Tribal Research Specialist: The Podcast
Episodes
#69 - Rent‑to‑Own Indigenous Traditions On & Off the Rez: High‑Interest Responsibility for Communities, Easy Credit for Scholars
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textCouches, Rent-to-Own Memories 0:00:00Talent Night, Gold-Speckled Mirrors & 80s/90s Home Aesthetics 0:00:50Weather Channel Lightning, Th...
#68 - Memoirs of an Indigenous Knowledge Dojo Dropout and the Vin Diesel School of Indigenous Philosophy
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIntroduction & Reel‑to‑Reel Time Travel 0:00:00YouTube Archives & Arlee 1958 Powwow Tapes 0:01:11Life Updates Sweat Lodge Sm...
#67 - Entitled or Excluded? Paving Over Tradition with Curriculum and Policy
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIntroduction & Busting Myths on Success 0:00:00Reservation Fashion & Cultural Standards 0:01:16Archetypes & Unique Character...
#66 - When the Ceremony Goes Viral: Who Gets to Comment?
11 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textShirt Fails 0:00:00 Honey 0:01:23Archival Music & YouTube Plug 0:04:45Recording Sacredness: The Big Debate 0:09:37Public or Private...
#65 - Singing, Gambling, and Social Change: A Brief Ethnography of Modern Native Gatherings
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textOpening and Introductions 0:00:00 Physical Recovery and Masculinity 0:02:52Hand Game and Stick Game Traditions 0:05:25Gambling, Communi...
#64 - Between Good and Bad: Where Black Bears Eat Eagles - Guest: Terry Brockie
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textCold Open & Banter 03:50Buffalo Skulls and Song Memories 08:15Thought Power and Gossip as Harm 15:30Good Intentions, Bad Spirits &am...
#63 – Mountain Dew, Cigarettes, and Coffee: Practicing Reciprocity the Old Way - Guest: Terry Brockie
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTrain Observations and Internet Issues 0:00Cultural Preservation and Historic Preservation 0:15Philosophy of Reciprocity 0:30Examples of...
#62 - Indigenous Wisdom or Intellectual Tourism: Problematizing Indigenous Academic Knowledge
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDiscussion on Facetiousness and Cultural References 0:00Indigenizing and Decolonizing Literature 6:11Thanksgiving, Columbus Day, and Lib...
#61 - From Trauma to Teasing: The Epigenetics of Indigenous Humor - Guest: Kasey Nicholson
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textCode-Switching & Cultural Banter 0:00:00 Trauma, Humor, and Healing 0:15:00Counselor to Comedian 0:35:00Joke Anatomy 101 0:55:00Aca...
#60 - Deossifying Myths at the Crossroad of Modern Tribal Boundaries
25 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIntroductions 0:00Discussion on Leftovers and Turkey 3:00Cultural Dependence on Buffalo 9:28Cultural Politics and Narrative Dominance 14...
#59 - Crushing Myths, Prophesying Futures: Indigenous Perspectives on Life and Extinction
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a text0:00 - Casual Conversation About Daily Life8:29 - Philosophy of Extinction and Survival23:08 - Navigating Cultural Learning and Extincti...
#58 - Raising a Wisdom Baby: Indigenous Knowledge That Won't Let You Sleep - Guest: Miranda Rowland
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a text0:00 Language and Cultural Heritage6:27 Indigenous Music and Academic Research21:00 Navigating Native Scholars' Experiences30:12 Cr...
#57 - Conversation on Traditions: Walking Belly First with Indigenous Practitioners and Scholars
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a text00:01 Indigenous vs. Tribal Archaeology11:21 Discussion on Singing Protocol 18:51 Unspoken Hierarchy in PowWow Culture28:53 Social Dynam...
#56 - Native Cousin Chronicles: "She's my Mom's, Dad's, Sister-in-Law's, Daughter's Grandson"
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a text0:00 Dream Guests on My Podcast7:33 Musical Reflections on Seven Generations26:05 Complexities of Kinship Rules33:51 Crow Kinship Struct...
#55 - O.G. Powwow Boy Band: Evolution of a Contemporary Powwow Singing Group - Guest: James "Bud" Day
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textPowwow Music Evolution and Stories - 00:12:03 Discussion on Traditional Singing Fundamentals - 00:21:48 Evolution of Contemporary Powwow...
#54 - Fencepost Philosophy: Familial Boundaries Delineating Logic, Tradition and Belief.
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMissing VHS tape and a burial board. 0:00Slang phrases and their origins. 4:38Cultural preservation, imposition, and ethnocentrism. 11:5...
#53 - A Smudge Too Far: Perils of Pretendigenous Smudging
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textPolice encounters. 0:24Colonialism, language, and smudging. 4:48Smudging practice and techniques. 11:25The origin and usage of the word ...
#52 - Authenticity Under Surveillance: A Native’s Guide to Being Yourself…Everywhere!
18 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textArchive music and recording techniques. 0:00 Native American music styles and cultural influences. 5:37 Tribal engagement and cultural...
#51 - Anti-Un-De-Colonial Indigenization Potluck: A cornucopia of gripes and thoughts
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTraditions Unveiled: Navigating the True Meaning of Thanksgiving. 0:00Feast or Fiesta: Exploring Food Choices Beyond Thanksgiving. 6:21R...
#50 - Drama at Club NCAI: Native Identity Scuffles for Federal Scraps - Guest: Salisha Old Bull
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textNative American identity and organization. 0:00Federal recognition for Native American tribes. 7:07Native American identity and federal ...
#49 - Nakoa HeavyRunner Unplugged: The Life and Times of a Round Dance Alchemist
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textPain, suffering, and aging. 0:00Changes in powwow music and culture. 9:43The evolution of music and its impact on artists. 16:07Music ev...
#48 - Drums, Dreams and Cultural Schemes: A Beatdown on Indigenous Conferences.
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTraditional songs and their cultural significance. 0:04Indigenous singing and morality. 22:28Indigenous land acknowledgments and cultura...
#47 - Highbrowing Indigenous Cinema: What do Natives want... realism or escapism? Guest: Salisha Old Bull
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIntro: Too much sodium? 0:00 The best Predator movie ever made. 18:15 You’re not active listening 22:48 Eagle feathers and fake fea...
#46 - Inside Indian Country: A Discussion on Kool-Aid, Pork Chops and Indian Law - Guest: Bryan Dupuis
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTypical life. 2:25Bryan’s law degree and how he got started. 10:55I'm glad people are listening. 18:30Dirty Belly. 19:55What is t...
#45 - Tribal Pride and Prejudice: Understanding superficial practice and actual practice.
23 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMy uncle shot a real big buck. 0:00The Public Enemy tape. 2:31The best old dance recording I've ever heard. 14:39Weasel skins and p...
#44 - Indian Basketball, Fancy Dancing and Indigenous Citation with Guest: Walter RunsAbove
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textCan you hear me now? 0:00Goose from the stronghold. 0:55Old school rock and roll. 7:33Chicken Dance song. 10:56The beginning of fancy da...
#43 - An Intervention for Aaron: A discussion on inconvenient truths, criticism and uniformity
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this season 3 kickoff episode we welcome back Aaron with an investigation into some of our past discussions.Since his absence in the ...
#42 Tribal Boomer Exodus: Indigenous Gen X on Reframing Identity and Governance in the Void with Guest: Pat Matt
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, Qʷlm tl Stltla (Patrick Matt Jr., Qlispé) joins the discussion on the phenomenon of the older generation of tribal le...
#41 - "Hang Around the Conference Indians": Re-imagining a modern structure for discussing Tribal research
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode we discuss opinions in Native inspired conferences. Conferences have been integrated in as a mode of convening and disse...
#40 - "Thoughts and Prayer": Untangling vague and specific modes of supplication
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode we discuss an important component of Native reality. Prayer is a unique endeavor in Tribal life that continues to thre...
#39 The Saga of White Josh: A "how to" guide to living White on the Rez
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode we have chat with guest Joshua Rosenau. Josh has been living on the Reservation for a number of years and shares his i...
#38 - That One White Guy on the Rez: Original Style Singing and Sovereignty
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode we take some time to jump around in our thoughts about a number important topic. We start the discussion by introducing ...
#37 - Reconciling Past and Present Realities: Issues with written text about “Indian Things”
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode we revisit some unfinished business from a previous discussion. Specifically, We dive deeper in the complications foun...
#36 - The Problem with Repatriation and Tribal Death Norms: The evolution of Indigenous epistemologies
13 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDeath is one of the final cultural expression in any society. The discussion of death and mourning can be a sensitive topic. The TRS tea...
#35 - Do We Still Need Each Other?: Shifting norms of responsibility and ownership
19 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the TRS team discusses many topics centering on emerging social structure in Native families. In Part I, the conversati...
#34 - “10% Cree Fee”: The influence of Nêhiyawak singing across Indian Country with Guest: Aaron Tootoosis
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the TRS team chats with Aaron Tootoosis (Nêhiyawak) from the Poundmaker Indian Reserve in Treaty 6 Territory. Universi...
#33 - You're on Dog Land! Secret knowledge in Indian County
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the Tribal Research Specialist (TRS) team discuss what some may view as "secret knowledge" in Tribal Communit...
#32 - Welcome Back! Where have we been and whats next? Listen in and find out.
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe took a small break but we are back to discuss more important issues and accomplishment from Indian Country. We had a chance to resent...
#31 - Inside Indian Country: A Discussion on Personhood for Rivers- Guest: Bryan Dupuis
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the Tribal Research Specialist (TRS) team discuss the ever-expanding phenomenon of applying "personhood" or l...
#30 - "This one time at the Vine Deloria Symposium" - A conversation with a Lumbee Scholar - Dr. Ryan Emanuel
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the TRS team have an interesting conversation with Lumbee scholar Dr. Ryan Emanuel. The episode starts with an classi...
#29 - Debrief on A Discussion on Land Acknowledgments
28 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the Tribal Research Specialist (TRS) team debrief on the previous episodes discussion on the ever-expanding phenomenon ...
#28 - Inside Indian Country: A Discussion on Land Acknowledgments - Guest: Annie Ost & Salisha Old Bull
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the Tribal Research Specialist (TRS) team discuss the ever-expanding phenomenon of land acknowledgements. The episode s...
#27 PT 2 - Native Journalism: Divergent, Professional, Unique & Censored - Guest: Lori Edmo & Dalton Walker
13 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn the second half of this two part series on Native Journalism, the Tribal Research Specialist (TRS) team discuss some important detail...
#26 PT 1 - Native Journalism: Divergent, Professional, Unique & Censored - Guest: Luella Brien
07 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this new episode, the Tribal Research Specialist (TRS) team discuss some important details related to journalism in Indian country. T...
#25 - Leadership and Virtue: Carryover from the past
31 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this new episode, the Tribal Research Specialist (TRS) team discuss some important details related to traditional leadership in India...
#24 - Moving past "Indian 101", Frenzied Culturalism & Cultural Profiteering - Guest: Ben Pease
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this new episode, the Tribal Research Specialist (TRS) team talk with Ben Pease (Apsáalooke/Tsétsêhéstâhese), renowned artist fr...
#23 - New Show, Same Content, IRB's, Ethnography and 90's Powwow Songs! Welcome Back Loyal Listeners!
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this new episode, the newly formed enterprise, Tribal Research Specialist (TRS), provides a brief introduction to our services and vi...
#22 - Tribal People Doing Tribal Research: Native perspective on complications and mismatches in Tribal academics - Guest: Salisha Oldbull
04 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn the episode, the IRC team speaks with Salisha OldBull (Salish/Apsáalooke). She is a Student Success Coordinator at the University of...
#21 PT 2 - Language Resurgence: A conversation with The Language Conservancy
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team is joined again by Bob Rugh and Wil Meya from the Language Conservancy (https://languageconservancy.org). ...
#20 PT 1 - Language Resurgence: A conversation with The Language Conservancy
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team is joined by Bob Rugh and Wil Meyafrom the Language Conservancy (https://languageconservancy.org/). The La...
#19 - Highlights: Ep 5. PT1 & Ep. 6 PT2 - Rites vs Being Right: Acquiring and Using Indigenous Knowledge from Songs
12 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this bonus episode, listen to highlights from the IRC teams discussion from Episode 5 and Episode 6. In Episode 5 the team discusses ...
#18 - Highlights: Ep 3. - Indian Romantic or Romanticism? & Ep 4. - Metaphors and Circles? What Do Indians Really Think!
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this bonus episode, listen to highlight from the IRC teams discussions from Episode 3 and Episode 4. In Episode 3 the team discusses ...
#17 - Indigenous Scholars: Communicating For and To Our Tribal Communities - Guest: JoRee LaFrance
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn the episode, the IRC team speaks with JoRee LaFrance (Apsáalooke). She is a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Science a...
#16 - Indigenous Scholars: Making Our Education Work for Tribal Communities - Guest: Lydia Jennings
22 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn the episode, the IRC team speaks with Lydia Jennings (Pascua Yaqui and Huichol). Lydia is doctoral candidate in the Department of E...
#15 - Achieving Success: Advice from Indigenous Professors in Academia - Guests: WILLOW AGEP Alliance Fellows
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn the episode, the IRC team speaks with The WILLOW AGEP Alliance Fellows. The Willow AGEP Alliance brings together three institutions -...
#14 - PT 2 Song Knowledge: Retention and use of songs in Tribal communities - Guest: John Stiffarm & Mike Lafromboise
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn part 2 of this series of episodes, the IRC team is also joined by a special guest, John Stiffarm (A̓a̓niiih), and returning guest M...
#13 - PT 1 Song Knowledge: Retention and use of songs in Tribal communities - Guest: John Stiffarm
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team is also joined by a special guest, John Stiffarm (A̓a̓niiih). John is from the Fort Belknap Reservation ...
#12 - Good Times: Temporal Dimensions of Indigenous Thought
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team discusses the concept of time in relation to indigenous thought and life. The episode starts with a song b...
#11 - Good Deeds: Current Concepts of Tribal Recognition of Accomplishments
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team discusses how we can retain or revitalize tribal protocols for the recognition of accomplishments and good...
#10 - Indigenous Thought: Communicating and Transforming Academic Knowledge for Tribal Communities
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team discusses how we can communicate indigenous thought and knowledge gained from academic institutions to our...
#9 - Highlights: Ep. 1 - Love Medicine & Ep 2. - The Power of Songs
04 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this bonus episode, listen to highlight from the IRC research team discussion on the implication of traditional understandings situat...
#8 - PT 2 - Native Social Order: Identity, other religions & songs - Guest: Jason HeavyRunner
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team discusses the infusion of other religious practices into important components of our Indigenous identity. ...
#7 - PT 1 - Native Social Order: Identity and cooperation from songs - Guest: Jason HeavyRunner
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team begins to discuss how social order, manners, cooperation, and identity are maintained through traditional ...
#6 - PT 2 - Rites vs Being Right: Acquiring and Using Indigenous Knowledge from Songs - Guest: Mike Lafromboise
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team continues their discussion on the acquisition and use of knowledge from the medium of traditional songs. A...
#5 - PT 1 - Rites vs Being Right: Acquiring and Using Indigenous Knowledge from Songs - Guest: Mike Lafromboise
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team discusses the acquisition and use of knowledge from the medium of traditional songs. An Apsáalooke song f...
#4 - Metaphors and Circles? What Do Indians Really Think! - Guest: Dr. Salena Hill
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team discusses the assumption that Indigenous thought is circular and metaphorical. The Salish Syulm, an observ...
#3 - Indian Romantic or Romanticism? - Guest: Marty Lopez
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team discusses positive stereotyping and romanticism of Indigenous worldviews. The introduction of EuroAmerican...
#2 - The Power of Songs
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, the IRC team discussed the power of song in an Indigenous worldview. The discussion centers on the preservation of Love...
#1 - IRC? Who are these people? And how do we bring back the old Love Medicine!
09 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this first episode, listen to the IRC research team discuss the implication of traditional understandings situated into modern Indige...