Aunties on Air...and some Uncles too

Aunties on Air Episode 51: MMIW: Healing Through Taking Space

Episode 51: MMIW: Healing Through  In Wabanaki territory and across Turtle Island, our women, girls and two-spirit relatives are the heart of our nations. They carry our stories, our languages, and our future. Yet, the painful reality of the MMIW crisis continues to affect our families and communities deeply. This week, we welcome back a very familiar voice and longtime advocate to the studio, our former Aunties co-host, Lauren Stevens. Together, the Aunties sit down with Lauren for a deeply necessary conversation about grief, resilience, and reclaiming our narrative. We dive into the profound medicine of speaking our stolen relations' names out loud, ensuring they are never made invisible by the systems around us. Lauren shares how utilizing the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) network provides critical, proactive support to keep our people whole and protect our collective spirit before crisis even begins. This is an episode about taking up space, raising our voices, and anchoring ourselves in cultural traditions. True healing happens when we center our Wabanaki values, look out for one another, and refuse to be silenced.  Wabanaki Words Used: Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc [https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc]   Topics Discussed:   MMIW - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_and_Murdered_Indigenous_Women [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_and_Murdered_Indigenous_Women] Salt Bay Chamberfest - https://saltbaychamberfest.org/ [https://saltbaychamberfest.org/] Dawn Avery - https://www.dawnavery.com/ [https://www.dawnavery.com/] Wilhelmina Smith - https://www.wilhelminasmith.com/ [https://www.wilhelminasmith.com/] We Are Water - https://portlandovations.org/event/we-are-water-a-northeast-celebration/ [https://portlandovations.org/event/we-are-water-a-northeast-celebration/] Yo-Yo Ma - https://www.yo-yoma.com/ [https://www.yo-yoma.com/] Rodger Paul - https://umaine.edu/nativeamericanprograms/people/rogerpaul/ [https://umaine.edu/nativeamericanprograms/people/rogerpaul/] Chris Newell - https://www.nefa.org/chris-newell [https://www.nefa.org/chris-newell] Mali Obomsawin - https://www.maliobomsawin.com/ [https://www.maliobomsawin.com/] Jeremy Dutcher - https://jeremydutcher.com/ [https://jeremydutcher.com/] Andri Magnason - https://andrimagnason.com/ [https://andrimagnason.com/] MMIW Poem by Feather Mason-Delorme - https://poetryinvoice.ca/write/monthly-poem-prize/winning-poems/mmiw-poem [https://poetryinvoice.ca/write/monthly-poem-prize/winning-poems/mmiw-poem] UNITY - https://unityinc.org/ [https://unityinc.org/]   Wabanaki Tribal Nations: Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net) [https://maliseets.net/] Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov) [https://micmac-nsn.gov/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk [https://www.passamaquoddy.com/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com) [https://wabanaki.com/] Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine [https://www.penobscotnation.org/]   Special Thanks/Woliwon:  Producer: Gavin Allen Podcast Team: Macy Downs

Aunties on Air Episode 50: MMIW: Healing Through Policy

Episode 50: MMIW: Healing Through Policy In Wabanaki territory, our women are the heart of our nations. They are the givers of life, the keepers of culture, and the protectors of our future. Yet, for too long, our sisters have been made invisible by systems that fail to see their worth. Today, we are opening a three-part series on our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) with Maulian Bryant. This is a conversation about love, grief, justice, and the sovereign right to live in safety. Wabanaki Words Used: Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc [https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc]   Topics Discussed:   Maulian Bryant - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maulian_Bryant [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maulian_Bryant] MMIW - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_and_Murdered_Indigenous_Women [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_and_Murdered_Indigenous_Women] Oh, Grow Up! - https://www.facebook.com/ohgrowupbangor/ [https://www.facebook.com/ohgrowupbangor/] The Rock and Art Shop - https://www.therockandartshop.com/bangor [https://www.therockandartshop.com/bangor] Donna Loring - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_M._Loring [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_M._Loring] Peter Pan (1953) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pan_(1953_film) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pan_(1953_film)] 1980’s Settlement Act - https://www.mitsc.org/mitsc-narrative-summaries/summary-of-the-maine-indian-land-claims-act-of-1980 [https://www.mitsc.org/mitsc-narrative-summaries/summary-of-the-maine-indian-land-claims-act-of-1980] VAWA - VAWA Information [https://www.niwrc.org/policy-center/vawa?utm_term=vawa&utm_campaign=*Awareness+-+Policy+-+MXC&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=8095999829&hsa_cam=17881908641&hsa_grp=138123656063&hsa_ad=613172906560&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-152783025&hsa_kw=vawa&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17881908641&gbraid=0AAAAADKUiyTEzvYqbXuJhUG9NBO0Ed9wd&gclid=CjwKCAjw-8vPBhBbEiwAoA39WgnZGFxiN9SRengqOCKaHPTfRYRlc_XYcP9KXHQlc4VdIDdXEvVLCRoCBfcQAvD_BwE] Janet Mills - https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/ [https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/] Troy Jackson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Jackson_(politician) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Jackson_(politician)] Mike Carpenter - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_E._Carpenter [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_E._Carpenter] Sara Gideon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Gideon [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Gideon] Rachel Talbot Ross - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Talbot_Ross [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Talbot_Ross] Chellie Pingree - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chellie_Pingree [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chellie_Pingree] Mike Simpson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Simpson [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Simpson] IHS - https://www.ihs.gov/ [https://www.ihs.gov/] BIA - https://www.bia.gov/ [https://www.bia.gov/] Abigail Echo-Hawk - https://aascu.org/people/abigail-echo-hawk/ [https://aascu.org/people/abigail-echo-hawk/] Holly Echo-Hawk - https://kauffmaninc.com/team/holly-echo-hawk/ [https://kauffmaninc.com/team/holly-echo-hawk/] Beverley Polchies - https://darkdowneast.com/beverlypolchies/ [https://darkdowneast.com/beverlypolchies/] Woodstock, First Nations - https://labrc.com/first-nation/woodstock/ [https://labrc.com/first-nation/woodstock/] Dark Downeast - https://darkdowneast.com/ [https://darkdowneast.com/] Wabanaki Alliance - https://wabanakialliance.com/ [https://wabanakialliance.com/] Harvard Project - https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu/ [https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu/] Zeke Crofton-McDonald - https://www.mitsc.org/commissioners-staff/ezekiel-crofton-macdonald [https://www.mitsc.org/commissioners-staff/ezekiel-crofton-macdonald] Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute - https://snoweleadershipinstitute.org/ [https://snoweleadershipinstitute.org/] Harvard Project - https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu/ [https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu/] Imelda Perley - https://forcitizenship.ca/people/imelda-perley/ [https://forcitizenship.ca/people/imelda-perley/]   Wabanaki Tribal Nations: Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net) [https://maliseets.net/] Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov) [https://micmac-nsn.gov/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk [https://www.passamaquoddy.com/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com) [https://wabanaki.com/] Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine [https://www.penobscotnation.org/]   Special Thanks/Woliwon:  Producer: Gavin Allen Podcast Team: Macy Downs

Aunties on Air Episode 49: Strengthening Our Communities Through Research, Data, & Sovereignty

Episode 49: Strengthening our Communities through Research, Data, & Sovereignty Indigenous communities across this nation hold deep knowledge on how we heal and how we learn. For many generations, academia and non-indigenous people have told our stories and shared their perspectives on who we are. Today, we have many indigenous scholars who are changing this trend. Increasingly, indigenous people are obtaining the education and degrees necessary to conduct research within our communities while integrating indigenous methodologies, making the work even more meaningful. The Aunties will be talking with Dr. Darren Ranco (Penobscot) and Dr. Suzanne Greenlaw (Maliseet), who are both indigenous researchers conducting innovative work in Wabanaki communities!  Wabanaki Words Used: Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc [https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc]   Topics Discussed:   Darren Ranco - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Ranco [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Ranco] Suzanne Greenlaw - https://schoodicinstitute.org/team/suzanne-greenlaw/ [https://schoodicinstitute.org/team/suzanne-greenlaw/] Schoodic Institute - https://schoodicinstitute.org/ [https://schoodicinstitute.org/] University of Maine - https://umaine.edu/ [https://umaine.edu/] SUNY ESF - https://www.esf.edu/ [https://www.esf.edu/] Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/ [https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/] “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://bookshop.org/p/books/braiding-sweetgrass-indigenous-wisdom-scientific-knowledge-and-the-teachings-of-plants-robin-wall-kimmerer/6fa4d296293d20e8?ean=9781571313560&next=t [https://bookshop.org/p/books/braiding-sweetgrass-indigenous-wisdom-scientific-knowledge-and-the-teachings-of-plants-robin-wall-kimmerer/6fa4d296293d20e8?ean=9781571313560&next=t] “Gathering Moss” by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://bookshop.org/p/books/gathering-moss-a-natural-and-cultural-history-of-mosses-robin-wall-kimmerer/dcc7a63d6e4517d0?aid=86677&ean=9780870714993&listref=robin-wall-kimmerer&next=t [https://bookshop.org/p/books/gathering-moss-a-natural-and-cultural-history-of-mosses-robin-wall-kimmerer/dcc7a63d6e4517d0?aid=86677&ean=9780870714993&listref=robin-wall-kimmerer&next=t] “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-serviceberry-abundance-and-reciprocity-in-the-natural-world-robin-wall-kimmerer/11103aae5b752d02?aid=86677&ean=9781668072240&listref=robin-wall-kimmerer&next=t [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-serviceberry-abundance-and-reciprocity-in-the-natural-world-robin-wall-kimmerer/11103aae5b752d02?aid=86677&ean=9781668072240&listref=robin-wall-kimmerer&next=t] Emerald Ash Borer - https://www.emeraldashborer.info/ [https://www.emeraldashborer.info/] WaYS - https://www.wabanakiyouthinscience.org/ [https://www.wabanakiyouthinscience.org/] “The First Blade of Sweetgrass” by Suzanne Greenlaw and Gabriel Frey - https://a.co/d/0h8RcPDd [https://a.co/d/0h8RcPDd] Darren Ranco TEDx Dirigo  Talk- https://www.ted.com/talks/darren_ranco_addressing_wicked_problems_with_wabanaki_diplomacy [https://www.ted.com/talks/darren_ranco_addressing_wicked_problems_with_wabanaki_diplomacy]   Wabanaki Tribal Nations: Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net) [https://maliseets.net/] Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov) [https://micmac-nsn.gov/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk [https://www.passamaquoddy.com/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com) [https://wabanaki.com/] Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine [https://www.penobscotnation.org/]   Special Thanks/Woliwon:  Producer: Gavin Allen Podcast Team: Macy Downs

Aunties on Air Episode 48: Live from the Wabanaki Spring Social

Episode 48: Live from the Wabanaki Spring Social In this special episode, the Aunties come to you live from the 28th annual Wabanaki Spring Social! Our hearts are so full after a day of being together with our community. From the incredible vendors to all of the wonderful traditional food that kept us going throughout the day, the energy was bright, healing and a beautiful way to kick off the spring season. Most importantly, we felt the deep power of our honoring songs and ceremony, which grounded us in our traditions and lifted our spirits as one. Kci-woliwon, everyone who had the chance to join us in-person! Enjoy this special live episode!  Wabanaki Words Used: Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc [https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc]   Topics Discussed:   Nisuwok Wiphunsisok Pottery and Leather - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559854977029 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559854977029] Crafts from the Bay - https://www.facebook.com/p/Crafts-From-The-Bay-100068095383910/ [https://www.facebook.com/p/Crafts-From-The-Bay-100068095383910/] Blue Bird Beading - https://www.facebook.com/BluebirdbeadingNL/ [https://www.facebook.com/BluebirdbeadingNL/] Maine CDC - https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/ [https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/] Wabanaki Alliance - https://wabanakialliance.com/ [https://wabanakialliance.com/] Maine Arts Commission - https://mainearts.maine.gov/ [https://mainearts.maine.gov/] “Little People of the Dawn” by Minquansis Sapiel - https://a.co/d/0bhVzYZH [https://a.co/d/0bhVzYZH] “Gluskabe and the Gift of the Maple Trees” by Minquansis Sapiel - https://a.co/d/0hNqNCPH [https://a.co/d/0hNqNCPH]   Wabanaki Tribal Nations: Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net) [https://maliseets.net/] Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov) [https://micmac-nsn.gov/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk [https://www.passamaquoddy.com/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com) [https://wabanaki.com/] Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine [https://www.penobscotnation.org/]   Special Thanks/Woliwon:  Producer: Gavin Allen Podcast Team: Macy Downs

Aunties on Air Episode 47: When Leaders Lead with Love, We Heal

Episode 47: When Leaders Lead with Love, We Heal Leadership is essential for healing. The way we lead can either harm or heal. Today, we will be talking with Randy Liberty, Commissioner of Corrections for the state of Maine. Randy is a leader who “sees people” and believes in the potential of all. “Liberty’s Prison” is Randy’s newly released book that discusses stories of service and leadership. Please sit back and listen to the lessons and stories Randy must share!   Wabanaki Words Used: Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc [https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc]   Topics Discussed:   Randy Liberty - https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/about/cabinet/liberty [https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/about/cabinet/liberty] “Liberty’s Prison” by Randy Liberty - https://www.amazon.com/Libertys-Prison-Radically-Reformed-American/dp/B0F941CFY3 [https://www.amazon.com/Libertys-Prison-Radically-Reformed-American/dp/B0F941CFY3] Randy on “207” -  https://www.newscentermaine.com/video/news/local/207/207-february-12-2026/97-347e7448-6142-43e9-adaf-617a5e6e2271 [https://www.newscentermaine.com/video/news/local/207/207-february-12-2026/97-347e7448-6142-43e9-adaf-617a5e6e2271] Maine Criminal Justice Academy - https://www.maine.gov/dps/mcja [https://www.maine.gov/dps/mcja] Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/ [https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/] Maine Compost School - https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/maine-compost-school/ [https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/maine-compost-school/] AIO, Rockland Food Pantry - https://www.aiofoodpantry.org/ [https://www.aiofoodpantry.org/] USDA - https://www.usda.gov/ [https://www.usda.gov/] Togus VA - https://www.va.gov/maine-health-care/locations/togus-va-medical-center/ [https://www.va.gov/maine-health-care/locations/togus-va-medical-center/] Colby College - https://www.colby.edu/ [https://www.colby.edu/] National Suicide and Crisis Number, Press 1 for VA- 988 Wabanaki Careline – 1-844-844-2622 CAP Agency, Maine - https://mecap.org/ [https://mecap.org/] Ellsworth, Maine - https://www.ellsworthmaine.gov/ [https://www.ellsworthmaine.gov/] Kennebeck County, Maine - https://kennebec.gov/ [https://kennebec.gov/] Department of Corrections - https://www.maine.gov/corrections/ [https://www.maine.gov/corrections/]   Wabanaki Tribal Nations: Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net) [https://maliseets.net/] Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov) [https://micmac-nsn.gov/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk [https://www.passamaquoddy.com/] Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com) [https://wabanaki.com/] Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine [https://www.penobscotnation.org/]   Special Thanks/Woliwon:  Producer: Gavin Allen Podcast Team: Macy Downs