opens where part two left off, with the sounds of a waterfall that melts into the rhythms of the Red Tree Singers as they chant and pray and lead the way into Day Three of the Hemp Building Symposium. After a news nugget from HempToday, this episodes opens with a tale of three Minnesota architects — Janneke Schaap, Simona Fischer and Anna Koosmann — who provide a roadmap for getting biobased building materials like hemp-lime and straw bale construction adopted into state building codes. Then we hear a collection of one-on-one interviews with farmers, builders and advocates. In order of appearance, you will hear: Marcus Grignon — Hempstead Project Heart, Menominee Nation hempsteadprojectheart.org Ira Vandever — Indigenous Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Cooperative, Navajo Nation ihcfc.org Tom Knouss — RootDown Building Collective, Charleston rootdownbuildingcollective.org Alex Sparrow — UK Hempcrete, England ukhempcrete.com/the-hempcrete-book Gabriel Gauthier — ArtCan Hemp Construction, Quebec artcan.ca Guillaume Delannoy — FRD-CODEM, France frd.fr Micaela Machado — Old Pueblo Hemp Co., Tucson oldpueblohemp.com Steve Allin — International Hemp Building Association (IHBA), Ireland internationalhempbuilding.org News nugget from HempToday Bipartisan U.S. group calls for 'Frankenstein' intoxicating hemp market to be curbed hemptoday.net/bipartisan-u-s-group-calls-for-frankenstein-intoxicating-hemp-market-to-be-curbed/ Be More Pirate bepirate.com — Sam Conniff's Be More Pirate, recommended by Alex Sparrow as a blueprint for creative rebellion and collaboration. Sponsors indhemp.com — IND HEMP, building a sustainable hemp supply chain in Montana and beyond. hempinitiatives.org — HEMI, the Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative, connecting businesses with the potential of industrial hemp. americhanvre.com — Americhanvre Cast Hemp, Pennsylvania-based hemp building specialists advancing circular design and education. sunrayhemp.com — SunRay Hemp, Alaska-grown innovation and community-driven hemp projects led by Ray DePriest.

Host: David DeRose, MD, MPH. Guests: Kenneth Kirtley, Program Director, and Tamara Peshlakai (Diné/Navajo), LCSW, Diné Adventist Radio. Carlos Pardeiro, President / C.E.O., SafeTV. Description: This episode explores two inspiring media ministries making a difference across cultures and continents. First, we spotlight Diné Adventist Radio, a program created for the Navajo Nation that nurtures physical, mental, and spiritual health through conversations on wellness, family, and healing. In the second half, we turn to Safe TV, a global network offering uplifting and educational content that brings families together through positive, values-driven programming. For further information: DineAdventistRadio.org, 505-427-3536; SafeTV.org

On today's newscast: Hunger relief organizations in Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties met yesterday to discuss the upcoming suspension of food stamps; Colorado has a U.S. attorney thanks to a district court appointment during the federal government shutdown; and The Navajo Nation has a new attorney general — its fourth in less than a year. Tune in for these stories and more.

A struggle over who is running the Northern Cheyenne tribal government has resulted in arrests of government officials, frozen bank accounts, and an emergency action by traditional tribal leaders to ban women from voting. The divide started after newly elected President Gene Small authorized a forensic financial audit. Another long-standing divide is coming to a head on the Navajo Nation, prompting President Buu Nygren to state he will not resign his position. We'll talk with reporters covering these two internal government disputes and take a look at some other notable issues and events.

A struggle over who is running the Northern Cheyenne tribal government has resulted in arrests of government officials, frozen bank accounts, and an emergency action by traditional tribal leaders to ban women from voting. The divide started after newly elected President Gene Small authorized a forensic financial audit. Another long-standing divide is coming to a head on the Navajo Nation, prompting President Buu Nygren to state he will not resign his position. We'll talk with reporters covering these two internal government disputes and take a look at some other notable issues and events.

What do you get when a dozen people come forward with chilling firsthand Sasquatch encounters — all in one episode? From river ambushes in Iowa to midnight sightings in the deep woods of Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Alberta, and even the Navajo Nation, this is one of the most gripping and wide-ranging episodes of Bigfoot Society yet.We begin with Brian from Iowa, who recalls a 14-witness river incident where a Sasquatch hurled rocks at kayakers from a 40-foot cliff. But it doesn't stop there. You'll hear from Amanda, who saw a 10-foot tall creature standing over a carcass on a Georgia backroad... Kyle in Alberta, who watched an 11-foot being cross the snowy road in three steps... and multiple others who've seen things they were never supposed to see.Each voice adds another piece to the puzzle — and you'll walk away wondering just how close we really are to the unexplained. Don't miss this one.

The humble goat has played a surprising and important role throughout the history of the United States. Despite this, goats are often overlooked by many Americans, even if they have strong opinions about these complex creatures. In Goats in America: A Cultural History (Oregon State UP, 2025) Dr. Tami Parr calls attention to these disregarded animals, uncovering the remarkable stories behind everything from goat meat and milk to goat yoga and more. Since arriving in North America with cattle and other domesticated livestock in the sixteenth century, goats have provided people sustenance and valuable products, including milk, meat, and mohair. But humans did not appreciate the animals, and as a result, throughout much of American history goats were persecuted as public nuisances and symbols of degenerate behavior. Nevertheless, over the centuries the tenacious goat has overcome many of these stereotypes and secured a spot in the hearts and minds of modern Americans, who love goat cheese and embrace goats as social media stars. Examining key moments and notable developments in goat history and culture, Goats in America outlines the history and evolving role of goats in communities across the country, from San Francisco and New York City to rural Wisconsin and the Navajo Nation. Parr shows that the evolving reputation of goats in American society ultimately reveals more about humans than it does about goats themselves. So, the next time you are enjoying your favorite goat cheese, take a moment to consider the history and role of goats within American culture. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The humble goat has played a surprising and important role throughout the history of the United States. Despite this, goats are often overlooked by many Americans, even if they have strong opinions about these complex creatures. In Goats in America: A Cultural History (Oregon State UP, 2025) Dr. Tami Parr calls attention to these disregarded animals, uncovering the remarkable stories behind everything from goat meat and milk to goat yoga and more. Since arriving in North America with cattle and other domesticated livestock in the sixteenth century, goats have provided people sustenance and valuable products, including milk, meat, and mohair. But humans did not appreciate the animals, and as a result, throughout much of American history goats were persecuted as public nuisances and symbols of degenerate behavior. Nevertheless, over the centuries the tenacious goat has overcome many of these stereotypes and secured a spot in the hearts and minds of modern Americans, who love goat cheese and embrace goats as social media stars. Examining key moments and notable developments in goat history and culture, Goats in America outlines the history and evolving role of goats in communities across the country, from San Francisco and New York City to rural Wisconsin and the Navajo Nation. Parr shows that the evolving reputation of goats in American society ultimately reveals more about humans than it does about goats themselves. So, the next time you are enjoying your favorite goat cheese, take a moment to consider the history and role of goats within American culture. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/food

The humble goat has played a surprising and important role throughout the history of the United States. Despite this, goats are often overlooked by many Americans, even if they have strong opinions about these complex creatures. In Goats in America: A Cultural History (Oregon State UP, 2025) Dr. Tami Parr calls attention to these disregarded animals, uncovering the remarkable stories behind everything from goat meat and milk to goat yoga and more. Since arriving in North America with cattle and other domesticated livestock in the sixteenth century, goats have provided people sustenance and valuable products, including milk, meat, and mohair. But humans did not appreciate the animals, and as a result, throughout much of American history goats were persecuted as public nuisances and symbols of degenerate behavior. Nevertheless, over the centuries the tenacious goat has overcome many of these stereotypes and secured a spot in the hearts and minds of modern Americans, who love goat cheese and embrace goats as social media stars. Examining key moments and notable developments in goat history and culture, Goats in America outlines the history and evolving role of goats in communities across the country, from San Francisco and New York City to rural Wisconsin and the Navajo Nation. Parr shows that the evolving reputation of goats in American society ultimately reveals more about humans than it does about goats themselves. So, the next time you are enjoying your favorite goat cheese, take a moment to consider the history and role of goats within American culture. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Rezzed Out Investments -this segment looks at the many materialistic purchases that the average Navajo family makes to make a living and how that could expand into developing their own business on the Navajo Nation.#Financial_Legacies

The humble goat has played a surprising and important role throughout the history of the United States. Despite this, goats are often overlooked by many Americans, even if they have strong opinions about these complex creatures. In Goats in America: A Cultural History (Oregon State UP, 2025) Dr. Tami Parr calls attention to these disregarded animals, uncovering the remarkable stories behind everything from goat meat and milk to goat yoga and more. Since arriving in North America with cattle and other domesticated livestock in the sixteenth century, goats have provided people sustenance and valuable products, including milk, meat, and mohair. But humans did not appreciate the animals, and as a result, throughout much of American history goats were persecuted as public nuisances and symbols of degenerate behavior. Nevertheless, over the centuries the tenacious goat has overcome many of these stereotypes and secured a spot in the hearts and minds of modern Americans, who love goat cheese and embrace goats as social media stars. Examining key moments and notable developments in goat history and culture, Goats in America outlines the history and evolving role of goats in communities across the country, from San Francisco and New York City to rural Wisconsin and the Navajo Nation. Parr shows that the evolving reputation of goats in American society ultimately reveals more about humans than it does about goats themselves. So, the next time you are enjoying your favorite goat cheese, take a moment to consider the history and role of goats within American culture. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/animal-studies

Veteran Navajo Paranormal Ranger Jon Dover opens his classified case files on UFOs, Skinwalkers, and the Paranormal across Navajo Nation. From sacred legends of Star People to modern encounters over desert skies — this episode connects ancient lore, modern disclosure, and the mysteries governments won't talk about. #Paranormal #ufotwitter #TotalDisclosureLINK THREAD—https://allmylinks.com/total-disclosure Subscribe to the channel on YouTube—— www.youtube.com/@totaldisclosure  Support TY and TDP Studios directly VIA PayPal (No FEES)— https://www.paypal.me/TDPstudios767?locale.x=en_US  YOUTUBE MEMBER—-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy2Cra7aLAAMVxkA9rSYCxg/join PATREON MEMBER—https://www.patreon.com/Total_Disclosure?fan_landing=true&view_as=publicBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/total-disclosure-podcast--5975113/support.CONTACT TDP DIRECTLY For Collaboration, Use of Segments/clips, or any other media produced by “TDP” —TY.TotalDisclosure@gmail.comSpecial Thank you to all of our PODCAST/YouTube Channel Members for your continued support, and dedication to seeking the truth, together. We can't do this WITHOUT YOU!-COPYRIGHT-2020-Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. Total Disclosure Podcast Copyright 2020 and … segments, early access to interviews, and a yearly gift autographed by yours truly!thank you in advance now, Let's explore the unknown together! =============================================================================

Don't Whistle at Night welcomes Terri Anderson Date: October 19th, 2025 EP: 026 Topic: things That Go Bump on The Navajo Rez About Our Guest Terri Anderson is a paramedic on the Navajo Nation. She has had encounters and sightings of SkinWalkers, Bigfoot, Centaurs and more.

Send us a textOn this episode of Connected Nation, we begin our coverage from Calix ConneXions 2025, taking place in Las Vegas Nevada. We talk with Jacob Smithee, the Director of IT from a Co-op in Alabama, about the challenges of bringing high speed internet to extremely rural areas. Plus we find out what he hopes for connectivity in his state and how his company recently helped the Navajo Nation with a completely different problem.Recommended links: Calix ConneXions 2025Flash Fiber website

Sahara Briscoe has a challenge for you: Do more with yarn. Knit your spinning, spin your knitting, rug hook with yarn, paint on your swatches, embroider with yarn, and question your assumptions about what your stash is for. Working from a compact Bronx studio, Sahara can't be easily classified under any label ending in -er except New Yorker. She spins, weaves on all kinds of looms, dyes, knits by hand and machine, crochets, hooks rugs, embroiders, designs custom fabrics for a range of clients, teaches, and writes, switching happily between them all and combining them as her interests lead her. At present, she is excited about scrappy knitting and a series of hooked-rug trivets. ”My textile life runs under two phrases: What if? And why not?” she says. Instead of staying in craft silos, where we pursue just one set of techniques at a time, she urges fiber folks to combine crafts fearlessly. In both her personal work and commissioned work, she is drawn to crafting for home. Surrounding herself with textiles she loves, especially ones that transform some treasured stash into something useful, make her life more enjoyable at the same time they promote a low-waste, circular way of living. “For me, beautiful home textiles . . . Well, it‘s like us as women,” she says. “We have to be durable. We have to perform a lot of tasks, you know, and we have to hold up and still look good.” “My whole design practice and textile practice is about—why can't the everyday look beautiful?” Links Sahara Briscoe's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/saharabriscoe/) Sahara's Super String Theory Design (https://superstringtheorydesign.com/) custom textile studio Cochenille Design Studio (https://www.cochenille.com/) computer design software This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/). You'll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you'll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. Susan Bateman started the Yarn Barn of Kansas back in 1971. She says, “Since the beginning, it's been important to us to teach the crafts we love—weaving, knitting, crochet, and spinning. Last year, we had nearly a thousand enrollments in our classes. We answered questions in store, by phone, and through email.” When you order from The Yarn Barn of Kansas, you aren't just ordering materials. You're supporting a business that can support you when you need help. Visit yarnbarn-ks.com. (https://www.yarnbarn-ks.com/) Have you heard of The Woolly Thistle? We're a brick-and-click yarn shop specializing in non-superwash, woolly wool yarns from the UK and Europe. We have fast and free shipping and you can check us out at TheWoollyThistle.com (https://thewoollythistle.com/), two L's in Woolly. (And let us do the international shipping and tariffs, so you don't have to.) Peace Fleece began in a small Maine town with a mission: to produce a yarn that brings together parties from areas of historic conflict, transcending boundaries through the commerce of wool. From Russian farmers to the Navajo Nation, the original owners set the foundation for meaningful trade. Today, the spinning mill at Harrisville Designs continues the tradition of sourcing fine wool from Navajo farmers, combining it with US wool and a touch of mohair to create the unique Peace Fleece blend. Visit our website at peacefleece.com (https://peacefleece.com/) to learn more.

On today's newscast: Former Flagstaff broadcaster gets prison for child sex crimes, numerous Navajo Nation chapters have been hard hit by recent flooding, Arizona executes second inmate this year, and more.

Disappearances from The Navajo Nation Reservation #MMIW #NoMoreStolenSistersBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

On this week's interview Paul talks to Dr. Jason Lucas an orthopedic surgeon from Farmington, NM. Dr. Lucas is a self-described fan of Tipping Point NM and we welcome his unique perspective on New Mexico's medical provider shortage, especially his attempts to recruit other doctors to Farmington and the proximity of his practice to the Navajo Nation. Don't miss this unique perspective on New Mexico's medical provider shortage! 

Today, Amanda and Ellyn are highlighting Indigenous authors and stories in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day. The history of replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day goes back to the 1970's! In 1977, the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, sponsored by the United Nations, first began discussing this change. It is a challenge to the notion that Christopher Columbus “discovered” a land that had actually been populated for tens of thousands of years. Dog-Eared Books is on the ancestral homelands of the Meskwaki Nation and Baxoje ich'e - also known as the Ioway (from which we take our state name) - peoples. Amanda and Ellyn have put together a list of some of their favorite Indigenous authors to share with you. We hope you listen and pick up Indigenous Stories year round. Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang Amanda's Currently Reading | The Optimists by Brian Platzer & The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown Books coming out this week | We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat & Bog Queen by Anna North SHOW NOTES: Rethinking How We Celebrate American History - Indigenous Peoples Day Learn About and Donate to the Meskwaki Nation Learn More About the Baxoje Learn About and Donate to the First Nations Birchbark Books ______________________________________________________________________ Indigenous Authors you NEED to be Reading: Louise Erdrich - member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (ND) “The Round House” “The Night Watchman” “The Sentence” Tommy Orange - member of Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes (OK) “There There” “Wandering Stars” Stephen Graham Jones - member of the Blackfeet Nation (MT) Mongrels My Heart is a Chainsaw I Was a Teenage Slasher Joy Harjo - member of the Muscogee Creek Nation (OK) An American Sunrise Poet Warrior Washing My Mother's Body Cherie Dimaline - member of the Metis Nation of Ontario Venco The Marrow Thieves Funeral Songs for Dying Girls Robin Wall Kimmerer - member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (OK) Braiding Sweetgrass Recent Reads by Indigenous Authors You Need to Check Out: “The Mighty Red” by Louise Erdrich “The Only Good Indians” by Stephen Graham Jones “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer “Shutter” by Ramona Emerson (Dine aka Navajo Nation of the SW United States) “The Berry Pickers” by Amanda Peters (Mi'kmaq from the Glooscap First Nation in the Canadian Atlantic provinces) “Firekeeper's Daughter” by Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan) Brand New/Upcoming Reads: “To the Moon and Back” by Eliana Ramage (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) “The Devil is a Southpaw” by Brandon Hobson (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones  “Girl Warrior” by Joy Harjo ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Shop Dog-Eared Books and pick up your books in store or have shipped HERE. Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Interested in e-books? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

In this episode of the Artemis Sportswomen Podcast, host Annita Lucchesi sits down with Tanner Saul, Public Lands and Sporting Digital Coordinator and wildlife biologist for the National Wildlife Federation, and Gloria Tom, Senior Policy Advisor with the National Wildlife Federation and a member of the Navajo Nation, for a deep and heartfelt conversation about the Roadless Rule—what it is, why it matters, and what's at stake if it's rescinded. Together, they unpack how the rollback of this critical protection could threaten elk habitat, clean water, and the cultural and treaty rights of Indigenous communities. The discussion explores what defines a roadless area, why these wild places are essential to both traditional and modern hunters, and how Tribal sovereignty and grassroots advocacy are key to keeping them intact for future generations. As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype but enjoy being our full, authentic selves. There is no one definition of a sportswoman – Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one, and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders of the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success as hunters and anglers, and role model women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in our work to elevate sportswomen as sporting and conservation leaders today! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 204: Adult Pneumococcal Vaccines in 2025.  Luz Perez (MSIV) presents all the available pneumococcal vaccines for adults. Dr. Arreaza guides the discussion about what to do with adults who have previously received pneumococcal vaccines. Written by Luz Perez, MSIV, Ross University School of Medicine. Comments by Hector Arreaza, MD.You are listening to Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast, your weekly dose of knowledge brought to you by the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program from Bakersfield, California, a UCLA-affiliated program sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, Let Us Be Your Healthcare Home. This podcast was created for educational purposes only. Visit your primary care provider for additional medical advice.Today we're answering a clinic classic: Which pneumococcal vaccine should my adult patient get—and when? This is an update of episode 90.Why pneumococcal vaccines matter?Pneumococcal vaccines prevent infections caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumonia. These bacteria can cause serious infections like pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia. In 2017, the CDC reports that there were more than 31,000 cases of pneumococcal infections and 3,500 deaths from invasive pneumococcal disease. Children are vaccinated in early childhood, before age 5, with PCV15 or PCV 20, at the age of 2, 4, 6 months and a last dose around 12-15 months. Why do we vaccinate adults?Adults are vaccinated because they're at higher risk of getting pneumococcal disease or of having worse outcomes if they do. Vaccines are important because they protect these at-risk patients and reduce the spread of infections among communities. What are the available vaccines? PCV vs PPSV.There are two pneumococcal vaccines used in practice: a polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) and a conjugate vaccine (PCV). Both protect by targeting capsular polysaccharides from pneumococcal serotypes most often responsible for invasive disease. In simple terms, these vaccines target a part of the bacteria “coating” and create antibodies or proteins that protect the body when the strep enters the body. PPSV (polysaccharide): PPSV is made from purified pieces of the pneumococcal capsule or coating. The current vaccine PPSV23 (Pneumovax®) covers 23 serotypes (or strains) that were the leading cause of pneumococcal infections in the 1980s. PCV (conjugate): Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) take capsular polysaccharides from the bacterium and chemically link them to a carrier protein, which changes and strengthens the immune response. Current PCVs come in four versions: PCV13 (Prevnar 13)PCV15 (Vaxneuvance)PCV20 (Prevnar 20)PCV21 (Capvaxive) The number indicates the amount of pneumococcal capsule types covered by each vaccine. PCV21 was designed around adult disease patterns and covers many serotypes currently driving invasive disease in adults. However, it does not include serotype 4, but this serotype is covered by the PCV20 and PCV15.Who should be vaccinated? In 2024, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated their recommendations on Pneumococcal vaccinations for adults. Their recommendations are: Everyone 50 years or olderAdults age 19–49 with risks: chronic lung/liver disease, heart failure, diabetes; CSF leak or cochlear implant; immunocompromised states (e.g., HIV, hematologic malignancy, CKD/nephrotic syndrome); functional/anatomic asplenia.Patients with history of prior invasive pneumococcal disease: still vaccinate. What vaccine should be given for adults that have never received the Pneumococcal vaccine?For eligible adults with no prior pneumococcal vaccines, there are three choices:PCV21 oncePCV20 oncePCV15 now, followed by PPSV23 later, usually 1 year; 8 weeks if immunocompromised, CSF leak, or cochlear implant.PCV 20 or PCV21 seem more convenient. Once and done. If available, PCV21 is a great one-and-done pick for most adults because it's tailored to current adult serotypes.Serotype 4 caveat: If your patient is at higher risk for serotype 4 disease—think Navajo Nation, or folks in the Western US/Canada with substance use disorders or experiencing homelessness—choose PCV20 (or PCV15 followed by PPSV23 if PCV20 isn't available).What if the patient already received a Pneumococcal vaccine in the past?Plan depends on which vaccine they received and when.PPSV23 only: give PCV21 ≥1 year later (or PCV20 if serotype-4 risk or PCV21 unavailable).PCV10 or PCV13 only: give PCV21 (or PCV20 if PCV21 unavailable) ≥1 year later. If a PCV is not available, discuss PPSV23 now vs waiting until PCV is available.If patient receives PPSV23 now will need to return ≥1 year later to receive a PCV vaccine, and no more vaccines are needed after that.Is it safe to administer the Pneumococcal vaccine with other vaccines?Coadministration is fine with other non-pneumococcal vaccines, as long as we use different syringes and sites. Data support same-day administration of PPSV23 + influenza, and PCV20 with influenza or mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.Some patients are hesitant to receive vaccines, Are there side effects and contraindications to the vaccine?Local reactions are most common: pain/tenderness; swelling/induration (~20%); redness (~15%). Some people “baby” the arm for a couple of days. These typically resolve in 3–4 days; NSAIDs and warm compresses help.Systemic symptoms: fatigue, headache, myalgias/arthralgias, chills; fever ≥38°C is uncommon (

NAU Turning Point display table gets violently cleared off by a so called free speech proponent. Poll shows more people are willing to resort to violence for political change. Naked biker protests in Portland & why some states should split up. Angela breaks down the potential property taxes in Coconino County if a community college bond passes. Former AZ. AG Brnovich ambassadorship rejected by Trump Admin. 13 year old alleged wrong way drunk driving incident in Flagstaff. Uranium cleanup on Navajo Nation. Another hurricane to impact AZ. 

In Episode 216 of the Transition Drill Podcast, from the Navajo Nation to the Marine Corps, the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, Marcus Chischilly's story is one of service, sacrifice, and spiritual strength. Marcus shares how his upbringing on Navajo land shaped his discipline, how the values of family and culture led him to join the Marines, and how one split-second in Kajaki, Afghanistan, changed his life forever.He takes us through his journey of recovery after losing both legs and severely injuring his arm, and how he rebuilt his identity through resilience, family, and cultural healing. Marcus reveals what it takes to find purpose again after trauma, and how he continues to lead and mentor other veterans today.This conversation honors the warrior spirit that never fades. It is a powerful look at service beyond the uniform, and the unbreakable will to live with purpose, balance, and pride.The best podcast for military veterans, police officers, firefighters, and first responders preparing for veteran transition and life after service. Helping you plan and implement strategies to prepare for your transition into civilian life.Follow the show and share it with another veteran or first responder who would enjoy this.CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpantani/WEBSITE: https://www.transitiondrillpodcast.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpantani/SIGN-UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER:https://transitiondrillpodcast.com/home#aboutQUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:paul@transitiondrillpodcast.comSPONSORS:GRND CollectiveGet 15% off your purchaseLink: https://thegrndcollective.com/Promo Code: TRANSITION15Total Force Plus ConferenceLink: https://totalforceplus.orgPendleton Surf ClubLink: https://pendletonsurfclub.com

Don't Whistle at Night welcomes Shanclen September 28th, 2025 EP: 23 Topic: Shanclen will discuss his paranormal experiences, his research in Mysteries from the other side, and more! About Shanclen: Shanclen is from The Navajo Nation. He is Diné paranormal investigator, storyteller, and land protector. He is a practicing Medicine Man ,the CEO of Shanclen Shadow Productions. His work is centered around the exploration of mysteries from the other side, bringing together people from all walks of life who've experienced the paranormal, preserving stories that matter, and protecting the sacred lands that we walk on.

Don't Whistle at Night welcomes Rippy Williams September 21st, 2025 EP: 22 Topic: “So…..I Dated a Skinwalker” About Rippy - Rippy Williams is a resident of Twin Lakes New Mexico Navajo Nation. He is a man who wears “ many hats”. He is a former Marine, he worked as a dialysist, Is a Registered Nurse, volunteers at Red Cross , New Mexico Medical Reserve Corps, is a volunteer firefighter. He tops it off by playing in a band with his daughter called "The Sillyette's”. He authored a book called “ So, I Dated a Skinwalker” . He is no stranger to highly strange occurrences . A memorable one was was when he and his band mates were returning from a gig on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico , and a witnessed a huge Phoenix, which was seen flying off, full of life, near a local casino.

Sarah Pedlow was enjoying an artist's residency in Budapest when a museum visit changed the course of her artwork and her career. In the Ethnographic Museum, displays of traditional clothing and dowry goods from Hungarian villages showed an extraordinary variety of skills. Many of the intricately embroidered pieces spoke to an earlier time—although some had been created not that long ago. One type of embroidery, írásos, particularly captured Sarah's imagination. Using a straightforward open chain stitch in bold, graphic lines, the style was distinctively Hungarian, with Turkish-influenced motifs reflecting the region's history. Although she didn't speak Hungarian (a notoriously difficult language) and had no previous background in fiber art, Sarah was drawn to learn more about the embroidery. She eventually made several trips to an ethnically Hungarian region of Romania, where she met some of the few embroiderers still working in the technique and learned the stitch for herself. Within the community, this style is called “written” embroidery, and writing the patterns is respected as a distinct skill. After years of traveling in the region and studying with traditional embroiderers, Sarah decided to bring others to experience what she had learned. Working with a local guide, she began leading tours to visit the museums, shops in the markets, and learn directly from the villagers who still practice the art daily. Sarah's fine-art work has come to incorporate stitching and textiles. Her interest in traditional fiber arts has also grown beyond írásos to include the Arraiolas stitch practiced in Portugal, another destination for her textile tours, and explorations in the embroidery of Estonia, Bulgaria, and Spain—with more destinations capturing her eye. Our conversation made me eager to pack and needle and thread and go explore the world—you may get textile wanderlust, too. Links ThreadWritten website (https://threadwritten.com/) ThreadWritten Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/threadwritten/) Sarah's studio (https://www.instagram.com/sarahpedlowstudio/) Instagram Néprajzi Múzeum/Museum of Ethnography, (https://www.neprajz.hu/en) Budapest This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/index.php) is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/). You'll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you'll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. Learning how to weave but need the right shuttle? Hooked on knitting and in search of a lofty yarn? Yarn Barn of Kansas (https://www.yarnbarn-ks.com/) has been your partner in fiber since 1971. Whether you are around the corner from the Yarn Barn of Kansas, or around the country, they are truly your “local yarn store” with an experienced staff to answer all your fiber questions. Visit yarnbarn-ks.com (https://www.yarnbarn-ks.com/) to shop, learn, and explore. Peace Fleece began in a small Maine town with a mission: to produce a yarn that brings together parties from areas of historic conflict, transcending boundaries through the commerce of wool. From Russian farmers to the Navajo Nation, the original owners set the foundation for meaningful trade. Today, the spinning mill at Harrisville Designs continues the tradition of sourcing fine wool from Navajo farmers, combining it with US wool and a touch of mohair to create the unique Peace Fleece blend. Visit our website at peacefleece.com (https://peacefleece.com/) to learn more. Eucalan is your go-to delicate wash for the fibers you love. Whether you're blocking a shawl, freshening up handspun, or preserving a vintage knit, Eucalan's no-rinse formula with lanolin keeps your work clean, soft, and cared for. Biodegradable, gentle, and available in five lovely scents—because your craftsmanship deserves the best. Learn more at eucalan.com. (https://eucalan.com/)

Work with your shadows from a shamanistic point of view with Granddaughter Crow's four-step system.Organized by the four cardinal directions and the animal guides associated with each one―raven, snake, owl, and wolf―this book helps you find the beauty within your shadow without fear or shame. Each of the four main chapters features a variety of ways to explore each direction and animal through guided meditation and trance work.Discover stories, exercises, and journal prompts that enhance your journey. Delve into the shadow medicine wheel; study how the time of day, season, and landscape impact your experiences; and use tools that become extensions of yourself. Granddaughter Crow provides everything you need to approach, recognize, understand, and accept your shadow.Granddaughter Crow (Dr. Joy Gray) is an author, medicine woman, public speaker, teacher, and intuitive reader. Descended from a long line of spiritual leaders, she is an empath, medium, and member of the Navajo Nation. She was voted Woman of the Year in 2015 by the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW). Visit her at GranddaughterCrow.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/earth-ancients--2790919/support.

Verna Volker first started running as a way to improve her health. Over time, however, her relationship to the sport has grown and changed, to become a more personal and powerful part of her life. She started out pursuing road marathons and then moved to the trails, stretching her limits in ultra trail running. As her journey has evolved, so have her motivations. This is a story about how Volker has shaped her running journey to best serve her, her family, and her community. Volker is from the Navajo Nation: she clarifies, "My clans are the Tódích'íi'nii (Bitterwater) nishlíi, Hashtl'ishnii (Mud People) bashishchiin, Ta'neeszahnii (Tangle) dashicheii, and Tó' áheedlíinii (Water Flows Together) dashinalí." As she got more involved in running, Volker noticed the absence of stories and experiences of other Native women in the media and online. She decided to help change that by launching Native Women Running, to highlight those experiences and also to support and create community and running opportunities for women like herself. Volker's running pursuits have also brought her closer to her own ancestry; running is integral to Navaho culture. This was something Volker had known throughout her life, but she hadn't felt that connection until experiencing the sport for herself in adulthood; she is now passing that lived knowledge on to her children. In hand, Volker has also discovered the healing powers of running, which have helped her work through past traumas. And she has a strong appreciation for the strength created through developing a supportive running community. Keep Up with Verna Volker Instagram: ⁠@hozhorunner4⁠ Keep Up with Native Women Running Instagram: ⁠@nativewomenrunning⁠ Website: ⁠NativeWomenRunning.com⁠ Mentioned in This Reair Ep. 4, EARTHMOVERS, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/59JRTV51UFMt0za35viDGf?si=6b10498ca4044c90 Ep. 4, EARTHMOVERS, on YouTube: youtube.com/@EarthmoversPodcast Ep. 4, EARTHMOVERS, on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/co-hosts-verna-nezbegay-volker-and-stefanie-flippin/id1831613264?i=1000724956434 Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Instagram:⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠ Twitter:⁠ @WomenRunStories⁠ Website:⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠ Email host Cherie: clouiseturner@gmail.com Women's Running Stories is a member of the Evergreen network: ⁠https://evergreenpodcasts.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Verna Volker first started running as a way to improve her health. Over time, however, her relationship to the sport has grown and changed, to become a more personal and powerful part of her life. She started out pursuing road marathons and then moved to the trails, stretching her limits in ultra trail running. As her journey has evolved, so have her motivations. This is a story about how Volker has shaped her running journey to best serve her, her family, and her community. Volker is from the Navajo Nation: she clarifies, "My clans are the Tódích'íi'nii (Bitterwater) nishlíi, Hashtl'ishnii (Mud People) bashishchiin, Ta'neeszahnii (Tangle) dashicheii, and Tó' áheedlíinii (Water Flows Together) dashinalí." As she got more involved in running, Volker noticed the absence of stories and experiences of other Native women in the media and online. She decided to help change that by launching Native Women Running, to highlight those experiences and also to support and create community and running opportunities for women like herself. Volker's running pursuits have also brought her closer to her own ancestry; running is integral to Navaho culture. This was something Volker had known throughout her life, but she hadn't felt that connection until experiencing the sport for herself in adulthood; she is now passing that lived knowledge on to her children. In hand, Volker has also discovered the healing powers of running, which have helped her work through past traumas. And she has a strong appreciation for the strength created through developing a supportive running community. Keep Up with Verna Volker Instagram: ⁠@hozhorunner4⁠ Keep Up with Native Women Running Instagram: ⁠@nativewomenrunning⁠ Website: ⁠NativeWomenRunning.com⁠ Mentioned in This Reair Ep. 4, EARTHMOVERS, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/59JRTV51UFMt0za35viDGf?si=6b10498ca4044c90 Ep. 4, EARTHMOVERS, on YouTube: youtube.com/@EarthmoversPodcast Ep. 4, EARTHMOVERS, on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/co-hosts-verna-nezbegay-volker-and-stefanie-flippin/id1831613264?i=1000724956434 Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Instagram:⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠ Twitter:⁠ @WomenRunStories⁠ Website:⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠ Email host Cherie: clouiseturner@gmail.com Women's Running Stories is a member of the Evergreen network: ⁠https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

A Collaboration of Indigenous Truthtelling of Boarding SchoolsThis 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 to develop educational resources about boarding schools and to expand public access to records, oral histories, and community knowledge.This episode includes references to:Farina King, professor of Native American Studies at OU and co-host of Native Circles. A citizen of the Navajo Nation, 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 boarding school alumni groups, including the Chilocco National Alumni Association, to digitize memorabilia, record oral histories, and create educational tools that support truthtelling and remembrance.Teagan Dreyer, Choctaw descendant and 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 citizen of Oklahoma and 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, citizen of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma with Choctaw relations. 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 McClain, head archivist of Special Collections at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He manages archival collections related to Cherokee Nation 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 and boarding school alumna. She attended federal boarding schools from first through twelfth 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.

In this episode of Fostering Conversations, guest host Liz Rivera guides a powerful dialogue with Native leaders and advocates about the importance of culture, tradition, and belonging for Native children in foster care. You'll hear from: James Toledo (Utah Division of Indian Affairs) on how culture provides a foundation for resilience. Stephanie Benally (Native American Specialist, Utah Foster Care) on supporting Native children's traditions in foster homes. Craig Sandoval (Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake) on creating culturally responsive models for Native youth and families in urban Utah. Together, they reflect on the sacred role of clans, ceremonies, and language, as well as the ongoing significance of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in preserving tribal sovereignty and protecting children's cultural identity. Listeners will learn why everyday practices—from observing ceremonies to speaking Native languages—help children thrive, and how foster parents can honor and support these connections, even outside of tribal communities. Transcript: Liz: [00:00:00] On today’s episode, you’ll hear how cultural traditions give Native children strength and belonging, and why the Indian Child Welfare Act or ICWA is so critical , in protecting those connections for children in foster care. Welcome to Fostering Conversations. I’m your host, Liz Rivera, filling in for Amy Smith. We have a special episode for you today. We’re weaving together conversations with several native leaders and advocates here in Utah. Liz: Let’s begin with introductions in Navajo culture, introductions are not just about your name, they’re about where you come from, your clans, your language, and [00:01:00] lineage. First, we’ll hear from James Toledo from the Utah Division of Indian Affairs, followed by Stephanie Benally, the Native American specialist from Utah Foster Care, and finally, from Craig Sandoval from the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. James: [Navajo Introduction] James Toledo James: and, and again. Thank you. I, I’m a member of the Navajo Nation and we introduce ourselves, sharing our clans. So as we probably will talk about this later in the program, our clans are a way to identify our family relationships, connections with others within our community. Stephanie: Hello. Thank you. I am a citizen of Navajo Nation. My clans are Red Streak people born for Bitter Water. My maternal grandfather is Mexican People clan, and my paternal grandfather is Red House. Thank you very much for the opportunity to participate on the podcast. Craig: Hello everybody, and wanted [00:02:00] to introduce myself and my native language. First [Navajo introduction]. Craig: So I introduced myself in my native Navajo language. Just wanted to reintroduce myself in English for all the non Navajo speakers. Good day to everybody. My name is Craig Sandoval, and I’m originally from New Mexico in a small community named Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico. So it’s [00:03:00] just west of Albuquerque, made about two hours. Craig: And my clans are Near the Water People. I’m born for the Mexican clan. My maternal grandparents are the Red Paint People, and my paternal grandparents are the Towering House People. And so that’s who I am, and that’s where I come from. And then now I’m here in Salt Lake working to provide a culturally responsive clinical model for our community here to bring the reservation teachings and bring them here into the valley so that there’s still a connection. I came to Utah about two years ago working with the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. Liz: As Craig shares, , staying connected to traditions and language is essential for native children. Even here in urban areas of Utah where families may live far from their tribal homelands. James adds that culture, gives children a foundation to thrive. While [00:04:00] Stephanie reminds us how important it is for foster parents to support native traditions, sometimes through simple everyday practices. Craig: The Urban Indian center, the goal is to connect our community members and our families to. Our tradition and our heritage back home. And that includes providing dancers, providing teachings, providing a class to where they can feel home, they can feel at home.For me, it’s the language, making sure that I can continually speak my language. So with the Navajo language classes, it does bridge that. When we think about Utah Foster Care and our Native kids that are in foster care here in Utah, how do we continue to bring them to connecting with their tradition and culture? And that’s also our goal. Several months ago, the Navajo Nation did a resource fair and one of the division directors, Mr.Thomas, [00:05:00] Cody. Who worked very well with Utah Foster Care really emphasized that there should always be a connection to our Navajo language, to our Navajo culture, to our Navajo environment, to our Navajo values, even though we live in the urban area. Craig: That is absolutely true., And that’s how we’ll stay strong. And so during Mr. Cody’s speech, he asked those that have our children and Navajo, our children in their custody to reconnect in any way they can . That’s where the strength is there. And so we want to, as the Urban Indian Center, while we provide a lot of these events, demonstration classes on Navajo history, Navajo language, Navajo culture, Navajo dances, we want them to connect with our traditional ways in that way. Craig: And so that’s the goal what providing all [00:06:00] the classes that we do at the Urban Indian Center. Craig: It is very important to keep the culture whether something small as a bracelet, a necklace, that means a lot to a native child. growing up in a native home, there’s so many milestones and so many traditions that are celebrated. I wanna give a little bit of background on myself too, as well. I am Navajo, however, I do have heritage and lineage into the Hopi and San Domingos communities, and each one is very different. And I’m gonna give you a great example on this side. Craig: As Navajo, we are born into our mother’s clan. I believe that’s number one. When it comes to really being, I guess it’s a. Coming to the earth is that you’re given your first clan, you’re you. You hear your first clan and as a baby they tell you that your first clan is this. Your second clan is [00:07:00] this. And that’s the introduction to the land. Craig: That’s the introduction to the air, the waters, the clouds, the beings that are on earth. Your introduction. When I look into our Hopi side, we have a child is born and kept in a dark room until a certain number of days have come. They prepare, and within this preparation they do a hair washing and they wash the hair and say, you’re able to come to this land in this world. Craig: And then they go out early in the morning and they introduce the child to the sun And when this happens, they tell the child that, here’s the sun The sun will be with you throughout from day one to the day of your death. They’ll watch over you. They’ll look over you, and there’s that introduction to the sun. Craig: And those are some of the main milestones. And you have Santo Domingo who also wash your hair and receive into the world the [00:08:00] child. So those are your milestones. And when you look into Navajo specific, you then can go into, for example, everybody knows the first laugh You know when a child laughs it means that there is laughter in the world. Craig: There’s happiness in the world, and you might think about it as a child has no worries in the world, but that one laugh has given the world what we call, or what we would call happiness. That child brings that, and they want that happiness to continue within the family, within the world. Craig: And so those are some of the important milestones. And then you get to puberty, the milestones of the women going through the puberty ceremony cannot the the men going through the Sweat Lodge ceremony on that side. Craig: Those are milestones that you have. And then overall you have the weddings, and then you have other things that happen [00:09:00] and they’re all different. When our children go through these rites of passages, there’s other small ones in between, for example, piercing the ears. Craig: When we pierce our ears, it’s that now that the gods can hear us through that, we can hear them too as well. And so that happens at a young age, washing of the hair with different herbs so that we prevent sickness and illness and so that our bodies are strong. Craig: Being a parent of a native child and a foster care parent, these are questions that you can ask like, how can I support? And I know on the reservations there are families willing to guide. There are connections that say we can help with that because they wanna keep the child aligned. They wanna keep the child connected to the traditional ways of life. James: Culture sets a foundation really for any individual. I think looking at a [00:10:00] broader picture, we all were raised in certain cultures, whether that’s within a religious environment, whether that’s with our traditional teachings as indigenous peoples, or whether that’s just your own family traditions that we have. James: So when a child is raised with that culture intact, it sets them up with a strong foundation. So as they. Get older and they start navigating and, and experiencing life. What helps to give them some guidance as they are learning about how to be an adult and to different situations that you encounter. And because when we encounter difficult situations, you immediately go back to Those core teachings. So I think that’s the importance of culture in the context that I was using it, is trying to broaden that perspective to help listeners try to understand why Indigenous families want to maintain that cultural connection. Stephanie: So a lot of our native kids are being placed in non-native homes, and [00:11:00] providing that education for all foster parents is important. So they are aware of some do’s and don’ts, like for example. We had an eclipse and I shared the protocol what Navajos do for our foster families to ensure that the Navajo children followed what needed to be done during the eclipse. Stephanie: It’s just also providing that information, so if they’re caring for a Navajo infant, that they’re able to do a first laugh ceremony or get more information to be able to do that. I’ve had a foster parent reach out before and wanted to know what needed to get done and. Directed her to a Native Elder in the community who was able to help her with that. Stephanie: And so it’s just making sure that even though the Native kids are not in Native homes, they’re still being provided that cultural connection, even though it’s very limited. my hope is that sharing the cultural information, the foster parents will then share that with the Native children that are in their [00:12:00] home. Because it’s not just taking a child to a powwow or reading a book, but it’s the everyday living. Stephanie: It’s a discussion around the table. It’s going to an event with the family and seeing other people. Stephanie: One family was taking care of siblings from the Hopi tribe, and I was able to connect the family with resources so they would be able to go over the information with the children in their home. So hoping that will bring some connection while they’re placed in that non-native home. Liz: I think even the foster parents recognizing the importance of it. Liz: I mean, cutting over to what James said, I think the culture’s that it’s just like in our bones, it’s just how we live, and it’s so hard to. Apply that if it’s not really a part of you, but a foster parent who isn’t native, if they’re at least reaching out and they’re at least trying, that really does show that they honor where these children come from. Liz: In 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act, known as ICWA [00:13:00] became law after decades of Native children being removed from their families and tribes at alarming rates. Here’s Stephanie and James explaining the history and purpose of ICWA and why it continues to matter here in Utah. Stephanie: Prior to 1978 and ICWA there was a 25 to 35% removal of Native children from their homes, and 85 to 90% of those children were placed in Non-native and non-relative homes. And so over that 10 year span, Congress studied the removal of Native children. Found that there was a need for the federal law based on the study and the testimonies from the families. Stephanie: The Indian Child Welfare Act is a federal law. It is the core of ICWA to recognize tribal sovereignty. It also recognizes the important roles that the tribes play, protecting the wellbeing of Native children. It also protects the children and parents’ constitutional rights. Stephanie: ICWA applies to children under the age of [00:14:00] 18. The child can either be a member of a federally recognized tribe or eligible for enrollment. Eligible for enrollment means that one of the birth parents is an enrolled member with a federally recognized tribe. Stephanie: Federally recognized tribe is a Native American or an Alaska native tribe entity that recognizes as having a government to government relationship with the United States. If the child is a part of a state tribe, they would not fall under the ICWA law. James: Well, as you know, with history of Native Americans, with our government, hasn’t been the best ’cause. James: You can go back to the boarding school era where children were forced to attend federally managed boarding schools. And the intent at that time was to destroy the culture, destroy the connection to culture, and so as kids were going through these various boarding schools, they were taught a different way of life and removed from their family and and [00:15:00] cultural settings. James: I mean, that’s a really brief summary. This could be an entire podcast series if we really wanted to dive into that history. But to go back to your point when it comes to the foster care system or why ICWA was created, as Stephanie had mentioned, there was a history of state child welfare agencies where Natives children were being forcefully taken from their families. James: In some instances, it was minor infractions. For whatever reason, these children were removed and placed into foster care. Some of them were put in through the adoption system. Hence, this was an ongoing challenge that many Native communities were experiencing and it, it caught the attention of Congress and there was a series of public hearings that Congress put on, and so this was an opportunity for those families to share their experiences and the challenges and obstacles that they were experiencing. James: Those testimonies are what led to the creation of ICWA ICWA [00:16:00] Was created to try to help to preserve that and to ensure that those cultural teachings would be able to be shared with future generations and to ensure that we as Indigenous people are still here. Liz: Almost two years ago, they tried to codify ICWA into state law and tell us a little bit about why they thought that was necessary. James: So Representative Watkins at the time was the lead sponsor of the state bill, and the reason this was being pushed forward by the tribes in Utah was because at the time there was a case that was going before the US Supreme Court. James: That was on ICWA So there was a potential that if the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in this case, then they would have overturned the law. And those protections that are part of that statute would have gone away. And so there was an effort at the state level to codify the spirit of the [00:17:00] law, so to speak, and make sure that is preserved care at the state of Utah. James: There was a lot of support for the bill. We went through several revisions. The tribes were heavily involved throughout that process, but unfortunately it still ran into resistant in the legislature. James: It did not pass. I think the tribes are talking about reintroducing the law again, presently, the Supreme Court has ruled and they basically upheld. James: I think there’s a desire to learn. It’s a complex issue, and as you talk with people, you’re going to have to approach that in unique ways because it is a complex topic and it’s not a one size fits all, or my perspective isn’t the be all perspective out there. And so I think as, um, people are curious, I would encourage people to read up more about the history behind the law, why it became a law. James: Also, if they have further questions, if they [00:18:00] have indigenous friends or connections to that way, then I think it would be appropriate to have those conversations or try to educate themselves as as best as they can, and maybe contacting Stephanie at a public event or. There are ways to continue to learn and try to understand the purpose of the law and why many indigenous communities are fighting to preserve this legislation. Liz: Does the Utah Division of Indian Affairs, do they ever get involved in foster care cases? James: Good question. So my office, we are not involved in the child welfare process at all. We do get phone calls from community members inquiring, but we refer those inquiries to, uh, DCFS. So within DCFS, there is a, ICWA coordinator who works directly on these matters in these cases, and so. James: We would refer them to contact DCFS to speak with that ICWA administrator who can guide them through the process. [00:19:00] We do try to give them as much information as we can. We do share resources, Utah Foster Care and other legal services generally that provide legal assistance or can answer some of those legal questions. Liz: Of course, even with protections in place, the realities aren’t always easy. Many families, even in Salt Lake, may not have the resources to be near or return to their ancestral homes in traditions. And though ICWA cases can be complex, the goal is always to place Native children with family first or in Native homes whenever possible. Stephanie: Any time there is reason to believe that there is a native child when the investigation is happening and someone says, I believe my grandmother is a Native American, even with that reason to believe they need to treat the. Stephanie: Case as an ICWA case, so DCFS notifications will then go out to the tribe and then it will be the tribe who will then to determine if the child is a member [00:20:00] or eligible for enrollment. While that’s taking place, the state will then try to find a native home for the native children. So under ICWA there is a foster placement preference, and it would be family first, and then it would be with, um, foster parent of the same tribe. And then the third one would be from a different tribe. And then the last placement would be to any open foster home that’s available. Craig: there’s Craig: multiple reservations in the United States. And one that is particularly for the Navajo reservation. . So the Navajo people were put on this land, on our homeland, and it goes back to the history of how we have our ancestral homeland. Craig: Where we emerged, we came to our mother earth, and the deities at that time said, this will be where you will live. This will be your homeland. So our ancestral homeland became the boundaries, became the four sacred mountains. So we have to keep that in [00:21:00] mind. Craig: Before lines were made by the US government, there was our ancestral homeland, and the boundaries were created with four sacred mountains and with two mountains in the middle that serve as our central location. ? So that’s our ancestral homeland. However, during the 1860s, we were removed from our land and put onto a different reservation in New Mexico. , We were released due to whatever political reasons that was, and a treaty was formed. And with that treaty, what a struck of a pin, we were given four diagonal lines and said, this is your reservation. And throughout the next couple of years. With new presidents coming in and out of office with executive orders, our reservation grew, but it still stayed inside our ancestral homeland boundaries, and I think we’re grateful for that. Craig: Yeah, other tribe have different experiences. Some [00:22:00] did stay on their ancestral land, some did leave their ancestral land and put onto reservations. However, as the Navajo people we’re very fortunate to have returned and the government really accept that we return to our ancestral lands, we’re very thankful for that, that we return to our ancestral lands. Craig: So when I say reservations, and when I say on our ancestral lands, it’s where we call home. The land that we call home. The land that times the Navajo names. For example, our four sacred mountain. Craig: When we hear that, we hear home. A lot of our urban community members here in Salt Lake don’t have the resources at times, the needs or even the transportation to go home. Because you look at it, the Navajo nation as the almost from eight to 10 hours away, depending on where you live, and maybe even more. Craig: And our community members do want to keep that [00:23:00] connection. And the Urban Indian Center understands that. And I understand it because I was raised on the reservation and I, I moved to an urban area to where I don’t have the connection. Liz: The good news is there are resources right here in Utah for Native children. The Urban Indian Center in Salt Lake City offers language classes, cultural events, and outreach to help children and families stay connected. Utah Foster Care also provides similar opportunities from cultural education to community events like the Indigenous Foster Care Fashion Show and the Moccasin Run-in White Mesa. Stephanie: As I mentioned before, there is a shortage of native foster homes. Stephanie: Being very present in the community is important. Being at the table when it comes to policy making, meeting with the tribes and making those connections with the community is important. Stephanie: So they are aware that there is a need that. If they’re not able to foster, then there’s other ways to support our Native kids through the Cedar Project or provide [00:24:00] support to our foster families. And again, it’s just coming up with unique ideas of recruitment. We collaborated with James’ office in Ute Mountain Ute years ago and have an Annual Moccasin Run that we hold in White Mesa, Utah every year to bring awareness. Stephanie: And just coming up with different types of events who bring the community together to make sure that our Native kids have that cultural connection. And that’s why it’s important to be considered a, a kinship placement or a foster placement. Craig: With families that don’t have that tie. First of all, you have resources in your state, and some of these resources are at the state level. Craig: I know Utah. Does have the eight tribes in Utah. However, there are also the urban areas. For example, one can start from the State Department of Indian Affairs, and then Indian Affairs can guide you to other resources in the areas such as the Urban Indian Center. The Urban Indian [00:25:00] Center can provide many of those resources to as well. Craig: They can provide, this is what this tribe is, what this other tribe is, and how they’re unique from one another. What the Urban Indian Center and how it’s unique too, is also that they have employees that are employed from different tribes, so the navigation there also can span out even more. Sure. But. Craig: Another area is that each of the tribes have their own program. The social services programs, the tribal historic preservation offices, those are areas to where they like to connect the vital records departments. They will connect their, and we ensure that the Native children are connected to their native heritage and their native ways. Craig: At the beginning when a family is navigating these, it might seem like a very scary thing to do, but overall, the community the Urban Indian Center, they’re [00:26:00] open to it. They’re open. Which way do we go? How do we navigate it? Craig: And if we don’t know anybody there, you know, that will help you navigate. There’s always somebody that they will connect you. So I would really let the families. That have native children in their care to always reach out, Stephanie Benally is a great resource and she’ll connect you with any resources that you may have. And they’re always open to whether non-native, whether non Navajo. But they still have a Navajo child in their home. We encourage them to bring the Navajo child, their child, our child, to our home, their Indian center, and learn from us too as well, so they understand the importance of our Navajo culture. Craig: We have our main location, which is on 120 West, 1300 South in Salt Lake City, hours from eight to five. Our phone number is (801) 486-4877. And we do have a [00:27:00] team there. So if you have a question. Reach out and you can ask for me, Craig Sandoval. Craig: Or you can ask for our outreach department, Rhonda Duval heads that department. Everybody knows Rhonda. . We know her as Honey, but she’s a great resource too as well. Feel free to reach out to us so we can make some of those connections for you and support you as a parent, support you as one of our family members too. Liz: These are all ways foster families can support Native youth in care. As we close, our guests reflect on the great work of families that foster Native children, keeping Indigenous people and culture strong, and underscore the urgent need for more native foster homes in Utah. Craig: Thank you for the Utah foster care. Thank you to your team and also thank you to. Foster parents out there taking a new child, a Navajo child can have its challenges. It’s a beautiful thing too, as well. Craig: And we wanna thank you. I personally wanna thank you. We wanna thank you [00:28:00] and always remember that the Urban Indian Center is a resource. You can come see us at any time. James: I just appreciate having this conversation. I think it’s good to help your listeners understand this complex law, and hopefully this conversation today will give some insight and encourage listeners to learn a little bit more about this history and to try to better understand why ICWA was created and why many Indigenous communities around the country are working very hard to preserve this federal legislation. Liz: We hope today’s episode has shed some light on ICWA and the importance of culture and connection for Native children in foster care. To learn more about Native services at Utah foster care, visit Utah foster care.org. You can also connect with the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake, or the Utah Division of Indian Affairs for resources and support. Liz: Thank you for joining us for Fostering Conversations. Together we can ensure every [00:29:00] child in Utah grows up connected to the rich heritage of their roots.

The Light Up Navajo program, which is organized by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) and the American Public Power Association (APPA), brings first-time electricity to homes on Navajo Nation. Lineworkers from across the country volunteer for one to two weeks each year to set poles and string lines as part of the humanitarian project.  This episode features guest Benjamin Charley, a journeyman lineworker who has worked for the NTUA for the last 17 years. When volunteer line crews come to Navajo Nation, he often shows them how to use pressure diggers to set poles in the rocky terrain. He invites lineworkers to join the project and help to power more homes on Navajo Nation in the future. To learn more about this project, you can listen to the narrated version of the article, "Mutual Aid Without a Storm," from T&D World's Lineworker Supplement.  You can also hear from two of the volunteer lineworkers who spent time on Navajo Nation: Arthur William Muñoz and Dean Frescholz, both section supervisors for Salt River Project (SRP) in Arizona. Lineworkers, thanks for all you do to not only power your own communities, but to support Light Up Navajo!

Paranormal Heart Podcast Welcomes Don Yazzie & Darren Yazzie from Don't Whistle At Night Podcast on UPRN. September 2nd, 2025 EP: 49 TOPIC: Open Mic - Paranormal, Cryptids and more! Don Yazzie Bio: Don Yazzie is from the 4 corners area on the Navajo Nation. He is no stranger to the high strange occurrences such as Skinwalkers, portals, Bigfoot, little people and hauntings that go on on and off the Navajo Nation. Don investigates a lot of Bigfoot incidents on the Navajo Nation for the past 8 to 9 years and has been working with Jevning Research for the past 3 to 4 years. Don is co-Host of Don't Whistle at Night Podcast with Darren Yazzie. He is also team leader of Álílee Naalkaah (mystical Investigators). Darren Yazzie Bio: An Experiencer of many facets of High Strangeness from The Navajo Nation, Co- Host of Don't Whistle At Night Podcast, Researcher

Paranormal Heart Podcast Welcomes Don Yazzie & Darren Yazzie from Don't Whistle At Night Podcast on UPRN. September 2nd, 2025 EP: 49 TOPIC: Open Mic - Paranormal, Cryptids and more! Don Yazzie Bio: Don Yazzie is from the 4 corners area on the Navajo Nation. He is no stranger to the high strange occurrences such as Skinwalkers, portals, Bigfoot, little people and hauntings that go on on and off the Navajo Nation. Don investigates a lot of Bigfoot incidents on the Navajo Nation for the past 8 to 9 years and has been working with Jevning Research for the past 3 to 4 years. Don is co-Host of Don't Whistle at Night Podcast with Darren Yazzie. He is also team leader of Álílee Naalkaah (mystical Investigators). Darren Yazzie Bio: An Experiencer of many facets of High Strangeness from The Navajo Nation, Co- Host of Don't Whistle At Night Podcast, Researcher

New York Times bestselling author, Anne Hillerman, discusses her new fabulous release, SHADOW OF THE SOLSTICE. With a pending visit from Washington looming on the horizon, Navajo Nation Police Lieutenant Jim Chee and Officer Bernadette Manuelito become embroiled in the investigation of an unidentified corpse. As pressures intensify at work, additional pressures boil up at home—all with the potential for deadly consequences. "Anne Hillerman is a star."—J. A. Jance, New York Times bestselling author Listen in as we chat about why hope is so important, the real life events that inspired this story, and find out what makes her heart sing! (And yes, I ask about Robert Redford's cameo in Dark Winds!) https://www.annehillerman.com https://www.mariesutro.com/twisted-passages-podcast ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Anne Hillerman continues the mystery series her father Tony Hillerman created beginning in 1970. All of Anne's books are New York Times best sellers. The popular Dark Winds TV series is based on the Hillerman books. Anne has received numerous awards for her books including the New Mexico Arizona Book Award, the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence, the Rounders Award for stories that promote the traditional values of the American West, and the Spur Award from Western Writers of America. She is a frequent presenter at the Tucson Festival of the Book, Left Coast Crime, Malice Domestic and Bouchercon and has represented New Mexico at the National Book Festival hosted by the Library of Congress. A sought-after speaker, Anne is a staunch supporter of public libraries. She lives and works in Santa Fe and Tucson with frequent trips to the Navajo Nation.

Don't Whistle At Night welcomes Hanson Smith Date: August 24th, 2025 EP: 18 Topic : Hanson will be discussing his experiences with Bigfoot, on and Off The Navajo Nation About Hanson: Hanson is no stranger to highly strange occurences. He is an avid bow hunter which has taken him to many areas, aside from Navajo Lands which has led to many Encounters with Bigfoot. He has been witness to many paranormal activities, especially at his place of work, being a Haunted School on the Navajo Nation.

What happens when a quiet hike in Oregon turns into a pinecone-hurling showdown with something unseen? In this chilling episode of Bigfoot Society, host Jeremiah Byron takes you deep into the Hardesty Trail System near Oakridge, Oregon — where one hiker's casual afternoon turned into a haunting encounter with a creature that seemed to be toying with her. You'll also hear firsthand stories from Southern Indiana, the Navajo Nation, Northwest Ontario, and Quantico, Virginia — each revealing eerie experiences, mysterious footprints, glowing eyes, and the unmistakable sense of being watched. From missing goats on the rez to a juvenile Sasquatch peering from a tree fork, these raw TikTok call-ins will leave you questioning what's really out there.Whether it's the breathing outside a window, the rock throws in the woods, or the face caught on camera — these aren't legends. These are real stories. Real people. Real fear.Stay with us.Resources: Backwoodz Bigfoot Youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@backwoodzbigfoot/videos

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).

Hopes to fix the Santee Sioux Nation's lack of clean drinking water faded as federal funding for a pipeline project is increasingly tangled in government turmoil. Tribal citizens are forced to drink bottled water to avoid the high levels of manganese in well water. On the Navajo Nation, dozens of people's water wells are contaminated with chemicals, like benzene, associated with the oil and gas drilling industry. There are many mysterious, uncapped wells that could be contributing to the problem. They are just two of the problems tribal citizens are having when it comes to accessing the most basic resource. GUESTS Heather Tanana (Diné), initiative lead of the Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities and law professor at the University of Denver Nicole Horseherder (Navajo), executive director of Tó Nizhóní Ání Kameron Runnels (Santee Sioux), vice chairman of the Santee Sioux Nation Jerry Redfern, staff reporter for Capital & Main

What happens when Bigfoot isn't just a weekend obsession — but a life-changing presence passed down through generations? In this chilling and awe-inspiring episode, we sit down with Don Yazzie, Navajo Nation researcher, experiencer, and host of the Don't Whistle at Night podcast. Don reveals his firsthand encounters with Sasquatch in the red rock mesas of Utah and Arizona — from childhood terrors of something clawing at the trailer to facing a red-haired giant in the desert.He takes us deep into Navajo cultural beliefs, ancient stories of cave-dwelling Bigfoot clans, and encounters that include drained livestock, glowing eyes, and powerful healing dreams. With stories from Cheetah, the San Juan River, and Hopi Land, you'll hear about the creature that breaks necks, rescues freezing children, and leaves no tracks — unless you know where to look.Don't miss this rare glimpse into the spiritual and terrifying role Sasquatch plays in Navajo history and modern life.Resources:Contact Don: alileenaalkaah@gmail.comDon't Whistle at Night Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DontwhistleatnightpodcastTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alilee.naalkaah

Tiffany Reid, a 16-year-old from the Navajo Nation, left for school in Shiprock, New Mexico and never made it. Days later, her belongings were found miles away. Twenty years later, her family is still searching for answers. What happened to Tiffany?Sources:https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna166378Support the show

A widely reported exit poll right after the 2024 presidential election greatly exaggerated the support for President Donald Trump by Native Americans. Native voters, by and large, lean Democrat, but it's clear Native voters supported President Trump more than expected. And since the election, a handful of tribes and Native leaders continue to back the MAGA trend. Louisiana's Tunica-Biloxi Tribe are among the institutions nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, citing his foreign policy and domestic economic agenda. We'll hear from those who think Trump is moving Native interests in the right direction. GUESTS Myron Lizer (Diné). former vice president of the Navajo Nation and professional development consultant for Prestige with Partners LLC Michael Stopp (Cherokee and Muscogee), CEO and president of SevenStar Holdings, LLC Allen Wright (Choctaw), president and founder of the Hustings Group