About this Website
Hey there and welcome to our website! This space is dedicated to profiling a series of Indigenous-led podcasts and amplifying Indigenous voices. We are a small group of students from Georgetown University taking a class on Indigenous Philosophy with Professor Shelbi Meissner, and we designed this website as part of our final project for the semester. Each post profiles an Indigenous-led podcast platform and analyzes an episode from that podcast by focusing on one of the following five themes: sovereignty, land, decolonization, Indigenous feminisms, and cultural revitalization.
We hope that this page inspires a broader audience of listeners to these brilliant productions, and raises awareness about Indigenous issues and cultures.
-Elena Ortiz, Will Pramono, and Kenyon Smutherman
Podcasts as Resistance
Resistance takes many forms, and many of the podcasts and episodes we profile cover ongoing Indigenous resistance movements such as #LandBack, alongside efforts to decolonize thinking on Indigenous-centered issues. Podcasts are an easily accessible way to learn more about and engage with these issues, notable since many Indigenous movements are not regularly covered in mainstream media or the culturally dominant educational curriculum.
The production of Indigenous-led podcasts is also a form of resistance in itself. Since its inception, the settler colonist state has deliberately and systematically tried to neglect rights to Indigenous peoples, and suppress the knowledge of their rights in order to prevent them from practicing their freedoms. Knowledge is power, and podcasts present a platform for disseminating important information. Additionally, podcasts help raise awareness to non-Native peoples surrounding ongoing Indigenous injustices which can help inspire support for Indigenous-led resistance movements.
At multiple levels, Indigenous-led podcasts inspire and represent resistance. We hope that this website helps draw attention to these platforms that amplify Indigenous voices.
The Podcasts we featured
Media Indigena
Hosted by: Rick Harp
Core theme: Sovereignty
Overview: Media Indigena, hosted by Rick Harp, offers a weekly roundtable focusing on Indigenous issues and current events occurring across North America. Episodes are diverse in content, and cover topics include contemporary issues of Indigenous justice, sovereignty, and resistance.
Métis In Space
Hosted by: Molly Swain and Chelsea Vowel
Core theme: Decolonization
Overview: Molly Swain and Chelsea Vowel are two indigenous women who when they’re not at the University of Alberta are deconstructing science fiction with a glass of wine and a decolonial perspective. They discuss fan favorite movies and TV episodes from Twilight Zone to X-Files to Lilo & Stitch.
The Indigenous Cultural Evolutionist
Hosted by: Kim Senklip Harvey, a member of the Syilx tribe
Core Theme: Land
Overview: The Indigenous Cultural Evolutionist explores Indigenous ways of being and celebrates Indigenous sovereign power and spiritual nourishment. In each episode, Kim shares blog posts, papers, or pieces she’s written reflecting on these themes and how they relate to Indigenous justice.
Carving Space
Hosted by: Autumn Schnell
Core Theme: Indigenous Feminisms
Overview: Carving Space is an Indigenous radio documentary series highlighting unique Indigenous voices across a variety of topics. Consisting of five episodes, it originally aired from April – May 2018.
Voices of the Resurgence
Hosted by: James, Sarah, Tai, and Sheilina
Core Theme: Cultural Revitalization
Overview: Voices of the Resurgence is a podcast led by four Indigenous hosts, all young adults – James, Sarah, Tai, and Sheilina. It started in July 2019 and is ongoing. The podcast has a loose and conversational format, with the hosts speaking to a variety of topics central to the Indigenous experience.
Red Nation
Hosted by: Nick Estes
Core Theme: Decolonization
Overview: The Red Nation is a coalition of Native and non-Native activists and organizers committed to ending violence towards Native life and land. The Red Nation Podcast, hosted by Nick Estes, features discussions on Indigenous history, politics, and culture from a left perspective.
Want more? Check these out
These are some podcasts that we listened to but did not have the time to write posts about. We enjoyed them and hope you do as well!
Coffee with my Ma
Kaniehtiio Horn speaks with her mother, Mohawk political activist Kaniehtiio Horn, as she shares stories about her rich and eventful life. The podcast feels like a conversational diary for Kaniehtiio Horn’s life, skillfully mediated through fun and engaging talks with her daughter.
This Land
This Land is a deep dive into the US Supreme Court case, Sharp v. Murphy that discusses a 1999 murder case that has implications that could determine whether half of Oklahoma is actually tribal land. Although focusing on mostly political issues, host Rebecca Nagle also discusses other native issues such as land and sovereignty.
Toasted Sister
Toasted Sister is a radio about Native American food. Hosted by Andi Murphy, each episode profiles a different Native American food culture through exploring techniques and practices such as food gathering, food preparation, and food sovereignty.
Native American Calling
A live call in program centering issues specific to Native communities, this podcast a wealth of knowledge for listeners to learn. Available to listen on over 70 radio stations in the United States, this podcast is a must listen for anyone hoping to stay up to date on Native centered issues.
Our Gift
As part of our final project, we organized some small gifts to a few of the podcast producers that we profiled. We offered transcription services and asked what would be most valuable to them and their team. Ultimately, we were able to provide transcription services to three platforms. Firstly, we transcribed episode 121 of Media Indigena titled “Water as a fundamental human and treaty right”, available on their website linked here. Secondly, we transcribed season 2 episode 6 of Voices of the Resurgence, “Cultural Resurgence and Dance Me Outside”. Thirdly, we assisted with editing some transcripts from Metis in Space. We finalized transcripts for Season 3 Episode 1 “Dune” and Season 3 Episode 6 “Lilo and Stitch”.