Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand is a Sicangu Lakota and Cherokee artist that hails from Taos, New Mexico. Her passion for community and social justice has led her to speak on matters of equality and cultural representation in pop culture. She is a graphic designer, illustrator, comic creator, and former co-chair of the Denver American Indian Commission. She has 10 years of experience in after-school and summer programs. Most notably for her work with Pop Culture Classroom in their comic-based literacy curriculum; as a community and OBH liaison with the Jeffco Indian Education Program, and as a Think 360 Artist for her SEL lessons through design and pop culture. She is the co-founder and director of ayA Con, Denver’s Indigenous Comic and Art Festival, and is currently employed with the Denver Art Museum as the Creative and Public Engagement Fellow, working with the Native Artist in Residence program, and engaging creative community.

www.badhandilluatrations.art | IG @napesica

Mona Haydar is a rapper, poet, activist and tireless God-enthusiast who grew up in Flint, Michigan.  Mona’s sound is deeply rooted in her intersectional identity and sensibilities as a Syrian, American. Mona’s practice of life as a form of sacred activism includes poetry, contemplation and living gently upon the Earth. 

Her work incluced, debut song, “Hijabi (Wrap My Hijab),” which Billboard critics categorized among the top protest songs of 2017 and later one of the top 25 feminist anthems of all time.

Mona is aslo the host of the new PBS show, The Great Muslim American Road Trip, in which her and her partner, Sebastian take a cross country journey on Route 66 exploring the rich, historical, modern and complex history of Islam and Muslims in America.

Todichiinii nishli, Totsohni bashishchiin, Teeshchiinii da shicheii, doo Biih bitoodni da shinali. I am of the Bitter Water clan, born for the Big Water clan. My maternal grandfathers are of the Red Streak people and my paternal grandfathers are of the Deer Spring people. I’ve been born and raised around sheep, starting my own flock of Navajo-Churro when I was 13 years old in 2003. Since then I’ve become a registration inspector for the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association and an advocate for the preservation of this unique breed of sheep. I’ve also refined my skill at tractional Navajo weaving, becoming proficient with the twill weaving technique. More recently, about 10 years now, I’ve begun to teach beginning, intermediate, and advanced weaving classes on the Navajo Nation and around the country. In 2020, I came together with my friend and fellow shepherd, Kelli Dunaj, to form the Rainbow Fiber Co-op. Even before the pandemic hit the U.S., wool had been struggling on the global market. More desired, commercial “soft” wool was only going for about .25¢ and Navajo-Churro wool was denied for purchase. Being an important breed in the American Southwest to Navajo and Hispanic shepherds, we felt that it was important to bring Navajo grown Navajo-Churro wool to the e-commerce market. So through fundraising and grant funding, we’ve been able to buy wool from Navajo shepherds, have it processed in to finished yarn and roving for handspinning. We’ve just entered our 3 year of operations and are gearing up for our annual shearing trip. 

My name is Kelli Dunaj and I am a Navajo-Churro shepherd based in Marshall, California. In 2013 I started Spring Coyote Ranch and studied every sheep breed known to man before deciding to raise Navajo-Churro sheep for their beauty, adaptability, and dual purpose for wool and meat. What I came to realize over the years is what a profoundly special breed of sheep they were, due to their cultural significance and what they mean to the Diné people. I was blessed to become close friends with Nikyle Begay early in my career with the sheep. Together we have shared some of the most incredible experiences of my life. And somehow they have always revolved around the sheep! From this friendship blossomed Rainbow Fiber Co-Op in 2020, paying fair prices to Diné shepherds for their Navajo-Churro wool and processing it into roving and yarn that we sell on our website. Currently I am the Co-Op’s bookkeeper and help coordinate logistics.

Addtionally, Crystal has been inducted into the Native American Almanac for her work; appeared on Food Network’s TV show Chopped; and a James Beard Award finalist for Emerging Chefs (2022). Crystal also opened the first Native woman owned restaurant in Northern California, and now Wahpepah’s Kitchen has received ‘best new restaurant of the Bay Area’ (2022). Crystal also cooked for the White House Hunger Conference with the James Beard Foundation as well as the Academy of Motion Picture of Arts and Sciences Watch the horizon closely for what’s next for Chef Crystal Wahpepah of Wahpepah’s Kitchen

Sherri Mitchell -Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset, is an Indigenous attorney, activist, and author from the Penobscot Nation. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Roger’s College of Law, specializing in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy. She is an alumna of the American Indian Ambassador Program and the Udall Native American Congressional Internship Program. Sherri is the author of the award-winning book, Sacred Instructions; Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change. She is also a contributor to eleven anthologies, including the best seller, All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, and Resetting Our Future: Empowering Climate Action in the United States.

Sherri is the founding Director of the Land Peace Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of Indigenous rights and the protection of the Indigenous way of life. She serves as a Trustee for the American Indian Institute, as an Advisory Council member for Nia Tero’s Indigenous Land Guardianship Program, and as a board member for the Post Carbon Institute. Sherri was a member of the development team for the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Action for Climate Empowerment, providing Education, Engagement, Training, and Workforce Development for climate action in the United States. Sherri is also the convener of the global healing ceremony, Healing the Wounds of Turtle Island, a gathering that has brought more than fifty-thousand people together from six continents to focus on healing our relationships with one another and with the natural world. She speaks and teaches around the world on issues of Indigenous rights, climate change, and transformational socio-spiritual change.

Monaeka Flores (Familian Kabesa, she/they) also known as “Naek” is a queer CHamoru artist and organizer from Guåhan.  Naek is a core member of dynamic community organizations that focus on CHamoru self-determination, environmental justice, and the protection of sacred sites: Prutehi Litekyan – Save Ritidian and Independent Guåhan.

Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian (PLSR) is a direct action group dedicated to the protection of natural and cultural resources in all sites identified for DOD live-fire training on Guam. PLSR opposes the establishment of any military firing range, in solidarity with community groups throughout the Marianas Islands and Pacific Region to prevent environmental degradation and destruction on sacred and native lands and promote the continued pursuit for return of ancestral lands.

Donate Link: PayPal by searching our email: litekyan.opa@gmail.com or by using this link.

Socials: IG | Linktree | Stop Ammunitions Testing, Change.org | PLSR, Change.org

Karen Rodriguez is a Guatemalan woman raised in Venice Beach. She is a food lover who got her food education in kitchens of great restaurants in Southern California and a few in NYC. In these roles, she opened teams, served, managed and occasionally cooked. Her love of the culinary arts led her on the journey to learn an incredible amount from chefs, farmers and all of the people connected to our food.

She loves to connect with nature through healing, herbs, and gardens and is always excited to share a meal and feed loved ones. Following the thread of where our food comes from has made her passionate about teaching both children and the adults who teach children about tending to our soil and our earth because that is where all food begins. She is excited about regeneration and supporting healthy humanity, through food education, regenerating soils, restoring systems and kissing the ground.

Beata Tsosie-Peña, is from Santa Clara Pueblo and El Rito, NM. She is a mother, poet, advocate, seed keeper, and is certified in Infant Massage, as a Developmental Specialist, an Educator, A Lactation Counselor, a full-spectrum Birthworker, and in Indigenous Sustainable Design (permaculture). She led the creation of the Española Healing Foods Oasis demonstration garden and Seed Library with the local nonprofit, Tewa Women United. She is currently on the steering committee for the Traditional Native American Farmers Association and is a board member for Flowering Tree Permaculture Institute. She is a Pueblo representative for the New Mexico Governor’s task force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives serving a second term. She has been working to address impacts and advocate for environmental and reproductive health and justice for over a decade. She is the Organizational Director for Breath of My Heart Birthplace in traditional Kha’p’o Owingeh territory in Española NM.

I am Navajo and my clan is Tl’aashchi’I, Red Bottom clan, born for Tachii’nii, Red Running into the Water clan. Hashk’aa hadzohi, Yucca fruit-strung-out-in-a line clan, and Naasht’ezhi dine’e, Zuni clan. Growing up on and off the Navajo reservation near Farmington, New Mexico our traditional healing practices have always been apart of my life.  I attribute my accomplishments to the many prayers and ceremonies done on my behalf as I was growing into the woman I am today. 

I received my Bachelors degree in Nursing and a Masters degree in Nurse Midwifery from the University of New Mexico. I have had the pleasure of being involved in several community projects since the completion of my education as well as being invited to serve on several health panels emphasizing cultural diversity in midwifery.  In addition to my community service I have served as a mentor for emerging Native American midwifery students at the University of New Mexico and continue to support future midwives.

Singer, Song Writer, Emcee (rapper), Poet, and Published Author Jessa Calderon is of the Chumash and Tongva Nations of Southern California. Jessa also identifies with her Yoeme and Mexican roots. Jessa is a natural born singer who truly found her voice in hip-hop. As an emcee, poet and published author, Jessa is able to share her culture and truth in a way that keeps the crowds intrigued. Not only does Jessa bring pictures to life through the minds’ eye with her writing, she also brings her listeners enlightenment and healing. Since 2019 Jessa has joined the Dream Warriors collective with Tanaya Winder, Frank Waln, Lyla June, Tall Paul, Mic Jordan and Gunner Jules. Together they share, music, culture, stories, poems, seminars, workshops, webinars which equates to healing as a community.

Aside from writing and music, Jessa is also very passionate in Massage Therapy, Energy work, Past Life Regressions, Hypnotherapy and Intuitive practices.

Hopi dryland famer, traditional weaver, and culture bearer of his people.

Corrina Gould (Lisjan Ohlone) is the chair and spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan​— she was born and raised in Oakland, CA, the village of Huichin. As a tribal leader, she has continued to fight for the protection of the Shellmounds, uphold her nation’s inherent right to sovereignty, and stand in solidarity with her Indigenous relatives to protect our sacred waters, mountains, and lands all over the world.

Her life’s work has led to the creation of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, a women-led organization within the urban setting of her ancestral territory of the Bay Area. Sogorea Te’ Land Trust works to return Indigenous land to Indigenous people. Based on an understanding that Oakland is home to many peoples that have been oppressed and marginalized, Sogorea Te works to create a thriving community that lives in relation to the land.

Trisha Moquino is a member of the Cochiti, Kewa, and Ohkay Ohwingeh Pueblo Nations. She is a wife, mama, auntie, niece, daughter, community member and holds a BA from Stanford University in American Studies and an MA from the University of New Mexico in Bilingual and Elementary Education. She is the Co-Founder/Education Director and Elementary Keres Speaking Guide at Keres Children’s Learning Center (KCLC), an Indigenous Language Immersion Montessori school, located in Cochiti Pueblo, NM. One of the blessings she is grateful for is being able to work with children from her tribe in their Indigenous language of Keres every day. Her Montessori Teaching credentials include: AMS (Elementary I) and UMA & AMI (Early Childhood). For the last 3.5 years, she has been working with her KCLC colleagues and partners to develop the Indigenous Montessori Institute- an anti-racist teacher training program (a program of KCLC).

Marcus Briggs-Cloud (Maskoke) is a language revitalizer, scholar, and musician. He is co-director of Ekvn-Yefolecv, an Indigenous ecovillage community comprised of Maskoke persons who have returned to their ancestral homelands for linguistic, cultural, and ecological sustainability. Marcus is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and a doctoral candidate in ecology at the University of Florida. He is partnered to Tawna Little (Maskoke) and they have two children, Nokos-Afvnoke and Hemokke, with whom Marcus enjoys speaking exclusively in the Maskoke language.

h@lA (Halay) Turning Heart is Project Administrator for the Yuchi Language Project. h@lA holds a Linguistics degree from Dartmouth College and attended the University of Auckland-New Zealand and Charles University in Prague. She has served her Yuchi people for over ten years as a language educator and established shtahaê Ô’wAdAnA Yuchi immersion school in 2018.  She has been learning to speak Yuchi from her elders since childhood and is now raising her three young children solely in the Yuchi language. She mentors other parents in decolonizing their home language and reclaiming Indigenous lifeways. h@lA is the 2021 NDN Changemaker Fellow representing the Great Plains region, USA. She is an enrolled member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and a member of yUsûnûnû Yuchi Ceremonial Ground. can we raise our children to be fluent speakers of our endangered languages? In this episode, we interview three people who have accomplished this task! Trisha Moquino, H@la Turning Heart, and Marcus Briggs-Cloud  present on how language fluency has been passed onto children through communal immersion rooted in Indigenous cosmologies