Ampers

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Channel • 17 Shows

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

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History

History

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History

History

Daily Series

4D AGO

Allison Waukau: Empowering Native Stories Through Community Service and Podcasting

In this episode, we speak with Allison Waukau (Menominee/Navajo), who serves as the Tribal Liaison and Native Relations Coordinator at the Metropolitan Council. She previously worked at the Hennepin County Library and the Roseville School District as American Indian Community Liaison. Last year, she started a new podcast with Odia Wood-Krueger. Through “Books Are Good Medicine,” the co-hosts explore Native literature with the aim of increasing the knowledge of educators and libraries about Native American books and materials. Allison Waukau lives in Minneapolis with her family, including a young son, and had a dream come true recently when she was selected to participate in Cohort 14 of the Native Governance Center’s Rebuilder Program. Allison’s podcast with Odia Wood-Krueger can be found at Books Are Good Medicine.

4d ago

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28 min
APR 3

Dr. Amber Annis: Rebuilding Community with the Native Governance Center

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Amber Annis about the joys and challenges of rebuilding community and finding your voice as a leader. Dr. Amber Annis is a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Executive Director of Native Governance Center. Prior to taking on her role at NGC in December 2024, she worked at the Minnesota Historical Society as Associate Vice President of Tribal Nation Relations and Native American Initiatives. She was also a member of NGC's Native Nations Rebuilder Program for Cohort 11. In her position at NGC, she supports efforts to rebuild Indigenous communities and empower leaders to find their strengths and their unique voices. A mother of two, she lives in St. Paul with her husband, a citizen of Turtle Mountain, and their dogs.

Apr 3

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28 min
5D AGO

New Native Theatre's 15th Year & REAL ID

This week, how REAL ID requirements impact Indigenous people, especially Two-Spirit individuals. Also, New Native Theatre's latest play runs April 16-May 4.

5d ago

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5 min
MAR 27

Deven Current: Healing Through the Art of Tattooing

In this episode, we hear from Deven Current about tattooing, sports and the importance of sobriety, family and faith. Deven is an Ojibwe tattoo artist, who connected with his culture later in life. Deven grew up in the Twin Cities and, at a young age, fell into drug addiction. He ended up incarcerated, but his time in prison introduced him to an unrealized talent - tattoo art. He turned that talent into a career and recently into his business, LuckyDuck Ink and Art in Atwater. Through his business and tattoo career, Deven honors a friend who passed away. Deven also spent time as a competitive mixed martial artist. In 2025, Deven and his wife Sabrina are celebrating six years of sobriety and enjoying family time with their 11 children. Producers/Hosts: Leah Lemm & Cole PremoEditors: Britt Aamodt and Chris Harwood

Mar 27

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28 min
APR 10

Ziigwan Biidaajimowin (Spring News): NACC Issues Call for Artists and Little Earth Kicks Off American Indian Month with a Parade

This week, Minneapolis's Native American Community Clinic (NACC) seeks artists to commission pieces for their new building. Plus, nearby, the Little Earth of United Tribes housing community will kick off May's American Indian Month with a celebration organized in part by the Minneapolis Public Schools American Indian Youth Council, Ogichida Oyate.

Apr 10

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5 min
MAR 13

Allison Herrera, Indigenous Affairs Journalist and author of Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land

In this episode, we talk with Indigenous Affairs journalist and author Allison Herrera. Allison’s indigenous ties are from her Xolon Salinan tribal heritage. Her family's village is in the Toro Creek area of the Central California coast. She didn’t take the traditional route into journalism with a degree. She just decided she wanted to do it and did it. Starting out at Minneapolis community station KFAI, she brought her talents and desire to report on indigenous stories to various media outlets. With Association for Independents in Radio (AIR), she had the opportunity to collaborate with an Oklahoma radio station that wanted to cover indigenous stories but didn’t have the resources for a producer. Immediately, she fell in love with the area and now splits her time between Minneapolis and Oklahoma. She is a journalist with APM Reports and is the author of Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, produced as an audiobook in 2024. Producer Hosts: Leah Lemm & Cole PremoEditors: Britt Aamodt and Chris Harwood

Mar 13

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28 min
MAR 20

Korina Barry: Leading from abundance with NDN Collective

In this episode we hear from Korina Barry on her work with NDN Collective and the campaign to free Leonard Peltier, in addition to reflections on her roles as mother, doula, and metal fabricator in training. A citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Korina Barry manages the organizing, policy and advocacy direct-action arm of NDN Collective, which, in January 2025, led the successful campaign to free Leonard Peltier from prison. She divides her creative energies between metal fabrication and sewing. It is her role as mother to a young daughter that trains her energies on creating a better world for the next generation to inherit. She also discusses how her childbirth experience led her to seek out training as a doula to help Indigenous mothers impacted by the medical system. Producers/Hosts: Leah Lemm & Cole PremoEditors: Britt Aamodt and Chris Harwood

Mar 20

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28 min
APR 3

Indian Child Welfare Law Challenged at MN Supreme Court and Native Nations Impacted by Proposed SAVE Act

This week, the Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could reshape child custody laws for Native American children. At the heart of the case is a challenge to the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, or MIFPA. Plus, a proposed bill in Congress is raising concerns about voting among Native communities across the country. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require all Americans to prove their citizenship in person with official documents when registering to vote .

Apr 3

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5 min
12/19/2024

The Gift of Listening: Colleen Baldrica on writing, being guided, and mentoring others

In this episode, we chat with author and retired school counselor Colleen Baldrica. Colleen, a White Earth Nation citizen, authored the book Tree Spirited Woman in 2006. During the pandemic, she recorded the audio version, so that her grandchildren could have an archive of her voice when they’re older. Colleen shares the experience - central to her story - of being directed towards a life of writing as a young single mother. She describes how this spiritual experience shaped her personal framework and inspired her book. She also talks about her current joy of mentoring new authors, teaching writers to develop the courage to promote their work, and participating in a women’s writing group. Tune in for an engaging conversation about the gift – and lesson – of listening with another talented Indigenous writer!

12/19/2024

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34 min
04/18/2024

Celebration of Life: A Recap of the Event Celebrating Donald Eubanks

Counter Stories cofounder and cohost Donald Eubanks unexpectedly passed away in March. He was laid to rest next to his mother in the traditional Ojibwe way on the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians reservation. On April 13, 2024, the Counter Stories crew was honored to cohost a Celebration of Life event in the Twin Cities. Today, we bring you some of the stories shared at the event.

04/18/2024

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29 min

Ampers is a group of 18 different community radio stations throughout Minnesota. Each station is programmed by and for their specific community. The programming serves and teaches others about underserved populations including communities of color, new immigrants, Native American and rural areas not served by traditional media.