Ovid Vickers, the late English instructor from Decatur, Mississippi, wrote, “When a list of influential Choctaw people is compiled, Simpson Tubby…preacher, teacher, and storyteller, will without a question be among them.”

Steven Oklatubbee, the fifth great grandson of the great Choctaw Chief, Mushulatubbee, spoke to us in Season 2 about his ancestral stories. And now he’s here to share the fascinating story about another of his ancestors, Simpson Tubby, based on a paper he wrote titled, “Simpson Tubby: A Voice for God and His Choctaw People.”

We’ll also cover topics such as:

• Thoughts around being mixed blood Native
• The effects of Jim Crow laws and how those played into issuing blood quantum
• The treatment of Choctaws who stayed behind in Mississippi
• Some sad news about one of Steven’s goats (but also some good news ahead)

By the way, Steven also has his own podcast called Anumpa Nan Anoli – check it out on Spotify, y’all! https://open.spotify.com/show/2eWrrTS2KDhdDJbdSJW9aX

Yakoke, Steven for joining me and God bless!

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

On the beautiful island of Parksville, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada you’ll find yourself surrounded by breathtaking sandy beaches and the magnificent Insular Mountains.

You’ll also find a fierce bear hunter named Naukwe (Noon Day Woman), who I know as Brittney Musgrave. But Brittney, who is Wasauksing, Ojibway and Cree, doesn’t hunt for sport. She, like her ancestors before her, utilizes many parts of the bear for good use, including making bear grease into a healing treatment for herself and others.

You’ll hear from Brittney and her husband, Taylor (Haiwatha First Nation) about:

• The benefits of bear grease (including healing for skin rashes, promoting hair growth and more)
• Okwarì;Kowà* Supplies which offers bear grease, cedar, sweetgrass and more
• Brittney’s black bear hunts with a compound bow in Ontario (their treaty area)
• Was Brittney actually charged by a bear once? You’ll just have to listen to find out!
• How one transports a bear back to their vehicle – one of the answers may surprise you

*Okwarì;Kowà is pronounced “ah-gwari-gowa” and means “big bear”

Yakoke, Brittney and Taylor for sharing about your adventurous world there in Canada and the good healing agents you’re making for others!

Check out Okwarì;Kowà Supplies here: https://www.facebook.com/OkwariKowaSupplies

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

Since season 2, I’ve had the pleasure of following the journey of Shell Shaker, a Chickasaw Opera by Composer, Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate.

This opera is still being composed, and will be the very first of its kind. Even the libretto is in Chickasaw, and every inch of the production, composition, costuming, etc. is led by Native Americans. The premier date has been changed and the new date will be announced soon. I hope you’ll join me at the premier!

After I interviewed Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate, I then met with the ever-talented, Kirsten Kunkle and Kate Morton (season 3, episode 11) who will perform leading roles in the opera.

Now, meet Mark Billy - a Choctaw baritone who will also star in the opera and who took some time out of his performance schedule to visit with me. In this episode, we discussed:

• His fascinating role in Shell Shaker
• What it means to be a Verdi Baritone
• Our view on small towns and Wal-Marts
• His exciting new performance announcement!
• A harrowing health scare that resulted in Mark losing a year of his life

By the way, we know there are a lot of Choctaws out there with the last name Billy. Feel free to give us a shout if you’re a Billy and want to connect with Mark – he’d love to hear from you!

This unprecedented opera will be a pivotal moment in the Native American arts. I hope you’ll join me in supporting these artists, this composer, and their upcoming performances!

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

“What might the first World Indigenous Skyworld Space Stations look like? We think in circles with no beginning or end. We go into space as a human right and right of self-determination. We go into space for development, exploration, and cultural preservation.”

These are the words and the vision of my guest, Dan Hawk of the Oneida Nation, and Principal Scientist at United First Nations Planetary Defense who answers the question for me, “Why should Native Americans go into space?” The answer goes well beyond going to the moon and to Mars and beyond. This is about helping national security and all Indigenous populations. A program for Native Americans in space is the way into space for other communities as well. And Dan is pioneering the way for such a program for our Indigenous people.

Today, you’ll hear from Dan about:

• Who owns space
• The Oneida people
• Stories of Dan’s ancestors
• What is “space sovereignty”
• United First Nations Planetary Defense
• Growing up on the Oneida Reservation in Wisconsin
• A view of the dust bowl you may not have heard about
• The story about what inspired Dan to go into his profession
• Dan’s work with NASA, his support of the Montana Space Grant, and more
• The story of the Golden Eagle Rocket that’s now in the Smithsonian institute
• How an American Indian space program can help Missing & Murdered Indigenous People

Check out these links:

• BisonSat - Kootenai College: https://cubesat.skc.edu
• Artemis Space Program: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/
• United First Nations Planetary Defense: https://ufnpd.wordpress.com
• AISES - American Indian Science and Engineering Society: https://www.aises.org
• Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority: https://airspaceportok.com

Yakoke, Dan for your commitment to sovereignty for Native Americans beyond the boundaries of earth.

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/