In this deep and wide-ranging interview, I sit down with world-renowned Indigenous scholar and author Four Arrows (Wahinkpe Topa) to explore the core principles of Indigenous worldview, the sacred role of ceremony, the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and the dangers of colonial ideologies like blood quantum and utilitarianism.

We open the conversation by discussing place-based wisdom—why it’s critical to protect Indigenous knowledge rooted in language, ceremony, and land stewardship—and the distinction between Indigenous worldview and tribal-specific place-based knowledge.

Four Arrows shares profound insights from decades of work with Native and Indigenous communities around the world, including the Kogi of Colombia, Lakota ceremonies, and the powerful role of humor and non-binary thinking in traditional cultures. He challenges common assumptions around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from an Indigenous lens and discusses his critiques of top-down leadership models, drawing from his book The Authentic Dissertation and his work on ProvenSustainable.org.

We also dive into controversial topics such as:

Should ceremony be shared with outsiders? How can settlers reconnect to their own lost Indigenous roots?

The colonizing impact of blood quantum and federal recognition

The dangers of misusing spiritual practices without proper guidance

As a Yurok tribal member working in river restoration, I also share how Indigenous worldview shapes ecological restoration in my community—particularly around the historic Klamath River dam removal and revival of salmon runs.

Whether you're a student, educator, reconnecting Native, or settler ally seeking to learn and grow—this is an essential conversation that centers truth, humility, and healing through story, relationship, and respect.

📚 Recommended For: Students | Indigenous leaders | Environmental activists | Educators | Allies | Cultural workers | TEK practitioners | Ceremony stewards

Join us for an in-depth 45-minute interview with Amy Cordalis, a Yurok leader recently recognized in Time's Top 100 Climate List and as a United Nations Champion of the Earth. Amy shares the incredible history of her family, from her great-grandmother's pivotal role in the Salmon Wars to her great-grandfather's Supreme Court case that secured fishing rights for Yurok citizens.

We explore the journey that led her to co-find the nonprofit Ridges to Riffles (R2R), which played a crucial role in the historic removal of the Klamath River dams. Amy talks about the challenges and triumphs she faced along the way, the groundbreaking projects R2R is undertaking to integrate traditional ecological knowledge in river restoration, and her thoughts on recent policies threatening nonprofit organizations.

This conversation is a powerful testament to Amy's dedication to Indigenous sovereignty, environmental justice, and the fight for a sustainable future.

🌟 Topics Discussed: Yurok family history and the Salmon Wars Ridges to Riffles and Klamath Dam removal Integrating traditional ecological knowledge Challenges facing Indigenous nonprofits

📖 Read the article mentioned: Congress Must Oppose Legislation Threatening Nonprofits

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In this 52-minute interview, I sit down with Mel Brooks, an elder in the Talowa Dee-ni' Nation, born in Requa at the mouth of the Klamath River. Mel shares his personal experiences growing up in Indian boarding schools, institutions where the U.S. government forced assimilation on Native children, stripping away their cultural heritage. This painful chapter in history contributed to the loss of traditional knowledge and culture among many Indigenous people.

We discuss what life was like for the Klamath River natives before colonization, and how the Gold Rush settlers, farmers, and loggers violently seized their lands, murdering native men by the hundreds. Mel, from a prominent family of headmen in Requa, shares insight into what it means to be a headman and the responsibilities that come with it. We end the conversation with some timeless elder wisdom that Mel graciously imparts.

Key Topics:

Mel Brooks' experience in Indian boarding schools

Forced assimilation and cultural loss Life for Klamath River natives before and after colonization

Gold Rush settlers and the violent seizure of native lands

The role of a headman in the Talowa Dee-ni' Nation

Elder wisdom shared by Mel Brooks