http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Chris_James_on_Trends_in_Indian_Country.m4a Chris James is the President & CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED). He returned to the show where we discussed current trends in business, leadership development in Indian Country, and the upcoming Northwest Enterprise Development Conference. The event will take place in September 5-7 2017 at the Tulalip Casino. The NCAIED will also celebrate its 2017 class of...

Lance Morgan on the decline of federal Indian law: “What we’re not teaching in law school is the other half of the system, where tribes are aggressively using their newly educated lawyers, their economic power, and their desire to do good to really change the equation.” “Once you make the mental leap that the entire system is ridiculous…you don’t ever go back.” http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Lance_Morgan_and_the_Decline_of_Federal_Indian_Law.m4a Lance Morgan and the Rise of...

When Joe Sarcinella and I spoke, he was days away from becoming a father. As of publishing this episode, he is now a proud father (congrats!!). As a recent parent, I thought it would be fun to have Joe on NextGen Native to get the perspective of a recent first-time parent and a to-be parent. For those that aren’t parents, or have kids out of the house, this episode is also for you. Although we talk about being parents, the conversation occurred in the same context that our conversations did...

“People like genuine people. People like people who are authentic, people lke people who show up with their true identity. And being Chickasaw is part of who I am.”-Heath Clayton http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Heath_Clayton.m4a One of the areas in which I love to dabble is what I call “life system hacking.” The basic idea is finding ways to create a life, circumvent expectations or bypass the norms of which we all are led to believe cannot be bypassed or circumvented. There are a...

“There is a trap [in decolonization] that hinders a lot of potential growth. And that is centered in how we think about things. If you are only trained [to deconstruct] then you are stuck in a gear of deconstruction, which is important and useful. But if the goal is to increase capacity in Indian Country, then you are asking for builders, not destroyers, and that is a completely different type of thinking.” Ryan Red Corn http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Ryan_Red_Corn.m4a Ryan Red...

“I felt this need to take my skill set and apply it as broadly as I could as long as I could still feel like I was affecting the community.”-Geoff Roth http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Geoff_Roth.m4a Geoff Roth Geoff Roth is a descendent of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He recently completed an appointment as the Senior Advisor to the Director of the Indian Health Service under Dr. Yvette Roubideaux. His story is great for people that are looking to grow their career rapidly. It is...

What’s stopping you from making something?  http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Jared_Yazzie_2017.m4a Jared Yazzie Jared Yazzie is the founder of OXDX Clothing Company. He joined NextGen Native once again to catch up on his recent projects. Jared’s clothing has been a hot commodity for a few years, but recently his business is taking some major strides. He recently won a scholarship to join an incubator , participated in an event at the Smithsonian, and won a contest held by Louie...

http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Raina_Thiele_April_2017.m4a Raina Thiele, Athabascan and Yup’ik, is President of Thiele Strategies. Before starting her own firm, Raina worked for President Obama in the White House Office of intergovernmental Affairs.  Raina joined the show to share her story that led her from Alaska to the White House and now to her current work. Raina’s story is a great example of how hard work, willingness to take on new challenges, and timing can come together to...

John Pepion Works Hard to Achieve Success http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/John_Pepion_April_17.m4a The first time John Pepion (Piikani) appeared on NextGen Native, I titled the accompanying blog post “Up and Coming Ledger Artist.” About 1.5 years later John returned to catch up, and from our conversation, the title was accurate! John’s on the move, and if you’re not familiar with his work, you should check it out. We discussed how he has grown as an artist and businessperson...

“Focus on being proactive and use the future as the guidance point when you [encounter] challenges. What you work for is bigger than us [individually].” -Heather Whitemanrunshim http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Heather_Whitemanrunshim.m4a Heather Whitemanrunshim is Apsalooke (Crow Nation). She is an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) where she works primarily on issues pertaining to water law. Our wide-ranging conversation touched on two issues that I am still...

http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Mark_Trahant__Disrupting_Indian_Country.m4a Mark Trahant joined NextGen Native to discuss a wide-range of issues. When we spoke, the Congress was in the midst of considering the recent healthcare bill. Mark delved into health care policy and in particular Indian health care policy several years ago, and it is now an ongoing part of his journalism. It’s remained relevant for several years. We also discussed his emerging interests, which he covers on...

“Because of that one choice, so many other possibilities came up. They were already there…” Warren Montoya of Rezonate Art and Rezilience on finding new perspectives. http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Warren_Montoya__Building_Rezilience.m4a Warren Montoya is the founder of Rezonate Art. He appeared previously on NextGen Native to discuss the company’s beginnings and goals. He returned to discuss what he’s been up to recently. Warren pivoted his work with Rezonate after realizing he...

“If you want to do great things, then you should concentrate not on what you want to be but on what you want to do. You don’t have to be anything specific thing to impact issues you care about…[assess] those things you want to impact, and then go do it.”-Keith Harper http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Keith_Harper.m4a Keith Harper (Cherokee) is a partner at the law firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton. In January 2017 Keith completed his appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to the...

“Look for those opportunities that may not be obvious to you.”-Gabe Galanda http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Gabe_Galanda_Disenrollment.m4a Gabe Galanda is a member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes. Galanda is also a partner at the law firm Galanda Broadman. He joined NextGen Native previously to share his personal journey. If you haven’t heard his story, I recommend listening to his personal journey. It’s a perfect example of how one can overcome challenges to succeed in your own...

“If I am going to bet on anybody, I’m going to bet on myself.”-Jaclyn Roessel of Grownup Navajo http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Jaclyn_Roessel__Taking_the_Next_Big_Step.m4a Jaclyn Roessel returned to the show to discuss some big changes in her life. For the last decade or so, Jaclyn did amazing things at the Heard Museum, which she described as her dream job. So I was amazed to see a headline that she was leaving the museum. It was time to grow up, or rather time to Grownup Navajo....

“I’m eternally hopeful. Seeing [bad] things around me made me think that things can be better and should be better.”-Jessica Begay http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Jessica_Begay.m4a Jessica Begay’s Refreshing Energy I speak with people across Indian Country that share their stories and do amazing, interesting things on a daily basis. Their energy is fiery, resistant, forward thinking or any combination of those emotions. Jessica Begay (Navajo), has an awesome story. But her energy...

“We have to show up and we have to apply for things outside [Indian Country]. There is no one better than us to than to represent at the national level.” -Chelsea Wilson http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Chelsea_Wilson_1.m4a Chelsea Wilson on Mentors and Pushy Friends Chelsea Wilson (Cherokee Nation) works at All Native Group, a division of Ho-Chunk Inc. She is active in the DC chapter of the New Leaders Council a member of the executive committee and is a previous fellow with the...

“I think it’s time we recognize there’s a change in our world and we need to make room for new voices in the great debate.” http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Jim_Gray__Yielding_to_the_Next_Generatoin.m4a Jim Gray is the former Principal Chief of the Osage Nation. Jim returned to NextGen Native for a conversation that I wanted to have since the day I started the podcast. Jim inspired the conversation with a “simple” Facebook post. When I read the post, I knew we had to connect again to...

Chris James is the President & CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED), a role he recently stepped into. He grew up in Cherokee, North Carolina in the heartland of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Chris_James.m4a Chris is busy preparing for the National Reservation Economic Summit (RES) that is quickly approaching in March. But he carved out time to share stopped by to share his story with NextGen...

Jackson Brossy is the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office. He appeared on the show previously and returned for another conversation. http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Jackson_Brossy_2.m4a Since this was the first episode I recorded in 2017, I asked Jackson about whether he makes any resolutions. He doesn’t, but he did share one of his goals for the year. Through his work, he wants to acquire property to open an embassy for the Navajo Nation in Washington, DC. We...

“We are in a period of radical change…step into your role, do what you do best and raise the profile of tribes in a positive light.” Lacey Horn http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Lacey_Horn.m4a Lacey Horn is a citizen of and treasurer for the Cherokee Nation. Principal Chief Bill John Baker appointed Lacey to this position In this role, Lacey is responsible for a budget that totals almost $700 million dollars for the Nation. Lacey grew up in Vian, Oklahoma. I admire her story because...

Ashley Tuomi on growth: “Take any opportunity to increase our knowledge.” http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Ashley_Tuomi.m4a Ashley Tuomi (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) is the Executive Director of the American Indian Health and Family Services. Currently, she is the President of the National Council of Urban Indian Health. Ashley’s career did not end up where she imagined, but she is right where she is supposed to be. Ashley’s father served in the military, her...

Terra Branson: “How do you look backward but still move forward?” http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Terra_Branson.m4a Terra Branson (Muscogee Creek) is the Executive Director of the Self-Governance Communication  and Education Consortium.Terra joined the show previously, and she returned  graciously for another wide-ranging conversation. When Terra Branson last joined the show, she just started her job at SGCEC as the Executive Director. Two years later, we discuss her adjustment and...

Reno Franklin on Forgiveness: “The most important thing is to be open minded to allow forgiveness…some of the horrible things that were done to us, we know our story. We know the horrible things. We don’t let that define who we are. Those horrible things that were done to Kashia are not who Kashia are. We’ll never forget it. We’ll always remember it. We’ll honor those that was done to, but we won’t let that define us. And we will be open to forgiveness….I would challenge everyone to find...

http://traffic.libsyn.com/nextgennative/Brian_Howard.m4a Brian Howard is Research and Policy Analyst American Indian Policy Institute. He is Pipash, Akimel and Tohono O’odham. I’ve always respected Brian for his humility, knack for policy, and his commitment to Indian Country. During our conversation, I got to know more about his personal story, which I think includes a key lesson for everyone: being uncomfortable in order to grow. Brian shared a few stories during our conversation that...