Rooted Wisdom: Exploring Tribal Agriculture

S2E10: Indigenous Academia: Building Institutional Support with Native American Student Services

In this episode of Rooted Wisdom, host Tish Mindemann speaks with key figures involved in the University of Arkansas’ Indigenous community: Gregory Jones (Shawnee Nation), the director for the Native American Student Services office, and Dr. Marty Matlock (Cherokee Nation), professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department and longtime Indigenous student advocate. Listeners will gain greater insight into the successes and resilience involved in building Indigenous communal webs within the University of Arkansas – as well as the challenges Native students, staff, and faculty face in PWI settings.

S2E9: Honoring the Land: Tales from Nighthaven Woods

In this episode of Rooted Wisdom, host Tish Mindemann sits down with Dr. Christie Poitra, a former academic turned specialty crop farmer in the Great Lakes region. As a first-generation descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Dr. Poitra shares her journey from university halls to healing soil, weaving together themes of stewardship, cultural preservation, and ecological balance. Listeners will hear about the joys and challenges of starting a farm from scratch, the importance of respecting the land and its rhythms, and how farming can be a powerful form of activism. Key Topics: * Transitioning from academia to agriculture * Indigenous approaches to land stewardship * Building community through farming * Symbiotic relationships in nature and on the farm * Farming as cultural preservation and creative problem-solving Why You Should Listen: If you’re curious about sustainable farming, Indigenous knowledge systems, or simply love a good story about resilience and growth, this episode will leave you inspired and grounded.

S2E8: Labeling the Community: Insight into Agricultural Crate Labels and Native American Imagery

🎙️ ROOTED WISDOM – SEASON 2, EPISODE [X]: “NATIVE IMAGERY IN AGRICULTURAL ART” WITH DR. BROWNING NEDDEAU 🧠 EPISODE SUMMARY In this thought-provoking episode, host Tish Mindemann sits down with Dr. Browning Neddeau, an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and professor at Chico State University, to explore the intersection of Native American imagery, agricultural crate labels, and public perception. Dr. Neddeau shares his personal journey, research insights, and the cultural implications of how Indigenous peoples have been portrayed in agricultural art over time. 🧾 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN * The history and evolution of agricultural crate labels from the 1880s to today. * How Native imagery has been used—and often misused—on food packaging. * The impact of these visuals on societal understandings of Native identity. * Why representation matters in art, agriculture, and cultural history. * The story behind iconic labels like Land O'Lakes and their transformation. * How Dr. Neddeau’s research contributes to material culture studies and educational awareness. 🧑‍🏫 ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Browning Neddeau is an associate professor of Elementary Teacher Education and American Indian Studies at California State University, Chico. He serves on the National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education. His research focuses on Native American representation in agricultural art, particularly crate labels, and how these images shape cultural narratives. 🖼️ KEY TOPICS COVERED * The four eras of crate label art: Naturalistic, Advertising, Commercial, and Modern. * The persistence of outdated imagery and its cultural consequences. * The role of gendered depictions in Native imagery. * The importance of tribal specificity and avoiding generalizations. * How collecting and curating crate labels can be a form of storytelling and cultural reflection. 📚 RESOURCES & LINKS * Learn more about Dr. Neddeau’s work and research collections. * Explore the Intertribal Agricultural Council for Native-owned agricultural products. * Support IFAI and its mission to promote Indigenous food and agriculture initiatives. 🛒 TAKEAWAY CHALLENGE Next time you're at the grocery store or farmer’s market, take a closer look at the labels. What stories are they telling? What histories are they preserving—or erasing?

S2E7: Challenging the Status Quo: CDFI's and their Place in Indian Country

Guest: Skya Ducheneaux, Executive Director of Akiptan Host: Tish Mindemann Duration: ~32 minutes Release Date: 8/14/2025 🔍 EPISODE SUMMARY In this compelling episode, host Tish Mindemann speaks with Skya Ducheneaux, a member of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation and Executive Director of Akiptan [https://www.akiptan.org/], a Native-led agricultural CDFI. Skya shares her journey from ranching to finance, and how Akiptan is reshaping access to capital in Indian Country. The conversation dives deep into the systemic barriers tribal citizens face, the unique role of CDFIs, and Akiptan’s innovative approaches to lending, education, and succession planning. 💡 TOPICS COVERED * What is a CDFI and how it differs from traditional banks * The cultural and systemic barriers to capital access in Indian Country * Akiptan’s philosophy: “Built by producers, for producers” * The importance of sweat equity and character in lending decisions * Trust land, leasing, and the myth of un-mortgageable Native land * The Monopoly metaphor: understanding economic disparity * Akiptan’s impact metrics and redefining success * The Yuwinyeya Grant: succession planning as a tool for generational wealth 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED * Akiptan Website [https://www.akiptan.org/] * Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) [https://usfarmersandranchers.org/native-american-agriculture-fund/] * Reimagining Native Food Economies Report [https://www.indigenouscop.org/food-systems-agriculture/reimagining-native-food-systems] * Four Bands Community Fund [https://fourbands.org/] * USDA Value-Added Producer Grants [https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants] * Bureau of Indian Affairs – Trust Land Mortgage Info [https://www.bia.gov/service/mortgages/how-apply-trust-land]

S2E6: Growing Potential: Voices from the 11th Annual Native Youth in Agriculture Summit

In this special episode of Rooted Wisdom, we take you inside the 11th Annual Native American Youth in Agriculture Leadership Summit, hosted by the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the University of Arkansas. This immersive week-long experience brings together Native youth from across Indian Country to explore agriculture, leadership, and community through hands-on learning and collaboration. You’ll hear from a powerful lineup of guests and participants who are shaping the future of Indigenous agriculture: * Dr. Janeal Yancy from the University of Arkansas shares her expertise on small and large ruminants and how they are used in agricultural research and education. * Teresa Jackson and Tiffany Grant from Oklahoma Tribal Engagement Partners (OKTEP) discuss their summit track focused on health and nutrition—highlighting how these areas are foundational to food systems and community well-being. * Trenton Kissee, Chris Azbell, Courtney Natseway, and Anna Sterner of the Muscogee Nation reflect on their roles in supporting Native youth and building sustainable food systems rooted in sovereignty and tradition. * And of course, we hear directly from summit participants, who share their personal journeys, insights, and the impact of this transformative experience. Theme of the Year: Grow Your Potential — a call to action for Native youth to embrace leadership, understand agricultural risk, and build a future rooted in knowledge and community. What You’ll Learn: * The role of livestock in agricultural education and research * How nutrition and health intersect with food sovereignty * The importance of culturally relevant education and intertribal collaboration Resources & Links: * Learn more about the Youth Summit and IFAI’s youth programs: indigenousfoodandag.com/youth-programs [https://indigenousfoodandag.com/youth-programs] * Oklahoma Tribal Engagement Partners (OKTEP): oktep.com [https://oktep.com/] * Muscogee (Creek) Nation: muscogeenation.com [https://www.muscogeenation.com/]