Chris James is the President & CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED). He returned to the show where we discussed current trends in business, leadership development in Indian Country, and the upcoming Northwest Enterprise Development Conference. The event will take place in September 5-7 2017 at the Tulalip Casino. The NCAIED will also celebrate its 2017 class of the 40 Under 40 in Indian Country. We talked several trends in business, living away from ...
Aug 17, 2017•49 min
Lance Morgan on the decline of federal Indian law: “What we’re not teaching in law school is the other half of the system, where tribes are aggressively using their newly educated lawyers, their economic power, and their desire to do good to really change the equation.” “Once you make the mental leap that the entire system is ridiculous...you don’t ever go back.” Lance Morgan ( Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) is President & CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc . He is also the managing partner of the law firm F...
Jun 29, 2017•1 hr 10 min
When Joe Sarcinella and I spoke, he was days away from becoming a father. As of publishing this episode, he is now a proud father (congrats!!). As a recent parent, I thought it would be fun to have Joe on NextGen Native to get the perspective of a recent first-time parent and a to-be parent. For those that aren’t parents, or have kids out of the house, this episode is also for you. Although we talk about being parents, the conversation occurred in the same context that our conversations did belo...
Jun 21, 2017•54 min
“People like genuine people. People like people who are authentic, people lke people who show up with their true identity. And being Chickasaw is part of who I am.”-Heath Clayton One of the areas in which I love to dabble is what I call “life system hacking.” The basic idea is finding ways to create a life, circumvent expectations or bypass the norms of which we all are led to believe cannot be bypassed or circumvented. There are a lot of people who write about the subject online, and it can get...
Jun 16, 2017•59 min
“There is a trap [in decolonization] that hinders a lot of potential growth. And that is centered in how we think about things. If you are only trained [to deconstruct] then you are stuck in a gear of deconstruction, which is important and useful. But if the goal is to increase capacity in Indian Country, then you are asking for builders, not destroyers, and that is a completely different type of thinking.” Ryan Red Corn (Osage) created the design firm Buffalo Nickel Creative and is also a membe...
Jun 08, 2017•1 hr 2 min
I felt this need to take my skillset and apply it as broadly as I could as long as I could still feel like I was affecting the community.” Geoff Roth is a descendent of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He recently completed an appointment as the Senior Advisor to the Director of the Indian Health Service under Dr. Yvette Roubideaux. Geoff’s story is great for people that are looking to grow their career rapidly. It is also a great story for those that are looking to find balance in their lives. It...
May 17, 2017•1 hr 16 min
"What's stopping you from making something?" Jared Yazzie is the founder of OXDX Clothing Company . He joined NextGen Native once again to catch up on his recent projects. Jared's clothing has been a hot commodity for a few years, but recently his business is taking some major strides. He recently won a scholarship to join an incubator , participated in an event at the Smithsonian, and won a contest held by Louie Gong's Eighth Generation . Jared's story is one of those "overnight success" storie...
May 12, 2017•59 min
Raina Thiele, Athabascan and Yup'ik, is President of Thiele Strategies. Before starting her own firm, Raina worked for President Obama in the White House Office of intergovernmental Affairs. Raina joined the show to share her story that led her from Alaska to the White House and now to her current work. Raina's story is a great example of how hard work, willingness to take on new challenges, and timing can come together to present amazing opportunities. Raina certainly capitalized on her experie...
Apr 22, 2017•1 hr 11 min
The first time John Isaiah Pepion (Piikani) appeared on NextGen Native, I titled the accompanying blog post “ Up and Coming Ledger Artist .” About 1.5 years later John returned to catch up, and from our conversation, the title was accurate! John’s on the move, and if you're not familiar with his work, you should check it out. We discussed how he has grown as an artist and businessperson recently. He mentioned he started growing even more when he opened himself up to learn and take feedback from ...
Apr 16, 2017•46 min
“Focus on being proactive and use the future as the guidance point when you [encounter] challenges. What you work for is bigger than us [individually].” Heather Whitemanrunshim is Apsalooke ( Crow Nation ). She is an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) where she works primarily on issues pertaining to water law. Our wide-ranging conversation touched on two issues that I am still thinking about several days later. First, we discussed the need to be vulnerable to learn language and...
Apr 14, 2017•1 hr 1 min
Mark Trahant joined NextGen Native to discuss a wide-range of issues. When we spoke, the Congress was in the midst of considering the recent healthcare bill. Mark delved into health care policy and in particular Indian health care policy several years ago, and it is now an ongoing part of his journalism. It’s remained relevant for several years. We also discussed his emerging interests, including elections, and the era of disruption in Indian Country. He discussed how he likes to focus on the co...
Mar 30, 2017•49 min
“Because of that one choice, so many other possibilities came up. They were already there…” Warren Montoya of Rezonate Art and Rezilience on finding new perspectives. Warren Montoya is the founder of Rezonate Art. He appeared previously on NextGen Native to discuss the company’s beginnings and goals. He returned to discuss what he’s been up to recently. Warren pivoted his work with Rezonate after realizing he wanted to change the way his business worked. He described in this conversation (and ou...
Mar 16, 2017•52 min
“If you want to do great things, then you should concentrate not on what you want to be but on what you want to do . You don’t have to be anything specific thing to impact issues you care about…[assess] those things you want to impact, and then go do it.” Keith Harper (Cherokee) is a partner at the law firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton. In January 2017 Keith completed his appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council . Harper also served as one of the lead a...
Mar 09, 2017•34 min
“Look for those opportunities that may not be obvious to you.” Gabe Galanda is a member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes. Galanda is also a partner at the law firm Galanda Broadman. He joined NextGen Native previously to share his personal journey. If you haven’t heard his story, I recommend listening to his personal journey. It’s a perfect example of how one can overcome challenges to succeed in your own personal way, at a high level. His personal journey is prologue to his work for clients fa...
Feb 21, 2017•53 min
“If I am going to bet on anybody, I’m going to bet on myself.”-Jaclyn Roessel Jaclyn Roessel returned to the show to discuss some big changes in her life. For the last decade or so, Jaclyn did amazing things at the Heard Museum , which she described as her dream job. So I was amazed to see a headline that she was leaving the museum. It was time to grow up, or rather time to Grownup Navajo . Jaclyn Roessel shared with me (and You!) how she arrived at the decision to leave her dream job, and what ...
Feb 17, 2017•1 hr 2 min
“I’m eternally hopeful. Seeing [bad] things around me made me think that things can be better and should be better.” I speak with people across Indian Country that share their stories and do amazing, interesting things on a daily basis. Their energy is fiery, resistant, forward thinking or any combination of those emotions. Jessica Begay (Navajo), has an awesome story. But her energy was different from some of the other people I speak to, but it’s end goal is the same. And it is refreshing. And ...
Feb 07, 2017•1 hr 3 min
“We have to show up and we have to apply for things outside [Indian Country]. There is no one better than us to than to represent at the national level.” Chelsea Wilson (Cherokee Nation) works at All Native Group , a division of Ho-Chunk Inc . She is active in the DC chapter of the New Leaders Council a member of the executive committee and is a previous fellow with the organization. If a full-time job and a one organization was not enough, Chelsea Wilson also chairs the Frontrunners Committee o...
Feb 02, 2017•56 min
Jim Gray is the former Principal Chief of the Osage Nation. Jim returned to NextGen Native for a conversation that I wanted to have since the day I started the podcast. Jim inspired the conversation with a “simple” Facebook post. When I read the post, I knew we had to connect again to dive into it. So what was the post? It was only 25 words. “I think it's time we recognize there's a change in our world and we need to make room for new voices in the great debate.” When I read that, Jim took me ba...
Jan 26, 2017•55 min
Chris James is the President & CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED), a role he recently stepped into. He grew up in Cherokee, North Carolina in the heartland of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Chris is busy preparing for the National Reservation Economic Summit (RES) that is quickly approaching in March. But he carved out time to share stopped by to share his story with NextGen Native. Chris’ story is one that rings familiar to me. It’s not onl...
Jan 20, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Jackson Brossy is the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office . He appeared on the show previously and returned for another conversation. Since this was the first episode I recorded in 2017, I asked Jackson about whether he makes any resolutions. He doesn’t, but he did share one of his goals for the year. Through his work, he wants to acquire property to open an embassy for the Navajo Nation in Washington, DC. We talked about where the idea came from, building upon others’ idea...
Jan 12, 2017•52 min
“We are in a period of radical change...step into your role, do what you do best and raise the profile of tribes in a positive light.” Lacey Horn is a citizen of and treasurer for the Cherokee Nation. Principal Chief Bill John Baker appointed Lacey to this position In this role, Lacey is responsible for a budget that totals almost $700 million dollars for the Nation. Lacey grew up in Vian, Oklahoma. I admire her story because it’s one that combines a steadfast comfort and certainty in her life g...
Jan 05, 2017•1 hr 5 min
Ashley Tuomi on growth: "Take any opportunity to increase our knowledge." Ashley Tuomi (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) is the Executive Director of the American Indian Health and Family Services. Currently, she is the President of the National Council of Urban Indian Health. Ashley's career did not end up where she imagined, but she is right where she is supposed to be. Ashley's father served in the military, her family moved constantly for the first several years of her life. As a child sh...
Dec 18, 2016•54 min
Terra Branson: “How do you look backward but still move forward?” Terra Branson (Muscogee Creek) is the Executive Director of the Self-Governance Communication and Education Consortium.Terra joined the show previously, and she returned graciously for another wide-ranging conversation. When Terra Branson last joined the show, she just started her job at SGCEC as the Executive Director. Two years later, we discuss her adjustment and growth in the role. Part of her experience includes settling into...
Dec 18, 2016•1 hr 1 min
“The most important thing is to be open minded to allow forgiveness...some of the horrible things that were done to us, we know our story. We know the horrible things. We don’t let that define who we are. Those horrible things that were done to Kashia are not who Kashia are. We’ll never forget it. We’ll always remember it. We’ll honor those that was done to, but we won’t let that define us. And we will be open to forgiveness....I would challenge everyone to find it.” Reno Franklin is Chairman of...
Dec 16, 2016•1 hr 4 min
Brian Howard is Research and Policy Analyst American Indian Policy Institute . He is Pipash, Akimel and Tohono O’odham. I’ve always respected Brian for his humility, knack for policy, and his commitment to Indian Country. During our conversation, I got to know more about his personal story, which I think includes a key lesson for everyone: being uncomfortable in order to grow. Brian shared a few stories during our conversation that shared the theme of growth and trying something new. What I foun...
Dec 06, 2016•1 hr 2 min
"You give everything you got. It's hard, It's super challenging. You give all your life force to your art. so when you see the tiny moment when people are smiling, laughing, or being proud..." Natalie Benally, Navajo, wears many hats. Or maybe the better metaphor is...dance shoes. Natalie is a member of the Native American contemporary dance company Dancing Earth . She also served as the voice of Dory for the remake of Finding Nemo, or Nemo Hádéést’į́į́. Oh, and she also has a full time job as t...
Nov 21, 2016•47 min
Jaclyn Roessel, Navajo, is many things. She is the Public Programs and Education Director at the Heard Museum. She is is one half of Schmooze: Lady Connected. She writes for the fashion site Presence 4.0. She curates her own website Grown Up Navajo. She’s even a previous guest on NextGen Native. One thing Jaclyn isn't? Busy. That doesn't mean Jaclyn doesn't have a full schedule or a lot going on. Quite the contrary. What it does mean, for her, is that she is mindful of what the word means and th...
Nov 14, 2016•1 hr 1 min
Bryan Newland joined the show the day after the election in 2016. We discussed a variety of issues about politics, from the election itself, what it means for tribes, and broader ideas and actions around politics generally. It's not your normal take on politics, which I think is a good thing. Not that there is anything wrong with the "normal take," it's just that people are used to it. If you want to hear some in depth conversation about these issues, to hear some thoughts that should challenge ...
Nov 10, 2016•1 hr 13 min
“There’s nothing holding you back except what’s in your mind” Sometimes you speak with someone that has so much positive energy that it’s bound to rub off on you. Despite a massive headache during this conversation, I came away feeling energized after speaking with Sara-Jane Smallwood. Sara-Jane is one of those people that had a clear goal from a young age and pursued that goal and was able to realize that goal: returning home to work for her tribe. She did so in a big way, working on a very hig...
Oct 26, 2016•57 min
“We’ve been conditioned to think that we have to compete with each other...which is not the case.” Charles Galbraith is Navajo. Currently, Charles (aka Charlie) is Counsel at Kilpatrick Townsend Law Firm. Previously, Charlie spent several years working at the White House for President Obama and before that he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney and a staffer in the U.S. Senate . Charlie grew up in Phoenix. His parents both prioritized education and so Charlie knew at a young age he’d go to college. H...
Oct 12, 2016•59 min
