In Episode 98 of “Red Hoop Talk,” Jennifer sits down with Sandy White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota), a nationally respected advocate whose life story has reshaped how the country understands adoption, foster care, and the long-term impacts of Native child removal. Taken from Rosebud at just 18 months old, Sandy grew up far from her relatives, culture, and sense of identity. Her adoptive home was marked by racial, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse — a reality she now speaks about openly to expose the cost of family separation on Native Nations.

Sandy’s early adulthood took her into the Navy, where she found belonging among Black servicemembers who understood the experience of being racialized and displaced. Sobriety, ceremony, and eventually returning home to Rosebud became turning points in her healing. That journey — from survival to reconnection — now fuels her life’s work.

As founder and director of the First Nations Repatriation Institute, Sandy has become one of the leading voices on adoptee and foster-care healing. She organizes Truth Healing Reconciliation forums, supports adoptees and birth relatives through community groups, and trains practitioners across the country on the realities behind Native child removal. Her research highlights the stark truth many adoptees carry: high rates of abuse, staggering mental-health impacts, and the lifelong ache of growing up without seeing one’s own face reflected back. As she says in the episode, “Love does not replace identity,” and “If it were truly in the best interest of the child, we would not be terminating parental rights.”

Sandy’s insights ground the conversation in sovereignty, responsibility, and the hard truth that adoption has become a multi-billion-dollar industry built on the ongoing removal of Native children. She discusses Indian Child Welfare Act as an act of Native Nation self-governance, the importance of returning children to their Nations, and the research she’s led showing high rates of abuse and suicide attempts among Native adoptees.

Listeners can learn more at WeAreComingHome.org, explore the documentary Blood Memory, or read her book A Return to the Heart. “Red Hoop Talk” continues to uplift the stories Native Peoples share about identity, truth, and healing — and supporting the Association on American Indian Affairs helps carry that work forward.

In Episode 96 of Red Hoop Talk, host Jennifer welcomes Julian Brave NoiseCat (Canim Lake Band Tsq̓éscen̓/Líl̓wat Nation), a writer, Oscar-nominated filmmaker, champion powwow dancer, and student of art and history. Julian’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker, earning him honors such as the 2022 American Mosaic Journalism Prize and recognition on the TIME100 Next list. His first documentary, Sugarcane, co-directed with Emily Kassie, was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Directing Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. His debut book, We Survive the Night, continues his work of truth-telling and cultural revival through story.

In this episode, Julian opens up about the intergenerational trauma caused by residential and boarding schools across North America—beginning with his father’s survival story and their journey toward healing through art and storytelling. He shares how Sugarcane and We Survive the Night became acts of remembrance and reclamation, helping to confront painful histories while restoring connection across generations. Julian also reflects on how his mother ensured he stayed rooted in his Indigenous identity while growing up between Oakland and Canim Lake, and how the trickster figure Coyote helped him understand his father and the complexity of Native masculinity.

Through an intimate and thought-provoking conversation, Julian explores how storytelling, art, and truth-telling are powerful tools for resistance and renewal. He discusses the lasting legacy of the Alcatraz occupation and how it helped shift U.S. federal policy from “termination” to “self-determination” for Native Nations. For Julian, the work of storytelling is a responsibility as much as an art: “Once you commit to telling a story, you can’t half tell it—you have to go all the way there.”

Listeners will come away inspired by Julian’s reflections on reciprocity, generosity, and what it means to carry stories forward with integrity. Sugarcane is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+ under National Geographic, and We Survive the Night is available through Alfred A. Knopf and Penguin Random House. Follow Julian on Instagram at @jnoisecat and his father, artist Ed Archie NoiseCat, at @noisecatart.

Each episode of Red Hoop Talk connects listeners with powerful Native voices. By supporting the Association on American Indian Affairs, you help protect Native cultures, uplift Native storytellers, and strengthen the next generations.

Angeline Boulley, citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, joins host Jennifer Robin on the 97th episode of Red Hoop Talk to chat about the power of stories to heal, educate, and protect culture. Born into a family of storytellers, Angeline has spent her career in Native education and now brings that lived experience into her work as a bestselling author. Her novels reflect not only Ojibwe lifeways in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but also the realities of Native youth navigating identity, justice, and survival.

Her debut, Firekeeper’s Daughter, was an instant #1 New York Times Bestseller and earned multiple awards, including the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature. She followed up with Warrior Girl Unearthed in 2023, a high-stakes thriller about reclaiming stolen history. Her newest book, Sisters in the Wind, takes readers on a daring journey with a foster teen who fights to claim her heritage on her own terms.

In this episode, Angeline reflects on how she weaves difficult truths into modern storytelling—whether about the Indian Child Welfare Act, repatriation, or the complicated relationship between Native Nations and law enforcement. She shares why she was determined that her audiobooks be narrated by Native voices, teaching narrators to pronounce Ojibwe language with care so the stories carry authenticity. She also recalls how the idea for Firekeeper’s Daughter lived with her for decades before she finally had the chance to bring it to life, writing it piece by piece in the quiet hours of the morning.

For Angeline, stories are not just entertainment. They are acts of cultural survival, a way to keep Native youth connected to their language and lifeways, and a reminder that representation can quite literally save lives.

Each episode of Red Hoop Talk uplifts Native voices like Angeline’s, and by supporting the Association on American Indian Affairs, you help ensure these stories continue to be heard.

In Episode 96 of “Red Hoop Talk,” host Jennifer sits down with Tiokasin Ghosthorse, a citizen of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation of South Dakota and the longtime voice behind First Voices Radio. For more than three decades, Tiokasin has used live radio to share Native perspectives on peace, culture, and our relationship with Mother Earth. Known internationally as an educator, musician, and advocate, he describes himself as a “perfectly flawed human being,” drawing on his Lakota values to explore what it means to live in balance with the world around us.

A master Lakota flute player who has performed everywhere from Lincoln Center to the United Nations, Tiokasin weaves together language, music, and nature as sources of energy and connection. In the episode, he reflects on non-dualistic ways of thinking and how the Earth herself teaches us—no academic degree required. “We were born singing in the form of crying,” he says, offering a powerful reminder that music connects all of us from birth. Tiokasin also talks about listening with patience rather than just tolerance, a lesson learned over decades of interviewing nearly a thousand guests with different worldviews on First Voices Radio, which concluded its final live broadcast in July 2025.

His stories move between personal and universal, from the spontaneity of live radio to the deep meaning carried by Native languages, where words hold not just definition but emotion and spirit. Tiokasin’s work has earned global recognition, including a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, but his focus remains on being a good human being and helping others do the same by accepting life’s mysteries rather than trying to solve them. To hear more from Tiokasin or explore the archives of First Voices Radio, visit firstvoicesindigenousradio.org. Each episode of “Red Hoop Talk” uplifts Native voices like Tiokasin’s, and by supporting the Association on American Indian Affairs, you help ensure these stories continue to be heard.

Mary Youngblood, a citizen of the Seminole and Aleut Nations, is a groundbreaking musician and the first woman to professionally record the Native flute. She is also the first woman to win not just one, but two Grammy Awards for Best Native American Music Album. A classically trained flutist, Mary’s lifelong journey in music began with piano lessons at the age of six and expanded to guitar at ten. Her artistic path has always been rooted in a deep connection to both music and her cultural identity.

It wasn’t until adulthood that Mary was gifted her first wooden Native flute—a moment that marked the beginning of a passionate commitment to an instrument traditionally played only by men. Her compositions, which blend classical, blues, and traditional Native sounds, are haunting and melodic, resonating with audiences across generations. With a collection of over 250 hand-carved flutes, Mary allows each instrument’s unique spirit and texture to shape her performances.

She has released six celebrated albums with Silver Wave Records, including Dance With the Wind, which earned her the 2007 Grammy, and Beneath the Raven Moon, which won in 2003. Her work has also been recognized by the Native American Music Awards, the Association for Independent Music, and the New Age Voice. Mary has collaborated with iconic artists such as Ian Anderson, Bill Miller, and Joanne Shenandoah, weaving messages of healing, identity, and connection to the natural world into her original compositions.

In her first-ever podcast interview, Mary opens up about her life as an adopted child and the powerful journey of reconnecting with her birth family and culture. She shares stories from her 14 years working in California prisons, where she brought music, culture, and self-expression to incarcerated individuals—work that she describes as deeply joyful and meaningful. She also reflects on the challenges of navigating the music industry, including the elimination of the Grammy category for Native American Music, and speaks candidly about the fine line between cultural appropriation and appreciation when it comes to non-Native flute players.

Mary is not only a performer but also a respected educator and mentor, dedicated to passing on her knowledge and love for the Native flute to the next generations. Her performances are more than concerts—they are spiritual experiences, where music becomes a form of prayer and storytelling.

Today, Mary lives in Northern California, where she continues to compose, teach, and “dance with the wind” among the trees that inspire her. To learn more or listen to her music, visit MaryYoungblood.com or stream her albums on all major platforms.

In Episode 91 of "Red Hoop Talk," host Jennifer welcomes Dan Nanamkin, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, educator, storyteller, and founder of the Young Warrior Society. Raised with deep respect for traditional knowledge, Dan blends cultural teachings with modern storytelling to uplift Native voices, promote healing from historical trauma, and inspire the next generations.

Dan’s work with the Young Warrior Society centers on reconnecting youth to the earth, recognizing that culture and the land are one and the same. Through hands-on cultural teachings, he helps young people reclaim that vital bond. Reflecting on his time at Standing Rock, Dan shares how the movement forever changed Indigenous lives: “I don’t think people understand the enormity of that experience and how it changed many Indigenous lives forever. Many of us still carry the Seven Council Fires in our hearts.”

With 17 years of sobriety under his headdress, Dan brings empathy, compassion, and lived experience to his work. His storytelling comes alive through beautiful regalia, music, and vibrant stage sets, creating powerful moments of connection and healing. His dynamic presence and commitment to activism, culture, and resilience shine throughout the conversation with Jennifer.

Listeners can follow Dan’s work on Facebook and at honoralllife.com, where he shares upcoming events and ways to get involved. Each episode of "Red Hoop Talk" offers a powerful reminder of the strength and brilliance of Native cultures. By supporting the Association on American Indian Affairs, you help lift Native voices and protect Native cultures for the next generations.

In Episode 90 of Red Hoop Talk, host Jennifer sits down with Keith Secola, from Couchiching First Nation and Bois Forte Band of Chippewa (Nett Lake), an icon of Native music. Critics have called him the Native Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, but Secola is in a league of his own—his music is the soundtrack of Native Country. His hit song NDN Kars has become a contemporary Native anthem, holding legendary status as the most requested song on Tribal radio since 1992. In 2011, Secola was inducted into the Native Music Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of Jimi Hendrix, Hank Williams, Crystal Gale, and Ritchie Valens.

Born and raised in the grassroots music scene, Secola’s journey has taken him from the halls of the Chicago Urban Indian Center to the depths of the Grand Canyon, from the Olympic Games to stages across Europe. A master of multiple instruments—guitar, flute, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, and piano—he blends folk, rock, and Native sounds into a style that resonates across generations. He has played at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, The Kennedy Center, SXSW, and festivals across the U.S. and beyond. A seven-time Native American Music Award winner, he has also earned recognition as a producer, including a NAMMY for Best Linguistic Recording for Anishinabemoin (2007).

In this episode, Keith breaks into song when the moment calls for it, showing how music is not just a performance but a way of life. He shares his philosophy on sound, explaining how the flute acts as a portal to harmony and how Native music carries the power to "change the vibes." He reflects on the shift from digital to analog, emphasizing the importance of keeping natural sounds alive in an age of technology. Secola also gives listeners a special treat—a live demo of an unreleased song.

Beyond the music, Keith shares personal insights on the healing power of sound. He talks about his song World Head and the need to let "all of the world’s wonders in your head." He discusses how mainstream music has become overly processed, contrasting it with the organic, medicine-like quality of music created naturally. With more than a dozen new songs in the works, Keith gives a glimpse into what’s next for his ever-evolving artistry.

To hear more from Keith Secola, visit Secola.com or stream his music on all platforms.

Each episode of Red Hoop Talk connects listeners with powerful Native voices, and by supporting the Association on American Indian Affairs, you help keep those voices strong.

In Episode 94 of "Red Hoop Talk," host Jennifer Robin sits down with Michael Ramirez (Konkow Maidu, Hupa/Yurok, Wintun), a Native educator and passionate activist, to unpack California’s dark colonial legacy. Michael leads listeners through a deep and powerful reflection on the formation of the state of California—what he calls ground zero for many of the United States’ most brutal policies against Native Peoples.

From a firsthand perspective, Michael reveals the government’s calculated efforts to erase California Indians from the land, including the “hidden treaties” that were never ratified by Congress and the openly genocidal campaigns funded by the state. His account is more than historical—it’s personal. As a child, Michael was taken on a school tour of Sutter’s Fort, where he saw a sign above a cannon that read “INDIAN KILLER.” That moment, seared into his memory, underscores the painful irony of being a descendant of survivors forced to celebrate the very people who tried to destroy them.

Throughout the conversation, Michael connects this violent past to the ongoing fight for justice and visibility for Native Peoples across Turtle Island. He invokes the work of Vine Deloria Jr.—citing Tribes, Treaties, and Constitutional Tribulations and Behind the Trail of Broken Treaties—to ground today’s advocacy in generations of Native resistance. His activism remains rooted in truth-telling, whether he's educating others, engaging in community organizing, or simply holding space for difficult truths that many would rather ignore.

Listeners can follow Michael’s work and reflections at facebook.com/mike.ramirez.198668. Each episode of "Red Hoop Talk" is a reminder that Native history is not just in the past—it’s alive, urgent, and deserving of action. Support the voices, stories, and sovereignty of Native Peoples by giving to the Association on American Indian Affairs today.