All My Relations Podcast

As SNAP benefits face new political threats, millions of families are being pushed deeper into food insecurity—including many of our Native relatives whose communities already navigate the long-term impacts of colonization on food systems.In this special All My Relations + Old Growth Table podcast collaboration, Matika Wilbur and Temryss Lane sit down with Valerie Segrest (Muckleshoot), a leading Indigenous food systems expert and advocate, to unpack what these proposed cuts mean for Native nations and why food sovereignty is central to our collective survival.Together, they explore how federal policy shapes daily access to food, the ongoing fight to restore Indigenous foodways, and what it means to nourish our people when systems fail us.This episode also features on-the-ground field reports from Gray Fox Farm, Suquamish Seafoods, the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), and professional forager Chai Tobar-Dupres (Cowlitz), offering a rich, real-time look at the work happening across our communities to reclaim sustenance, land, and autonomy.This is a conversation about power, policy, kinship, and the future of how we feed one another.Resources/places to donate:www.unkitawa.orgwww.chiefseattleclub.orgwww.feed7generations.orgBusinesses featured in the episode:suquamishseafoods.comwww.grayfoxfarmwa.comnayapdx.orgcowlitzforager++++Credits:Film Production by Francisco “Pancho” SánchezPA Mandy YeahpauEdited by Francisco “Pancho” SánchezProduced by Matika WilburCo/hosted by Temryss LaneSocial Media by Katharina Mei-Fa BrinschwitzText us your thoughts!Support the showFollow us on Instagram @amrpodcast, or support our work on Patreon. Show notes are published on our website, Allmyrelationspodcast.com. Matika's book Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America is available now! T'igwicid and Hyshqe for being on this journey with us.

In this nourishing conversation, Matika and Temryss sit down with Pyet DeSpain (Prairie Band Potawatomi and Mexican), chef, entrepreneur, storyteller, and the first-ever winner of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef. Fresh from finishing her debut cookbook, Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking, Pyet shares the streams that brought her to this monumental point in her career and together we explore the meaning of being rooted in fire: cooking with passion, with purpose, with seasonality, and with reverence for the land that feeds us. Pyet reminds us that food is never just food — it is ceremony, resistance, community care, and lineage. It is how we remember who we are. With tenderness, she shares the deep spiritual work of reclaiming identity; the moments of grief and illumination that came with saying no to extractive opportunities; and the healing that arrives when we follow the recipes our grandmothers left for us in stories, memories, and the land itself.TW: This episode includes discussion of suicide. Please take care while listening.Filled with laughter, truth, plant medicine teachings, and the joy of returning to one’s roots, this conversation is for anyone longing to reconnect — to culture, to the land, to purpose, or to the fire within. So pull up a chair, relatives. This episode is fragrant with memory, alive with story, and served with the kind of warmth that lingers long after the last bite.++++Credits:A/V Production by Francisco “Pancho” SánchezEdited by Mandy Yeahpau and Francisco “Pancho” SánchezProduced by Matika WilburCo/hosted by Temryss LaneSocial Media by Katharina Mei-Fa BrinschwitzText us your thoughts!Support the showFollow us on Instagram @amrpodcast, or support our work on Patreon. Show notes are published on our website, Allmyrelationspodcast.com. Matika's book Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America is available now! T'igwicid and Hyshqe for being on this journey with us.

This week, we’re getting a little wild — in the best, most relational way. Temryss and Matika sit down with scholar and environmental educator Hailey Maria Salazar, (Yoeme) for a playful, grounded, and deeply expanding conversation on eco-erotics: the sensual, intimate, curious ways we relate to land, water, plants, animals, wind, and all our more-than-human relatives.Building from last week’s convo with Dr. Melissa Nelson, we explore how Indigenous stories, teachings, and everyday practices hold erotic knowledge — not in the Western shame-laden sense, but as connection, aliveness, risk, pleasure, and belonging. From berry-picking teachings, sensual winds, and yes… the infamous earthworm story… we open up what it means to feel deeply with the world around us.This episode is fun, lighthearted, and full of laughter — but also a reminder that joy, intimacy, and pleasure are vital forms of resistance, especially in heavy political times. So take this moment with us to breathe, giggle, blush a little, and remember what it feels like to be connected.Settle in, relatives. The world of eco-erotics awaits.Text us your thoughts!Support the showFollow us on Instagram @amrpodcast, or support our work on Patreon. Show notes are published on our website, Allmyrelationspodcast.com. Matika's book Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America is available now! T'igwicid and Hyshqe for being on this journey with us.

Melissa K. Nelson is an Anishinaabe, Cree, Métis, and Norwegian ecologist and professor focused on Indigenous sustainability. In this engaging discussion, she unpacks the concept of eco-eroticism, asserting our connection with the more-than-human world. Melissa shares stories that celebrate intimacy with nature, highlighting how plants and animals hold critical knowledge. She critiques colonial tourism, championing Indigenous stewardship and ancestral intelligence as pathways to healing. With humor and insight, she encourages a playful re-engagement with the land.

We’re closing out this season of All My Relations with something new and something we’re deeply proud of: the launch of our Author Talk series — the first step in the All My Relations + NDN Girls Book Club.In this debut Author Talk, Matika and Temryss sit down with poet and memoirist Sasha LaPointe (Upper Skagit, Nooksack), whose work explores trauma, healing, punk rock, and the power of ancestral memory. Together, they dive into Sasha’s acclaimed books Red Paint and Thunder Song, weaving in stories of lineage, belonging, and the courage it takes to write the things we’re told not to say.This tender conversation is an intimate exploration of Sasha’s life as an author, where we deep dive into storytelling as a form of Indigenous resistance and remembrance, and the challenges of writing through trauma with clarity and care. Sasha reflects on what it means to be a prolific Indigenous woman author and, reveals the hidden histories beneath the tulip fields of the Skagit Valley, and shares how the stories of her ancestors—and sea maidens—still live in her writing and spirit.This episode is not only the season finale—this episode is big medicine, and it’s also an invitation. We hope you’ll read along with us, join our hybrid book discussions, and help us build a community that supports Indigenous authors. Sign up for the All My Relations Book Club at allmyrelationspodcast.com/book-club to get invites, books,  background materials, and access to our live events.Resources: – Support Sasha’s books: Red Paint, Rose Quartz, and Thunder Song– Join the Book Club: allmyrelationspodcast.com/book-club – Support us on Patreon to watch the full video version of this Author Talk– Learn more about NDN Girls Book Club and the good work they’re doing to support Native authors and youthLove this episode? Text the link to a friend or tell your auntie.Text us your thoughts!Support the showFollow us on Instagram @amrpodcast, or support our work on Patreon. Show notes are published on our website, Allmyrelationspodcast.com. Matika's book Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America is available now! T'igwicid and Hyshqe for being on this journey with us.

What does it mean to say that rape is not a crime of passion, but a tool of conquest? In this searing episode, Matika sits down with Chief Justice Sarah Deer—legal scholar, citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and longtime advocate for Native women—to break down the root causes of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) crisis. Together, they trace the systemic failures—from jurisdictional loopholes and underfunded Tribal justice systems to harmful stereotypes and state indifference—that enable violence against Native people to persist across generations.Sarah shares insights from decades of research, courtroom advocacy, and lived experience. She explains why the word “rape” still matters, how U.S. law continues to reflect colonial patriarchy, and what tribal sovereignty has to do with personal safety. With clarity and care, she connects the dots between land theft, gender-based violence, and narrative erasure—and offers a vision for Indigenous feminist legal theory that centers survivor agency and collective healing.This is a vital episode for anyone who wants to understand the roots of violence and the pathways to justice in Indian Country.Learn more about Sarah Deer’s work at sarahdeer.com.Educational Reading & Reports• Sarah Deer’s The Beginning and End of Rape is essential reading on how U.S. law enables violence against Native women—and how we can reclaim justice through sovereignty and Indigenous feminist legal theory. Purchase the book here.• Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans is a 2018 report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights detailing chronic underfunding of Native programs. Read it here.• Justice Denied: The Reality of the Tribal Law and Order Act by Amnesty International explores how systemic legal gaps harm Native women. View the report.Advocacy & Action•The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center offers toolkits, trainings, and support for survivors and advocates working to end violence against Native women.•The Sovereign Bodies Institute collects data and honors MMIW2S cases, centering Indigenous-led research and action.•MMIW USA provides direct services and support for families of the missing and murdered, offering healing and justice-centered care.•The Urban Indian Health Institute provides data, reports, and resources on urban Native health disparities, including MMIWP-specific studies.++++Text us your thoughts!Support the showFollow us on Instagram @amrpodcast, or support our work on Patreon. Show notes are published on our website, Allmyrelationspodcast.com. Matika's book Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America is available now! T'igwicid and Hyshqe for being on this journey with us.

We are so proud to introduce our newest collaboration: The Old Growth Table, a brand new podcast hosted by Valerie Segrest (Muckleshoot), launching from our home at Tidelands Studio in downtown Seattle. It’s something we’ve been manifesting for years and it’s finally here! In this very special episode, we invite you into the first season of The Old Growth Table by airing its premiere episode right here on All My Relations.Valerie Segrest, Native nutritionist and food advocate, invites us in with teachings about springtime, a season of awakening, when the first wild foods emerge after months of winter stillness. She introduces us to two early spring greens—nettles and dandelions—and shows us how they offer more than nutrition. These are ancestral foods that carry teachings, stories, and ceremony.With humor, honesty, and deep care, we talk about what it means to rekindle relationships with these foods, especially when those relationships have been disrupted or shrouded in shame. Valerie reminds us that food is not just about nutrients— they offer us wisdom, remembering, and healing.Valerie also welcomes two powerful voices in Indigenous food sovereignty—Mariah Gladstone of Indigikitchen and Sean Sherman, author of The Sioux Chef—who join the conversation to reflect on what it means to say: Our food is our medicine.So come join us. Let’s listen, gather, and nourish. 🌿This is The Old Growth Table. And this is just the beginning.Please support the work of our amazing guests:Mariah Gladstone – Founder of Indigikitchen on at www.indigikitchen.com/  and on Instagram at @indigikitchenSean Sherman – Chef, author of The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, at https://seansherman.com/  and on Instagram at @siouxchefHelp us grow The Old Growth Table by subscribing, rating, and sharing:🔗 oldgrowthtable.com🎧 Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts📲 Follow us on Instagram: @oldgrowthtable💌 Share with your community — and let us know how you’re (re)connecting to ancestral foodsText us your thoughts!Support the showFollow us on Instagram @amrpodcast, or support our work on Patreon. Show notes are published on our website, Allmyrelationspodcast.com. Matika's book Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America is available now! T'igwicid and Hyshqe for being on this journey with us.

In early January 2025, catastrophic wildfires swept through the ancestral homelands of the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples. National media coverage largely overlooked how our Indigenous relatives were responding, and coping amid the uncontrollable flames, and how they were recovering after.To document these stories from an Indigenous perspective, we sent our teammate Francisco “Panchó” Sánchez, a Xicano filmmaker and journalist, to Tovangar.  In this episode, he sits down with community members, activists, and organizers so we can hear their experiences and understand this climate crisis from an Indigenous perspective. We are honored to be in conversation with:– Jessa Calderon (Chumash and Tongva), poet, musician, author of Sisterhood, and Director of The Land, Water and Climate Justice for Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples– Jolie Varela (Tule River Yokuts and Nüümü), founder of Indigenous Women Hike.– Vinecea Edwards Esq (Mvskoke), Senior Director of Operations and Strategy at Urban American Indian Involvement (UAII).– Amy Stretten (Chickahominy), Director of Marketing and Communications at UAII.– Alexia Palomino Cortez, PhD candidate and Altadena fire survivor.– Katherine Guerrero-Yañez, adopted Tongva tribal member and Altadena high school teacher.If settler-colonialism’s land mismanagement is the root of our current climate catastrophe, then the path forward is rooted in Indigenous land stewardship, for we know fire as a relative, water as life, and earth as home. The stories shared in this episode remind us that the work ahead requires us all — not just to respond to crisis, but to return to relationship. To steward, to protect, to show up for each other like family. Because relatives keep us safe.Learn more and support the work of our guests: – Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples: sacredplacesinstitute.org – Indigenous Women Hike: indigenouswomenhike.com – Urban American Indian Involvement (UAII): uaii.orgCreditsReporting, field production and film work by Francisco “Pancho” Sánchez (@videosdelsancho)Editing by Teo ShantzProduced by Matika WilburCo/hosted by Temryss LaneSocial Media by Katharina Mei-Fa BrinschwitzText us your thoughts!Support the showFollow us on Instagram @amrpodcast, or support our work on Patreon. Show notes are published on our website, Allmyrelationspodcast.com. Matika's book Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America is available now! T'igwicid and Hyshqe for being on this journey with us.

Gina Amato Lough, Directing Attorney of Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, shares her extensive experience advocating for immigrant rights. She unpacks the severe impacts of ICE in Indian Country, revealing how anti-immigrant policies exacerbate crises for both immigrant and Native communities. The discussion touches on the historical roots of these issues, the challenges faced by asylum seekers, and the importance of solidarity among marginalized groups. Gina emphasizes the need for community protection and the power of advocacy in confronting these injustices.

Happy Love Day, Relatives! While Valentine’s Day may be wrapped in candy hearts and Hallmark sentiments, its origins are far from sweet. As NPR’s Arnie Seipel reminds us, its history is "dark, bloody, and a bit muddled." In ancient Rome, Lupercalia—a violent fertility festival—was held from February 13th to 15th, perhaps explaining why red became the color of love.But today, we shift the focus away from romantic love and toward something deeper: self-love, communal love, and intergenerational healing.In this episode, we are joined by the incredible Vina Brown, the creative force behind Copper Canoe Woman. Vina, from the Heiltsuk and Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations, is not only an acclaimed jewelry artist but also a scholar, currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she studies Indigenous food sovereignty and wellness. She is also the co-founder of Rooted Resiliency, a nonprofit dedicated to reclaiming Indigenous wellness practices.Together, we dive into the messy, powerful, and transformative aspects of love. "Real love is messy," Vina reminds us. "It’s not pretty, it’s not perfect, but that’s what makes it so beautiful." We explore self-care beyond consumerism, moving away from the capitalist version of “self-care”—think retail therapy and spa days—toward a decolonized perspective. Audre Lorde’s words guide us: "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."Vina shares the story of her grandmother Elsie, a residential school survivor who embarked on her healing journey later in life, breaking generational cycles by learning to love openly. We discuss the power of community healing, the necessity of platonic love, and the strength in vulnerability. "We don’t heal in silos," Vina says. "We heal in community."As part of this journey, we’re also hosting Reclaiming Wellness, a community event featuring Indigenous women leaders focusing on movement, meditation, and reconnecting with ancestral knowledge.Join us as we recommit to self-love, embrace relationality over individualism, and recognize that healing is a lifelong journey. As Vina reminds us, "Our ancestors knew we were interconnected. The land, the wind, the water—they all hold us."Let’s reclaim love—love for ourselves, our communities, and our lands. Share this conversation, connect with us, and be part of this movement. ❤️Text us your thoughts!Support the showFollow us on Instagram @amrpodcast, or support our work on Patreon. Show notes are published on our website, Allmyrelationspodcast.com. Matika's book Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America is available now! T'igwicid and Hyshqe for being on this journey with us.