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Special Edition of Minnesota Native News: Bemidji, Rocking the Boat Part 1

Minnesota Native News | Special Editions | Ampers
Across the U.S. age-old racism and inequities are once again gaining the public’s attention, with movements like Black Lives Matter. In Minnesota, when it comes to disease, school drop-outs, incarceration, Native Americans endure some of the greatest racial disparities in the state. But there is work being done in towns across the state to take on these disparities. Towns like Bemidji -- a small city in Minnesota's north woods. Here, Natives and non-Natives have been working for decades to focus attention on the root causes of these problems and to forge a new vision for the future.   Reporter Melissa Townsend tells the story of their progress.  This is the first in a two part series in the extended edition of Minnesota Naive News.  
Melissa Townsend

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This week, Leah and Cole chat with Tashia Hart (Red Lake Nation), a culinary ethnobotanist, artist, photographer, award-winning author, and cook. As a multifaceted artist, Tashia’s art reflects the stages of her life, connections to nature and food.

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Sam Zimmerman’s Journey Back to Painting and the Homelands

Leah and Cole chat with artist Sam Zimmerman (Grand Portage). After two decades on the east coast in public education Sam moved back to Minnesota to rededicate himself to his passion for painting and to be closer to his family and community. His artwork explores his Ojibwe heritage, as well as his learnings and experiences in nature after returning to his ancestral homelands. Sam shares about learning language and culture through community collaborations, illustrating books for Native authors, and collaborating with family. He tells Leah and Cole about his path, which began with a college-age passion for painting, and then a love for teaching, and has now come full circle as he returns home.


Minnesota Native News: Recreational Cannabis, Indigenous Milk Medicine Week, Tashia Hart’s New Book & More

This week MN Native News reporter Emma Needham brings us some of the latest from Minnesota’s native communities including a new novel from the author of Good Berry Cookbook, a doctoral study about the effects of tribal membership on Native American identity, and how Red Lake, White Earth, and Lower Sioux communities are leading the state in recreational marijuana and hemp industries

Native Lights: Rhiana Yazzie, Empowering Indigenous Creativity

Leah and Cole are joined by the multi-talented Rhiana Yazzie (Diné Nation), a remarkable theatre artist, filmmaker, playwright, and the visionary force behind New Native Theatre. Rhiana shares the latest developments at New Native Theatre, delves into her award-winning feature film “A Winter Love,” and shares about her lifelong passion for storytelling that has shaped her journey from childhood to becoming a leading voice in Indigenous creativity.

MN Native News: NATIFS’ New Market

By now you’ve probably heard of Chef Sean Sherman. Maybe you’ve eaten at his award winning restaurant Owamni, overlooking the river in downtown Minneapolis. Owamni is the Sioux-Chef’s for-profit business. The nonprofit he started is flourishing too. It’s called Natifs. And you can find it at the Midtown Global Market on Lake Street in Minneapolis.

MN Native News: Water & Law – Indigenous Groups and Allies Work for Change

This week on Minnesota Native News, reporter Emma Needham provides an update about ongoing work by Native organizations and activists to protect water and land throughout Minnesota

Native Lights: John Villebrun, Cultivating the Next Generation Through Basketball

Cole and Leah meet and chat with high school basketball coach John Villebrun (Bois Forte Band). John coaches girls’ basketball at Mountain Iron-Buhl High School on the Iron Range. The team was recently crowned the Minnesota Class A State Girls’ Basketball Champions, and John received the honor of Assistant Coach of the Year!

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