Speaking Our Truth - Podcast For Change

Kaysera Stops Pretty Places went missing in 2019 at 18 years old. Five days later, her body was found near a busy thoroughfare. Fourteen days later, her family was notified. No investigation occurred. In this episode, we focus on Kaysera’s family. They have been organizing events for the past 4 years to bring awareness and ask for help in solving her case. This is a unique situation. It’s about what happens when you can’t rely on law enforcement. #JusticeForKaysera www.justiceforkaysera.org https://www.niwrc.org/not-invisible-act-commission-recommendations Music: Theme song from NIWRC. Pow wow drums recorded by NIWRC at Women Are Sacred, June 2023.

Patsy Whitefoot: Discussing barriers that families can face when a loved one goes missing or is murdered. Music: Moon Song · Phoebe Bridgers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXqZ66XK3z8

Patsy Whitefoot: Speaking to of her work in the MMIW movement and the loss of her sister Daisy Mae Heath- and eventual recent recovery of her sister Daisy Mae Heath’s remains. Music: The Moon Song · beabadoobee · Oscar Lang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCx1eSdkyr0

Dr. Grace Bulltail: Speaking of her work in the MMIW movement and bringing continued awareness to the unsolved murder of her niece Kaysera Stops Pretty Places. Music: Moon Song · Phoebe Bridgers Punisher ℗ 2020 Dead Oceans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXqZ66XK3z8

Leanne, Charles and Velina Guy: Speaking about their work in the MMIW movement and the importance of healing. Music: Ceilings · Lizzy McAlpine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bpMSpFTdzM My Mother and I · Lucy Dacus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q_weNUt4m8

Introduction: Information and statistics about MMIW and challenges facing families.

On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, we listen Part 1 of STTARS' presentation introducing the new Indigenous Safe Housing Center from NIWRC's Specialty Institute held in June 2022.

On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, we listen Part 2 of STTARS' presentation introducing the new Indigenous Safe Housing Center from NIWRC's Specialty Institute held in June 2022.

On January 18, 2022, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Merle Denezpi. On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, Podcast for Change, we will dig deeper into this case and what this amicus brief is all about

The state of Alaska is considered one of the most violent states in the country. The state also has the highest number of missing Indigenous people, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Grassroots advocates from American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes calling for justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women have finally started gaining national attention. In fact, after years of grassroots advocacy, in October 2020, Congress passed Savanna’s Act. This Act is meant to improve the response to missing and murdered Indigenous women across federal, state, Tribal and local law enforcement agencies. On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, Podcast for Change, we will talk about the current status of Savanna’s Act and what this legislation means for our Alaska Native sisters.

In November, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center will reflect on its first 10 years of the movement for the safety of Native women. As a special podcast series, we are talking with members of NIWRC’s board of directors about the highlights and accomplishments made over the past decade. On this special episode of Speaking Our Truth, we will talk with NIWRC’s Board Treasurer about what it means to carry our medicine in this work, past, present and future. Music: "I Am Light" | Album: Songversation (2013) | Artist: India.Arie Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL-gxfx2QtY

In November, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center will reflect on its first 10 years of the movement for the safety of Native women. As a special podcast series, we are talking with members of NIWRC’s board of directors about the highlights and accomplishments made over the past decade. On this special episode of Speaking Our Truth, we will talk with NIWRC’s Board Chairwoman about what it means to carry our medicine in this work, past, present and future. Music: "Calling The Spirit Back" | Album: I Pray for My Enemies (2021) | Artist: Joy Harjo Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKJzNymGOIQ

This year, 2021, marks a decade of advocacy by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. This is an important milestone as NIWRC reflects back on its first 10 years and looks forward to the next ten. As a special podcast series of Speaking Our Truth, we are speaking with members of our board of directors about the past decade of this work. In this episode, we are talking with NIWRC’s Board Secretary about carrying our medicine forward in the movement for safety for Native women and strengthening sovereignty for Tribal Nations. Music: "Calling The Spirit Back" | Album: I Pray for My Enemies (2021) | Artist: Joy Harjo Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKJzNymGOIQ

Over the past four years, StrongHearts Native Helpline has responded to more than 11,000 calls, texts and chat requests from Native peoples in need. As the first, culturally grounded domestic violence, dating violence and sexual violence helpline by and for Native people, it has rapidly grown, establishing itself as a strong, vocal advocate in the movement for safety in tribal communities. Today on Speaking Our Truth, we will talk about the road to StrongHearts Native Helpline becoming an independent organization. Music: "Si Hasapa" | Album: Ksa (2007) | Artist: Tiokasin Ghosthorse

From the beginning of the pandemic, advocates sounded the alarm about the risk of increasing domestic violence and sexual violence. Those who were hurting were now confined to their homes with their abusers for longer periods of time. Fueled by these realities, our relatives at StrongHearts Native Helpline have been working around the clock to increase staffing and add services to assist Native people during this crisis.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but the crisis of sexual violence against Native women is ongoing, remaining one of the lasting effects of the colonization of Indigenous peoples. On this episode of Speaking our Truth, Podcast for Change, we will talk about the high rates of sexual violence against our Alaska Native sisters in particular, as well as the action needed to turn the tide of sexual assault in Alaska.

Native American Heritage Month is an important time for recognizing the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous people and Native Nations. On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, Podcast for Change, we will talk to some prominent voices in the work for Indigenous peoples rights and the challenges facing our people today, tomorrow, and for the next generation. Music: Robert Mirabal's "The Dance" performed with Rare Tribal Mob on PBS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_znb0MlHTY) Song: The Dance Artist: Robert Mirabal Album: Music From A Painted Cave Licensed to YouTube by: A Train Entertainment (Masters) (on behalf of Silver Wave Records); ARESA, LatinAutorPerf, SOLAR Music Rights Management, CMRRA, BMI - Broadcast Music Inc., BMG Rights Management (US), LLC, ASCAP, Sony ATV Publishing, and 6 Music Rights Societies

VAWA Sovereignty Initiative Update: SCOTUS Victory: Affirmation of the Muskogee (Creek) Nation’s Reservation (McGirt v. Oklahoma)

As an organization dedicated to ending violence against Native women, the NIWRC continues to support the removal and renaming of statues, monuments, and imagery that glorify colonization, genocide, and conquest. Violence against Native women was normalized by acts of war against Indian Nations and federal programs to assimilate Indigenous peoples. The forcibly removal of Indian children from their homes to federal institutions referred to as “boarding schools,” the prosecution and incarceration of Native women for refusing to marry according to state laws, and the forced sterilization of Native women funded under federal programs are just a few examples of the government infrastructure supporting cultural genocide. These federal programs and the Code of Indian Offenses reflected a dehumanization of Native women by the American public—its cultural icons such as Christopher Columbus. While cultural symbols honoring historical figures, who committed genocide through the power of the US government are coming down across the nation, other symbols continue to stand. Today we are joined by Rose Quilt to discuss this public reckoning with the truth of United States history.

Violence against women is not traditional. Indigenous cultures hold women as sacred – yet today, Native women are the most victimized group within the US. For years, Native women have opened their hearts and doors to other women and their children in need to protect them from violence. On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, we will talk about the sacredness of women and how we can reclaim the integrity and rights of women in our lives, work and communities. Music: Ta'Kaiya Blaney singing Womens Warrior song May 5, 2019 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeNJnItj5rs) at Opening ceremony for The North American Dialogue on Biocultural Diversity, Redpath Museum (McGill University Campus)