Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine

Series produced by Ampers

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We amplify stories of people within Minnesota’s Native communities. We explore the history, work, strength, and resiliency of Native people who are shaping the future, while appreciating those who came before.

We amplify stories of people within Minnesota’s Native communities. We explore the history, work, strength, and resiliency of Native people who are shaping the future while appreciating those who came before.

The podcast is hosted by Leah Lemm and Cole Premo, siblings, who are both members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, in addition to being part of the Minnesota Native News producing team.

Season one of Native Lights Podcast covers of topics including music, art, parenthood, adoption, foster care, addiction, and violence. We examine media portrayals of Native people and the absent or invisible narratives that allow stereotypes and misconceptions to persist.

Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the Citizens of Minnesota.You

You can find Native Lights wherever you get your podcasts or you can listen here: https://www.blubrry.com/nativelights/ Hide full description

We amplify stories of people within Minnesota’s Native communities. We explore the history, work, strength, and resiliency of Native people who are shaping the future while appreciating those who came before.The podcast is hosted by Leah Lemm and Cole Premo, siblings, who are both members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, in addition to being part of the Minnesota Native News producing team.Season one of Native Lights Podcast covers of topics including music, art, parenthood, adoption, foster care, addiction, and violence. We examine media portrayals of Native people and the absent or invisible narratives that allow stereotypes and misconceptions to persist.Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made... Show full description


144 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Leah and Cole take a trip to Four Sisters Farmers Market in Minneapolis! It’s the first market day of the year, and our hosts chat with poet, playw...

Bought by KVSC


  • Added: Jun 22, 2023
  • Length: 28:30
  • Purchases: 1
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Cole and Leah meet and chat with high school basketball coach John Villebrun (Bois Forte Band). John coaches girls’ basketball at Mountain Iron-Buh...

Bought by KSRQ and KVSC


  • Added: Jul 20, 2023
  • Length: 28:30
  • Purchases: 2
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Leah and Cole are joined by the multi-talented Rhiana Yazzie (Diné Nation), a remarkable theatre artist, filmmaker, playwright, and the visionary f...

  • Added: Aug 04, 2023
  • Length: 28:30
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Leah and Cole chat with artist Sam Zimmerman (Grand Portage). After two decades on the east coast in public education Sam moved back to Minnesota t...

  • Added: Aug 10, 2023
  • Length: 28:30
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This week, Leah and Cole chat with Tashia Hart (Red Lake Nation), a culinary ethnobotanist, artist, photographer, award-winning author, and cook. A...

Bought by Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Aug 17, 2023
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 1
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Today, Leah and Cole chat with artist Shaun Chosa. Shaun's art boldly blends Indigenous heritage, counterculture, and pop culture influences, echoi...

  • Added: Sep 08, 2023
  • Length: 28:28
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Today, Leah and Cole chat with Tony Drews (first-generation direct descendent of Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), a lifelong student of Ojibwe culture a...

Bought by KPTZ, Port Townsend, WA


  • Added: Sep 14, 2023
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 1
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Today, Leah and Cole chat with Adrienne Zimiga-January, a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation who has been creating and performing in the Twin Citi...

  • Added: Oct 05, 2023
  • Length: 28:30
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On today’s episode, Leah and Cole speak with Ernest Briggs (White Earth Nation), who is a director, writer, producer, teacher, and actor from the T...

  • Added: Oct 12, 2023
  • Length: 28:29
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On today's episode, Leah and Cole speak with Travis Zimmerman, whose family is from the Crane Clan of Grand Portage. He is the site manager for the...

Bought by KSRQ, KOJB 90.1 FM The eagle, WTIP, Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota, and KVSC


  • Added: Oct 26, 2023
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 5
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On today’s episode, Leah and Cole speak with Mathew Holding Eagle III, a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation – federally recognized a...

  • Added: Nov 02, 2023
  • Length: 28:29
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Today, Leah and Cole speak with Thomas Draskovic, a citizen of the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota who is an educator, actor, musician, a...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Nov 09, 2023
  • Length: 28:27
  • Purchases: 1
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On today’s episode, Leah and Cole speak with Eileen Bass. Eileen is Hunkpapa Lakota, Mvskoke Creek, and a citizen of the Sac & Fox Nation of Oklaho...

  • Added: Dec 07, 2023
  • Length: 28:30
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Melissa Blind is Cree from George Gordon's First Nation in Saskatchewan. She earned her PhD in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizo...

  • Added: Dec 21, 2023
  • Length: 28:30
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Gabby Menomin is a citizen of the Forest County Potawtomi Community in northern Wisconsin. She’s currently the restoration manager for Wakan Tipi A...

  • Added: Jan 11, 2024
  • Length: 28:30
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Steven StandingCloud is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians located in northcentral Minnesota. Steven has been an artist mo...

  • Added: Jan 25, 2024
  • Length: 28:30
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Fern Renville is a storyteller, artist, playwright, and enrolled citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. Fern lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, where s...

  • Added: Feb 01, 2024
  • Length: 28:30
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Michael Migizi Sullivan Sr. is a lifelong student of the Ojibwe language, father, husband, ceremonial drum keeper of the Ojibwe, powwow emcee, up-a...

  • Added: Feb 08, 2024
  • Length: 28:30
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Staci Lola Drouillard is a Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe direct descendant. She lives and works in her hometown of Kitchibitobig—Grand Marais, on Mi...

  • Added: Feb 15, 2024
  • Length: 28:30
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Mary LaGarde is the Executive Director of the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC) and a member of the White Earth Nation. She was selected to...

  • Added: Feb 29, 2024
  • Length: 28:30