First Voices Radio

In the first segment, Tiokasin speaks with award-winning filmmaker and photographer Deborah Anderson, director, producer and writer of the new documentary film, Women of the White Buffalo. The film shows the lives of the modern day Native women as we listen to their stories of loss, suicide, murder and epidemic meth addiction among their community, mirrored by their deep ancestral roots, traditional ceremony, prayer and hope. Women of the White Buffalo features testimonials from nine women from the Lakota Nation, ranging in age from 10 to 98, living on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations in South Dakota.

Deborah's work has graced the covers of pop music albums and magazines, as well as the walls of an expansive clientele of private homes and landmark hotels worldwide. Of Indigenous, Black, Irish and Scottish descent, her photographic work has hung in galleries both in Europe and the US, including the world-class Leica Galleries, which have hosted three shows for her Women Of The White Buffalo series. More information at https://womenofthewhitebuffalo.com/home

In the second segment, Tiokasin speaks with Scott Frazier, a Santee and enrolled Crow Tribe citizen. He is currently Executive Director and Indigenous Liaison for Project WET, and recently he formed a new company called Project Indigenous, with the mission of promoting wellness, diversity and environmental consultation to Indigenous peoples.

Tiokasin and Scott discuss the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park, which is taking place in 2022. As a highly accomplished and driven leader, Scott keeps a rigorous schedule of public speaking engagements and guest appearances teaching Native environmental education. He has been involved in buffalo issues for many years. When asked what his perspective is as a Native person on water, wellness, and environmental issues, he says: "To me all things on this planet are earth, wind, fire and water. Different proportions, of course, but maintaining a relationship to all… In the Native perspective of nature, we are all part of nature… We are not just observers." More information can be found at https://projectindigenous.com

Production Credits:
Tiokasin Ghosthorse (Lakota), Host and Executive Producer
Liz Hill (Red Lake Ojibwe), Producer
Malcolm Burn, Studio Engineer, Radio Kingston, WKNY 1490 AM and 107.9 FM, Kingston, NY
Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Audio Editor

Music Selections:
1. Song Title: Tahi Roots Mix (First Voices Radio Theme Song)
Artist: Moana and the Moa Hunters
Album: Tahi (1993)
Label: Southside Records (Australia and New Zealand)
(00:00:44)

2. Song Title: The Cleansing
Artist: John Trudell
Album: Tribal Voice (1983)
Label: Effective
(00:26:50)

3. Song Title: Lakota Flute Song
Artist: Georgia Wettelin-Larsen
Album: Heartbeat: Voices of First Nations Women (1995)
Label: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
(00:29:58)

AKANTU INSTITUTE
Visit Akantu Institute, an institute that Tiokasin founded with a mission of contextualizing original wisdom for troubled times. Go to https://akantuinstitute.org/ to find out more and consider joining his Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/Ghosthorse.