For generations, Innu women gave birth in traditional tents surrounded by family. Thea Penashue tells Rosanna how she wanted her second child to be born in the same way her own mother was decades before. Also on the show – Christine TooToo’s birth plan went right out the window when her baby came a little early. And Melissa Brown has trained over 2,000 Indigenous doulas across Turtle Island over the last decade – helping put birth and care back into the hands of communities.
May 08, 2026•51 min
Scientists started talking about clam gardens in the 90s – but nations along the west coast built and maintained these beaches for thousands of years before. Rosanna speaks with Skye Augustine about the clam garden restoration that is reconnecting community to this traditional way of harvesting. Also on the show – Timothy Smoke on what it takes to learn and pass on knowledge around minomin – or wild rice – harvesting, and Saya Masso on how the creation of kelp farms is bringing traditional foods...
May 01, 2026•54 min
Have you ever tried to grow vegetables in the dead of winter? Ben Feagin Jr. had an invention for that. He hopes his greenhouse bubble will help provide Indigenous communities with access to fresh produce all year round. This week Rosanna hears from Indigenous entrepreneurs who are creating food security solutions for their communities.
Apr 24, 2026•49 min
In 2010, a researcher placed an ad in the Lakota Times that read, “Looking for information about mystery woman,” with a 19th century black and white photograph. In the centre of the image, a young Indigenous woman stood surrounded by six men in military uniform. The search for information identified the woman as Sophie Mousseau and led to one of her descendents, Daphne Richards-Cook. This week, Rosanna hears how reconnecting Indigenous people with their unnamed relatives in archival photos is he...
Apr 17, 2026•49 min
Every year Canada Reads chooses one book that everyone should read right now – and it’s a series of great debates that gets us there! In this live recording of Unreserved, Rosanna speaks with Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Billy-Ray Belcourt about why Billy-Ray’s A Minor Chorus is THE book for our present time. The story follows a queer Cree man, an academic and writer, who returns to his home community in northern Alberta after a long time away.
Apr 10, 2026•54 min
The sight of 191 wild horses pinned in mud is hard to picture and so Jake Skeets turned to poetry. As he learned more about the tragic scene, it became a metaphor for the current climate crisis and its impact on all walks and ways of life. Rosanna speaks with Jake Skeets and Louise Bernice Halfe Sky Dancer about the language of poetry and why its power is so needed today.
Apr 02, 2026•50 min
They searched for months until the snow came but could not find her. Now, as the weather warms and the ice melts, the community of Arviat renews its search for Kadin Savikataaq. In August 2024, the 20-year-old pilot and experienced hunter disappeared almost without a trace. RCMP say she most likely drowned, but Kadin’s family believes she was murdered and buried somewhere near their village. Guest host, Juanita Taylor, hears from family and friends about what happened the night Kadin disappeared...
Mar 27, 2026•50 min
“Boozhoo” means hello in Anishinaabemowin. For Adam Sturgeon, that simple greeting, written in a card he received from his Auntie when he was 10-years old, kickstarted a lifelong quest to reclaim his Anishinaabe identity. Adam speaks with Rosanna about his journey of reconnection and finding belonging and how it's driven him to learn more about his family history.
Mar 21, 2026•42 min
Istiyehe, Imoitapi and Sabe are just some of the names Indigenous nations across Turtle Island call Bigfoot or Sasquatch. But who is Sabe really? To some Indigenous people they’re regarded as a relative, others a spiritual guide. Rosanna hears how Sabe teaches us to reflect on our relationship with ourselves and the land to bring lessons of honesty.
Mar 14, 2026•54 min
What do you get when you blend traditional Mi’kmaq songs with Celtic fiddle music? Mi’kmaltic! Morgan Toney draws inspiration from his Elders, family and community and brings the fusion genre across the country. Now he’s on the road to the Junos. This week Rosanna speaks with three musicians on the way to the Junos about how their music led them to community, connection and ceremony.
Mar 06, 2026•45 min
“We need to spend time on beautiful memories” says Inuk musician and humanitarian about her life growing up in the small fly-in community of Arviat, Nunavut. Susan speaks with guest host, Juanita Taylor about healing from childhood sexual abuse and how it inspires her work with Inuit youth through the Arctic Rose Foundation.
Feb 27, 2026•45 min
She spent 4 days camped out on the land the last time a litter of puppies were born. That’s the kind of commitment 15 year-old Sophia Johnston has toward her dog team. We hear how she is bringing back the almost-lost tradition of dog sled teams in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut with the help of elders and long-time mushers like Harry Towtongie and John McLeod.
Feb 20, 2026•52 min
In Haida Gwaii, Basketball is more than a game – and the Skidegate Saints reign supreme. Their team is a source of pride for players and fans alike. Front row tickets even pass down through family wills. Guest host, Falen Johnson hears how their games are a cornerstone of community and make space for intergenerational connections.
Feb 13, 2026•50 min
Ojibwe-Métis playwright Ian Ross brought the stage to the rez and put the rez on the stage in his Governor award-winning play FareWel. He harnessed the power of storytelling through his many plays and fiercely encouraged Indigenous creatives to do the same by sharing their own stories. Rosanna hears from Ian’s friends, family and colleagues about how they’ll carry his memory and legacy into the future.
Jan 30, 2026•54 min
Inuit activists call for an independent Greenland – that means freedom from Denmark and the United States. Amidst the latest threats by the US to acquire Greenland, Inuit are speaking out and calling for good relations as an independent player on the world stage. Rosanna hears from Inuit across the Arctic about the defense of culture, language and sovereignty.
Jan 23, 2026•49 min
A winter count is history in pictures. But a 200 year-old notebook written in the Lakota language shows just how important the written word can also be. Around the globe communities are recognizing the invaluable role language plays in holding and sharing our people’s stories. Many languages are so at risk that the UN declared the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to raise awareness and mobilize communities. Halfway through that decade, Rosanna hears from language learners and speaker...
Jan 16, 2026•54 min
It’s a sacred gift to tell the stories that we carry – that’s one of the lessons Tanya Talaga shares with emerging writers. Rosanna speaks with the award-winning author and other creatives about how they lift each other up by creating safe spaces, supporting each other’s art and offering opportunity and mentorship to the next generation.
Jan 09, 2026•47 min
Reconnecting with language, family and culture is a journey without a map. It's one Melissa Powless Day has been walking through and sharing about in her poetry as she seeks reconnection and belonging. We also reflect on lessons and wisdom shared from Indigenous authors Rosanna has spoken with to help us move into the new year.
Jan 05, 2026•50 min
Who are the cookie people in your life? They bring light and calm in moments of chaos and darkness, and their gifts – whether they’re delicious treats, kind words, or time – hold lessons for us all. Rosanna digs into the season of giving and hears that some of the best gifts are those that come with lessons and stories. These gifts connect us to the past and give us hope for the year to come.
Dec 26, 2025•54 min
Beaver mimicry is helping scientists on Blackfoot territory keep water on the land and put an end to decades of drought. It’s one of many ways Indigenous people look to our beaver kin for lessons on restoring balance to ecosystems. Rosanna hears how traditional knowledge and stories about beaver make us more nurturing, generous and wise.
Dec 12, 2025•51 min
Forget the birthday candles, some celebrations call for dynamite! Salmon are returning to river systems all along the Pacific coast where they are the lifeblood of communities. Along the Klamath River, one salmon warrior fulfilled a lifelong dream to blow up one of the dams that had blocked salmon for decades. Rosanna hears how efforts around destruction and restoration are bringing the salmon home.
Dec 05, 2025•50 min
Siibii means river in Cree – a body of water with no fixed form. That description resonates with the pop singer/songwriter now known as Siibiii. Rosanna sits down for an intimate conversation to hear how Siibii’s questions around gender, sexuality and neurodiversity have helped them to heal and come into themself.
Nov 28, 2025•38 min
From Kookums on campus to artists with new names, Rosanna explores what it means to know your story, be grounded in yourself and share all the love (even if it takes a little rage to get you there).
Nov 21, 2025•51 min
The dress will never be worn by anyone but the names that adorn it. Hundreds of names of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls line a haute couture gown at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. That’s where Rosanna captured the stories of many designers at a special event.
Nov 14, 2025•42 min
An old cigar box full of memories helps Maidy Keir learn about her uncle Welby who died in World War II. Now some of these treasures are on display in the Netherlands in an exhibit honouring the Indigenous soldiers who helped liberate the country eighty years ago. Rosanna hears stories that honour our veterans and those who continue to serve today.
Nov 10, 2025•51 min
