Finding my culture and skiing came hand in hand—both taught me how to honor the land – Connor Ryan

Welcome to Winds of Change: Native Voices, a podcast brought to you by Wyoming Humanities. Hosted by Emy Digrappa, we explore the rich histories, cultures, and stories of the people and places that shape Wyoming—and beyond.

In this special series, we celebrate Indigenous perspectives by inviting Native American leaders, thinkers, and storytellers to share their experiences. From adventure and activism to tradition and modern challenges, these conversations honor the resilience and wisdom of Native communities.

Born at the foot of the Rockies, Connor Ryan (Hunkpapa Lakota) is a professional skier, filmmaker, and activist who blends outdoor adventure with Indigenous wisdom. In this episode, Connor shares how he reclaims skiing as a sacred practice, his journey reconnecting with Lakota traditions, and the transformative power of bringing Native voices to the slopes. From duct-taped gear to award-winning films, his story is one of resilience, reciprocity, and redefining belonging in the outdoors.

Listen now to explore the intersection of sport, culture, and healing.

Resources:

• Spirit of the Peaks – Connor’s award-winning documentary blending skiing, Lakota traditions, and Indigenous land stewardship.
• NativesOutdoors – Connor’s collaboration with this Indigenous-led outdoor advocacy group (founded by Len Necefer).
  • Website: natives-outdoors.org
  • Instagram: @nativesoutdoors
• Hunkpapa Lakota – Connor’s tribal affiliation (a band of the Lakota/Dakota people).
• Black Hills (Paha Sapa) – Sacred Lakota lands where Connor reconnected with his culture. "Paha Sapa" is a Lakota term that translates to "Black Hills". It refers to the mountain range located in southwestern South Dakota and extending into Wyoming. The name is derived from the Lakota language, where "paha" means hills or mountains, and "sapa" means black.

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As always leave a review if you enjoyed these stories and follow us on Instagram or visit the webpage of the Wyoming Humanities!

Language isn’t just about words—it’s about a worldview. It holds a whole way of understanding the world, relationships with land, and with each other. - Ellen Bradley

Welcome to Winds of Change, hosted by Emy Digrappa and brought to you by Wyoming Humanities. In this episode, we celebrate Native Voices with our special guest, Ellen Bradley, a skier, scientist, and filmmaker of Lingít heritage. From the snow-covered slopes of Southeast Alaska’s coastal mountains to the shimmering waters of the Salish Sea, Ellen blends traditional ecological knowledge with modern science to amplify Indigenous voices.

Join us as Ellen shares her journey of self-determination and resilience, exploring the depth of her connection to Lingít land, her family’s story, and her efforts to revitalize language and culture. From the challenges of assimilation to the hope sparked by language learning and cultural resurgence, this conversation illuminates how honoring tradition and science can shape visions for the future.

#WindsOfChange #IndigenousVoices #EllenBradley #Lingít #Podcast #TraditionalKnowledge #Storytelling #CulturalRevitalization

Resources from Ellen Bradley’s Interview

• 
  TCLL (Lingít Culture, Language, and Literacy)
  A program in Juneau, Alaska, that immerses youth in Lingít language and culture.
  (Check local Juneau school district or Sealaska Heritage Institute for information.)
• Sealaska Heritage Institute
  Supports Indigenous language revitalization, cultural education, and artistic expression in Lingít, Haida, and Tsimshian communities.
• Alaska Native Language Center
  A hub for language revitalization for Alaska Native languages.
• Tongass National Forest
  The largest temperate rainforest in the U.S., located in Lingít territory in Southeast Alaska.
• Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN)
  Ahttp://ienearth.org/ network dedicated to protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and our Mother Earth through action and education.
• https://www.mountainfilm.org/films/let-my-people-go-skiing/ Ellen Bradley” Let My People Go Skiing: Tlingit skier and scientist Ellen Bradley (Tlingit) returns to her traditional homelands in Southeast Alaska. Weaving ancestral knowledge, scientific understanding and passion for her sport, Let My People Go Skiing follows Bradley’s journey to help her community reclaim its place at the forefront of the stories told about their homelands

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• Listen on all your favorite platforms and subscribe!

As always leave a review if you enjoyed these stories and follow us on Instagram or visit the webpage of the Wyoming Humanities!

🗣️ "I grew up in a household where Shoshone was spoken. That language shaped my world—now I’m working to make sure it shapes the future too." – Lynette St. Clair

On this episode of Winds of Change, host Emy DiGrappa welcomes Lynette St. Clair—Shoshone linguist, educator, and cultural preservationist from Fort Washakie, Wyoming. Recently honored as one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, Lynette shares her journey growing up on the Wind River Reservation, preserving the Shoshone language, and bringing it to screens through major media platforms.

We explored the deep roots of the Shoshone language, the challenges of representation in education, and the importance of listening to and honoring elders. Lynette also reflects on building community-based language resources like the Newe Daygwap app to teach and learn the Eastern Shoshone language. And why cultural identity is essential for healing and resilience in Native youth.

This is a conversation about inspiration, connection, and carrying stories forward in a fast-changing world.

📚 Shoshone Language & Cultural Resources

1. Newe Daygwap app (Shoshone Language App)
   A mobile app developed by the Eastern Shoshone Tribe to teach and preserve the Shoshone language using local voices.
2. Shoshone Dictionary
   Compiled by Reba Teran and others, this is a foundational resource used by educators and learners: https://www.hcn.org/issues/issue-303/she-builds-new-words-in-an-ancient-tongue/
3. Indigenous Language Institute (ILI)
   Supports tribes in documenting, revitalizing, and promoting Native languages across the U.S.
   🌐 www.ilinative.org
4. Endangered Languages Project
   A collaborative platform where you can explore language data, recordings, and revitalization efforts worldwide.
   🌐 www.endangeredlanguages.com
5. Language Conservancy – Shoshone Projects
   Works with tribes to create language apps, dictionaries, and curriculum.
   🌐 www.languageconservancy.org
   
   

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As always leave a review if you enjoyed these stories and follow us on Instagram or visit the webpage of the Wyoming Humanities!