The Fight for Our Existence

Her Spirit Lives: Bernadette Smith on Justice for Nicole Smith

Nicole Smith was a mother, sister, and traditional dancer whose life was taken on November 17, 2017, on the Manchester Reservation in Mendocino County, California. Years later, her family is still waiting for justice. In this episode, Bernadette Smith speaks about her sister Nicole, the night their family’s lives changed, and the unanswered questions that remain. She shares how Nicole’s children and family have carried this loss, and how ceremony, prayer, therapy, and community have helped her continue forward. Bernadette also talks about the larger MMIP crisis, lateral violence, the need for accountability, and why culture is an important part of healing and prevention in Native communities. This episode was recorded at the May 5th MMIP gathering at the State Capitol in Sacramento, California. A live recording of Bernadette singing a traditional song from the event is included at the end of the episode. Thank you to Indigenous Justice for bringing me out to Sacramento to help record these stories and for the work they continue to do for MMIP families throughout California. Justice for Nicole Smith Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575519814315 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575519814315] Indigenous Justice: https://indigenousjustice.org [https://indigenousjustice.org] Please keep Nicole Smith, Bernadette, Nicole’s children, and their family in your thoughts and prayers.

I’ll Never Quit Talking: Ronnie Hostler’s Fight for Khadijah Britton

In this episode of the Fight for Our Existence Podcast, I share a conversation with Ronnie Hostler, an elder from Round Valley, California, about his granddaughter Khadijah Britton, who went missing and has never been found. Ronnie speaks about the early days of Khadijah’s disappearance, the lack of urgency he felt from law enforcement, and the years his family has spent searching for answers. He also talks about domestic violence, accountability, and why he continues to show up and speak for families affected by MMIP. This episode was recorded outside on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento, California during the May 5th MMIP gathering. Thank you to Indigenous Justice for bringing me out to help record these stories and for the work they continue to do for MMIP families throughout California. Please keep Ronnie, his wife Lydia, Khadijah, and their family in your thoughts and prayers. Watch Ronnie Hostler’s PBS feature here: https://www.pbs.org/video/midnight-on-the-reservation-vcvfwh/ [https://www.pbs.org/video/midnight-on-the-reservation-vcvfwh/] Indigenous Justice: https://indigenousjustice.org [https://indigenousjustice.org]

Not All Apaches Got on the Train: A Conversation with Ruben Leyva

In this episode of Fight For Our Existence, I sit down with Ruben Leyva from Las Cruces, New Mexico, an Apache historian from the Chihéne Ndé, also known as the Gila Apache, a band of the Chiricahua Apache. We met at Apache Gold Casino while he was attending a conference for San Carlos Apache College, and what started as a simple conversation turned into something much deeper. This episode is not a lecture or presentation, but a real discussion about history, identity, and the stories that continue to live through our people. Ruben shares how he began researching his family history and the work he’s doing to preserve the stories of his people. We talk about the commonly told narrative of the Chiricahua Apache and how not all Apaches were sent east in 1886, as well as the role of Apache scouts and the misunderstandings surrounding them. The conversation also explores the difference between oral history and written records, and how documents have often been used to misidentify or erase Indigenous identity. Throughout the episode, we reflect on what it truly means to be Apache, the importance of connection to community, and the responsibility of carrying these stories forward for future generations. This is a real and honest conversation between two Apache men, connecting history, family, and lived experience.

Oak Flat: The Fight Continues

In this episode of the Fight for Our Existence Podcast, I share an immediate update following the recent court decision involving Oak Flat. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled against the three cases challenging the Oak Flat land transfer, including the case brought by Apache women and girls, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and environmental groups. The court also lifted the order that had been preventing the land transfer. This moment is deeply personal for my family. Some of the Apache women involved in the case include my daughter, my sister, and two of my nieces. Attorneys are now preparing an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States as the fight to protect Oak Flat continues. Oak Flat, known to my Apache people as Chi’chil Bildagoteel, remains a sacred place and the center of an ongoing struggle over Indigenous religious freedom, sacred land, and the future of mining in Arizona.

Carrying Nick’s Name: A Mother’s Fight for Justice

In this episode, we hear from Lynette, the mother of Nicholas Robert Patterson, a Pit River man who went missing in January of 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. This conversation was recorded at the MMIP Conference in Sacramento, California on February 3rd, 2026, where families gathered to share their stories and bring awareness to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Lynette shares the painful journey her family has walked since Nick disappeared, from filing missing persons reports across multiple counties, to organizing searches, navigating law enforcement, and continuing to seek answers years later. In 2024, partial remains believed to belong to Nick were discovered, but many questions still remain. Through her grief, Lynette continues to advocate not only for her son, but for other Indigenous families facing the same heartbreaking reality. She speaks about the importance of community, prayer, and carrying Nick’s name forward so that awareness grows and other families are not left alone in their search for answers. If you have any information related to this case, please contact Modoc County authorities. MMIP affects Indigenous communities across North America. Every story matters. Every name matters. If you or your family are seeking support or advocacy related to a missing loved one, you can contact Indigenous Justice for assistance at: www.indigenousjustice.org [http://www.indigenousjustice.com]