In the era of #metoo and #timesup many Native women are making culturally specific, safe spaces for each other to heal from sexual violence. In this episode, Native women share their perspectives on healing and building resistance to a mainstream culture that seems to idle in the face of sexual violence against Native women.

Ikidowin Peer Education Program and Youth Theater Acting Ensemble presents a play called “Everything is a Circle,” written by Illusion Theater and  directed by Curtis Kirby III. Ojibwe Elder Sharon Day is the Executive Director of Ikidowin, a program of the Indigneous People's Task Force.

Jenny Miller: Program Executive with YMCA youth intervention services

Eileen Hudon: Activist, Ogichidakwe Council of Female Warriors, Elder, Anishinaabe

Hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo also speak with MN Native News producer/reporter Laurie Stern.

Theme Music: Cole Premo

Special Music: Strong Woman Song, led by Eileen Hudon and healing drum circle at the Elders Lodge in St Paul

Links:

http://www.illusiontheater.org/ikidowin-s-everything-is-a-circle

http://indigenouspeoplestf.org/youth-education/

https://www.ymcamn.org/our_cause/how_we_help/help_kids_thrive/youth_intervention_services

https://womenspress.com/Content/Special-Issues/Changemakers/Article/2018-Changemaker-Eileen-Hudon/3/29/5588

Native Lights Podcast is a production of Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, and made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Culture Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota. Ampers is an association of 18 independent community radio stations in Minnesota, which are all licensed to a college, school, university, Native American tribe, or directly to the community. http://ampers.org/

Tell us what you think about this series by emailing us at: nativelights@ampers.org