Pow Wow Life | Interviews with Native American Artists, Creators, and Leaders

PowWows.com — Native American Culture Since 1996
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Who are the Native artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders shaping Indian Country right now? Pow Wow Life brings you their stories, one conversation at a time. Every episode is an interview — with designers, musicians, business founders, filmmakers, authors, tribal leaders, and the people doing the work that doesn't always make the news. Your host, Paul Gowder, founded PowWows.com in 1996 and has spent nearly thirty years covering powwow culture and Native America. He's talked with the cast and creators of North of North, the founders behind Eighth Generation and Born of Legends, and tribal liaisons working on MMIP and sovereignty. Now the show is dedicated entirely to those conversations.

  1. 2d ago

    Kiniw's Dance — A Mother, a Son, and the Pow Wow

    When Sunshine Quem Tenasco posted a video of her son Kiniw dancing Woodland at the Saugeen First Nation powwow, she wasn't expecting the response. People came out of the crowd to honor him. The drum stood up to shake his hand. Within days, the video had traveled across Turtle Island. Kiniw joins us on this episode to tell it himself, with his mom alongside him helping carry his words across. He talks about his regalia, the protocols his uncle Tendasi taught him, what it feels like when the drum starts, and what happened at Saugeen when the money went on the drum. Sunshine is Anishinabe from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg in Quebec, a clean water advocate, and the founder of Her Braids and Pow Wow Pitch. She's also the author of Nibi's Water Song and Smile So Big.

  2. Aug 25

    Traci Sorell: From Federal Law to Award-Winning Children's Books

    Traci Sorell is a Cherokee Nation citizen and one of the most decorated authors working in Native children's literature today. Her books have earned two Sibert Medal honors, two Orbis Pictus honors, eight awards from the American Indian Library Association, the Carter G. Woodson Book Award, and a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor, among many others. In this episode, Traci joins Paul to talk about her path from federal Indigenous law attorney and nonprofit executive director to full-time author. She also shares the story behind her two new nonfiction books: Riding the Trail: Cherokees Remember the Removal, coauthored with Will Chavez, and Indigenous from A to Z, illustrated by Natasha Donovan.

  3. Jun 9

    Glendon N. Smith: Bringing Tribal Perspective to Public Safety

    This week my guest is Glendon N. Smith, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and the Tribal Liaison for the Oregon State Police. Glendon’s work focuses on building stronger communication and understanding between the State of Oregon, Oregon’s Tribes, and law enforcement. His role includes supporting government-to-government relationships, providing Tribal perspective, working on issues connected to treaty rights and tribal sovereignty, and helping improve communication around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons. He was recently selected for the Public Service Ambassador Award by Governor Tina Kotek, with this year’s theme of “Leading with Purpose.” Glendon is also the first citizen of Warm Springs to receive this award. In this conversation, we talk about what it means to serve as a Tribal Liaison, why relationship-building matters, and how Tribal perspective can help shape better conversations around public safety, sovereignty, and community trust.

  4. Jun 2

    From Creek Nation to Clean Energy: A Conversation with Dave Smoot

    Dave Smoot's story doesn't fit neatly into any one box — and that's exactly what makes it so compelling. He's a Tribal Member of the Creek Nation in Oklahoma. A U.S. Army veteran. A tech industry pioneer who helped shape the early days of the software and microcomputer revolution. And today, the founder of companies working to produce sustainable aviation fuel at commercial scale in the United States — with tribal partnership woven into the foundation of that work. Smoot's business career spans nearly 45 years, beginning after his honorable discharge from the Army Reserves in 1975. He spent two decades in the microcomputer industry, eventually rising to Director of Operations at Digital Research in Pacific Grove, California — a role that put him at the table alongside IBM, Microsoft, Apple, and Intel during one of the most transformative periods in tech history.

  5. Apr 15

    Your Guide to the 2026 Gathering of Nations

    The 2026 Gathering of Nations is almost here, and in this episode of PowWowLife, I’m walking you through everything you need to know. Whether you’re heading to Albuquerque in person or planning to watch from home, this episode is your guide to the 2026 Gathering of Nations. I’m talking about what to expect at the event, what you do not want to miss, tips for navigating the crowds, grand entries, Stage 49, vendors, and how the livestream will work this year on YouTube. I’m also sharing a few personal stories about my connection to Gathering of Nations and why this year feels especially important. In this episode: What to expect if you’re attending in personGrand entry and key moments you do not want to missStage 49, vendors, food, and crowd tipsHow to watch the livestream on YouTubeMembership pricing and livestream detailsWhat free content will be available after the powwowWhy Gathering of Nations means so much to me Helpful links: Gathering of Nations info: https://www.powwows.com/gathering-nations-pow-wow-north-americas-largest-pow-wow/ Get updates: https://pgowder-powwows-com.kit.com/2026gon Join to watch the live stream: https://www.youtube.com/@Powwows/join Live stream page: https://www.powwows.com/webcast/2026-gathering-of-nations-pow-wow/ Get the 2026 Gathering of Nations digital magazine: https://powwows.thrivecart.com/2026-gathering-pow-wow-magazine/ If you’re going to Gathering this year, or watching from home, let me know in the comments.

  6. Mar 18

    How Shannon Romero Built Born of Legends by Blending Culture, Humor, and Business

    What happens when you combine design talent, Indigenous identity, humor, and a sharp eye for what’s missing in the market? You get Born of Legends. This week on Pow Wow Life, Shannon Romero shares how she built her brand, why contemporary Native representation matters, and how she created designs that reflect shared Indigenous experiences. We also get into the business side, including how Etsy helped her launch and grow her work into something bigger. Follow Born of Legends www.bornoflegends.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bornoflegends/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bornoflegends/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bornoflegends

  7. Mar 10

    Be Brave Enough to Create: Michelle Brown of Eighth Generation on Art, Fashion, and Following Your Path

    What does it take to build a creative life that actually means something? In this episode of the Pow Wow Live Podcast, I sit down with Michelle Brown, Creative Director of Eighth Generation, for a conversation about art, fashion, purpose, and the courage it takes to choose your own path. Michelle shares her journey into fashion and product design, including what it was like pursuing a creative career even when the people closest to her did not fully support that decision at first. She talks honestly about taking that leap, trusting her passion, and why being brave enough to follow your calling matters. We also dive into the heart of what makes Eighth Generation so special, from their beautiful artist-designed products to the way they partner with Native artists to create more sustainable revenue and long-term opportunity. This is a conversation about creativity, culture, entrepreneurship, and building something bigger than yourself. If you have ever wondered whether you should take a chance on your dream, this episode is for you.

  8. Feb 24

    South Carolina Working To Combat Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

    This episode features a powerful conversation with the organizers of the Weaving Unity Southeastern MMIW Informational Pow Wow in Lexington, South Carolina. We talk about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis and why this issue matters deeply here in South Carolina and across the Southeast. The organizers share why they created this event, what they hope the community takes away, and how powwows and gatherings like this can help bring awareness, education, healing, and unity. This is an important conversation about protecting Native women, honoring families and loved ones, and making sure these stories are seen and heard. Weaving Unity Pow Wow Information https://calendar.powwows.com/events/weaving-unity-southeastern-mmiw-informational-pow-wow/

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Who are the Native artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders shaping Indian Country right now? Pow Wow Life brings you their stories, one conversation at a time. Every episode is an interview — with designers, musicians, business founders, filmmakers, authors, tribal leaders, and the people doing the work that doesn't always make the news. Your host, Paul Gowder, founded PowWows.com in 1996 and has spent nearly thirty years covering powwow culture and Native America. He's talked with the cast and creators of North of North, the founders behind Eighth Generation and Born of Legends, and tribal liaisons working on MMIP and sovereignty. Now the show is dedicated entirely to those conversations.

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