5 Powerful Indigenous Stories from Around the World to Check Out for International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

In honor of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we invite you to revisit the impactful stories of Indigenous guardianship around the world as told in our Seedcast podcast. 

Hosted by Jessica Ramirez (Mexican Indigenous), these stories about the intersection of Indigenous Peoples and place are an important part of the Indigenous narrative landscape. The goal of Seedcast is to support the rights and traditional ways of Indigenous Peoples and amplify their practices of reciprocity. We share stories from around the world and honor guardians of the land who have lived in relationship with their traditional territories since time immemorial. 

"The Seedcast podcast is a vital platform for Indigenous peoples, amplifying their voices, preserving cultural narratives, and sharing invaluable Indigenous knowledge that connects us to each other and aims for a more hopeful future,” Ramirez says. 

Here are five episodes to check out among the excellent and diverse array of selections available at niatero.org/Seedcast.

1. Guided By Her Ancestors, Joan Carling Fights Back (featuring host Felipe Contreras) 

Joan Carling (Kankana-ey Igorot, Philippines) has been fighting for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, social justice and sustainable development for over 30 years. As co-founder and global director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI), Joan is keenly aware that violations of Indigenous peoples’ rights are escalating all over the world, despite international protections. She shares how she navigates dealing with those in power, why it’s essential for the survival of the planet to support Indigenous land guardianship, and how she draws inspiration from the past and the future to continue the important work she does. 

“One of the things that…I realized is that when dealing with those in power  —   like companies for example, or even those in government —  they really have a different view of things. There, is an inherent contradiction because they want to take over our resources for their own vested interest. And we want to take care of our resources for the future generations,” Carling said. 

Check out the full episode by clicking here. 

2. The Sacred Essence of Blackfoot Culture 

In Blackfoot Territory, a powerful people are in relationship with a powerful place. At the Continental Divide, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains leap out from prairies that stretch out flat for what feels like forever. Rivers from Blackfoot Territory flow across much of North America, and the Blackfoot see their territory as the source of water for this vast continent.  
 
Spend time with people from the Blackfoot Confederacy who are resisting ongoing colonialism, awakening their culture, listening to elders, and regaining sovereignty of their land, language, and spirit. As Liz Fox (Kainai) shares, “Living your culture and wanting to preserve it; there's a lot of work that goes into it, and there's a lot of peace that comes from it.” In addition to Liz Fox, we’re also honored to share the voices and stories of Doane Crow Shoe (Piikani), Rose Fox (Kainai), Johnathon Red Gun (Siksika), Tyson Running Wolf (Blackfeet Nation), and Lona Running Wolf (Blackfeet, Haida, Little Shell Creek.) There are four tribes within the Blackfoot Confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, and Amskapi Piikani (commonly referred to as Blackfeet Nation.)  

This episode includes interviews and audio from the Wayfinders Circle film “Siksikaitsitapi,” which has been co-created with the Blackfoot Confederacy and directed by Bryan Gunnar Cole, with additional production support from Nils Cowan and Jacob Bearchum.   

Listen to this episode by clicking here.

3. Talking Story 

In this, the second-ever episode of the Seedcast podcast, we journey to the Pasifik. Inspired by the Pacific Islander wisdom sharing practice of Talking Story, host Jessica Ramirez guides a conversation between friends former Senator J. Kalani English (Native Hawaiian/Kanaka Maoli) and Taholo Kami, diplomat and Special Representative for Oceans for the Government of Fiji (Tongan, raised in Papua New Guinea, resides in Fiji). Topics range from the exploration and definition of Pacific identity to self-determination to Indigenous sovereignty and more. 

“Yes we we're politically integrated into the American system, but it doesn't mean that we gave up our Pacific identity, nor did we give up our language, our culture, our heritage, nor our background, and we're still live thriving well and regenerating and generating,” English said. 

Find the full episode by clicking here. 

4. Indigenous Peoples Hold the Planet: A Conversation with Nara Baré (featuring producer Marianna Romano) 

In this episode, we met Nara Baré, a member of the Baré Nation. At the time, she was serving as the first female General Coordinator for the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB). Recorded in Portuguese with English translation, we learn about Nara's story of empowerment through knowledge. She shares how her educational pursuits, including participation in student protests, prepared her to join the larger movement to support land sovereignty for the Indigenous peoples across the Brazilian Amazon. Nara is currently the director of Brazil programs at Nia Tero. 

This episode won a 2023 Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA, formerly Native American Journalists Association) award for Best Radio/Podcast Coverage of Native America, First Place.  

Click here to listen to this episode.

5. Meet the Gabbra People of East Africa Pt 1: How Traditional Knowledge Saw the Gabbra People Through Colonization and Climate Crisis 

One hundred years ago, Gabbra elders in the dry lands of eastern Africa told their nomadic people that a big change was coming. To get through it, they would need to hold their traditions close. In this episode of Seedcast - the first of two parts – hear from a Gabbra senior elder as he shares a story with a member of his community. He speaks about how Gabbra traditional knowledge has allowed their ecosystem to support human, animal, and plant life through generations, while also helping them navigate colonization and climate crisis.  

“Elders were telling us that don't throw away your culture, the tradition, and how you link yourself with God. He says, these traditions are going to erode. People will come with changes, but you don't change with them, but you just make sure that you carry with yourself the knowledge and the culture and traditions that were sustaining us. He says we were told that we need to take care of environment. We need to take care of the trees. We need to take care of land. We need to care of camels and sheep and goats and do your sacrifices and keep your culture going,” Ali Mero said, translating for elder Molu Kulu Galgalo. “Don't encourage settlement, keep moving. Because settlement will destroy the land, and these are very important things. And the elders said a time will come: people will now start talking in language which will be disrespectful, which does not conform with values that has been built in from generations. That time will come. And when that time come, there's going to be disconnection with the Creator, there is going to be reduced societal values. We'll find very negative and detrimental changes in people's lifestyle.” 

For this special Seedcast collaboration, the Gabbra community, a member of the Wayfinders Circle, shared recordings of their songs and celebrations along with the lands and animals they shepherd. We also thank Ali Mero and Gabbra elder Molu Kulu Galgalo, who were our collaborators for this series. 

To listen to this episode, click here.

Follow the Seedcast podcast on Instagram for updates on new episodes and more at @niatero_seedcast.