Last year was the 175^th anniversary of the Irish gift*, in which the Choctaw people donated money to the Irish during the potato famine.

This November, we once again honor the spirit of giving, with my Choctaw guest, Sam Guerrero Stitt!

In parts 1 and 2 of this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Sam’s ancestral stories, including his ties to the Irish
• Sam’s Eternal Heart sculpture in Oklahoma will celebrate the Choctaw gift (a companion piece to the Kindred Spirits sculpture in Ireland)
• Sam’s new service, Native American Genealogy! www.natamgen.com
• Helpful tips on researching our native ancestors
• Is Brett Favre native American?
• The REAL story of David H Folsom
• The Freedmen
• The story of the bullet on the gravestone
• The “blurry” topic of Choctaw clans
• Traditional Choctaw clothing

If you’re searching for your American Indian ancestors, don’t forget to check out NATAM gen Native American Genealogy!  www.natamgen.com I’m so excited about this!

*You can hear more about the Choctaw gift and the history of the Great Famine in Native ChocTalk’s Season 3, with Seth Fairchild, Executive Director of the Chahta Foundation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qZ8J0juWmA

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According to Statistica, “The child abuse rate in the United States is highest among American Indian or Alaska Native victims with a rate of 15.2 cases per 1,000 children. It is most common among children between two to five years of age.”

Now imagine that child being brave enough to come forward to share about her abuse. The process from this point is typically strenuous. Both law enforcement and Child Protection Services conduct separate investigations, which entails the child repeating her trauma multiple times. Depending on her situation, she may be passed around between foster homes, or she could be placed back into a situation where she has to be around her perpetrator again.

And not only could this child fail to receive the emotional and psychological support she needs, but the abuse she suffered will most likely cause negative ongoing affects throughout her life.

There has to be a better way. And there is! Choctaw Nation’s Coordinated Response to Child Maltreatment via their leading Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), is the first tribal MDT in the state of Oklahoma and the results are already highly impactful.

My guests, Gina South (Juvenile Division Chief and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney) and Kari Hurst (MTD Coordinator) from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma share with us about:

• How the MDT program is serving, protecting and saving the children of the Choctaw Nation
• You’ve heard of McGirt vs. Oklahoma, Gina tells us about the Sizemore decision as well
• Gina’s ancestral stories

Also, check out the beautiful ribbon skirts that Gina makes – they’d make wonderful holiday or birthday gifts! https://tinyurl.com/4d4kn23f

Yakoke to these ladies and to the entire Multi-Disciplinary Teams at Choctaw Nation (law enforcement, medical teams, prosecutors, behavioral health experts, forensic interviewers, therapists, and victim advocates) who are advocating for our precious children!

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Listeners, before I share about today’s episode, I have a question for you. Will you be in Chicago, November 7^th or 8^th of 2023?

I’ll be singing Choctaw hymns and narrating at a Chickasaw concert – Pa I Sha - composed by none other than Chickasaw Composer, Violinist, and Artistic Director, Brandi Berry Benson!

Join us during Native American Heritage Month, on November 8^th at 7:00pm at the Epiphany Center for the Arts. Tickets are just $20.

Brandi is also presenting Pa I Sha at no charge, at Upstairs Theater in Evanston Township High School on November 7th at 6:30pm.

You’ll love this episode in which Brandi shares about:

• The Chickasaw flute and other period instruments utilized in the concert
• The inspiration behind Pa I Sha – her 4^th great grandmother’s story
• Her ancestral history and stories
• The mysteries surrounding James and Jonas Wolf and the Hyah Puk Tuklo clan – perhaps you can help!

Brandi and I met through a wonderful mutual friend, Chickasaw composer, Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. By the way, Shell Shaker: A Chickasaw Opera’s will now premier October 27^th, 2024 in Oklahoma City!

Brandi, who is faculty of Northwestern and DePaul Universities and the Artistic Director of the Bach & Beethoven Experience (BBE), also teaches Baroque Performance Practice and Ornamentation and has released multiple albums. Check them out at https://brandiberrybenson.com/ and streaming platforms such as apple music, pandora, etc.!

• Silver Linings
• A Gaelic Summer
• An Appalachian Summer
• Chicago Stories

And her BBE Carols Album will be released in December…what a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer!

Come and enjoy the beautiful work of Chickasaw Composer, Brandi Berry Benson, and happy upcoming holidays to all!

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Part 1 of 2

Imagine an afterlife where your people sing beautiful “bird songs” to you, as you venture into the next world to comfort you along your journey. And imagine over the decades, these beautiful bird songs – the songs of the Kumeyaay people – slowly drifting away, at risk to be forgotten over time.

My guest, Chris Alvarado, San Pasqual iPai Kumeyaay Nation and Founder, and President of The Yumans, spent many years searching for old recordings of elders singing these ancient songs. And by nothing short of a miracle, he finally discovered these precious recordings. And you won’t believe how he found them!

Chris was compelled to share, rather than withhold these sacred songs. And now he’s here to sing these pieces for us today, and he has also provided a complimentary curriculum so that you too can hear and learn about them!

In this episode, you’ll also learn about:

• Kumeyaay culture, ancient games like peon, dances and the origination of the bird songs
• Learn about the patterns of the bird songs and the instruments used
• The reservation where Chris grew up
• The history of the Yumans and how they won California for America by fighting Mexico

I highly recommend watching this episode on YouTube since Chris shares visuals throughout the conversation.

Check out Chris’ Yumans website, and enjoy learning about the Bird Songs, Kumeyaay language, training, quizzes at NO CHARGE! https://theyumans.com/

Learn more about the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians: https://www.sanpasqualbandofmissionindians.org/

Enjoy!

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