Featured Stories

You don’t have to live a secret life. The Story of Edna Shugak (Denaʼina)

Edna grew up in Pedro Bay, Alaska. Her father died when she was five. At age 14, she took on a commercial fishing venture for the family. Then her mother died. Life was challenging for this young gal. Eventually she married and discovered he had an anger problem. It was a secret that was destroying...

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The Turtle Story – Eddie Lindsey (Creek)

“We’ve always been people of Storying”, Eddie says. He shares a story that his momma told him about a turtle. The lesson was not lost on him. Then he shares another story – the most important story any of us will ever hear. It’s a story that each of us needs to take to heart.

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God, I don’t want to live like this anymore – The Story of Chug Garreau (Lakota)

Chug grew up in the ranch and rodeo life.  He also grew up with alcohol and the problems that come with it.  He left home in high school after a fight with his dad.  But that didn’t fix his problems.  In fact, they were really just beginning.  Years past and his troubles grew worse.  He...

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Free from more than the Bottle – The Story of Molly Littlejohn (Cherokee)

Molly’s early years were marked with abuse. Alcohol had a hold of her, but she wasn’t content. This is her story of how she was set free from the bottle… and so much more. Click to Listen.

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I was lost in alcohol – The Story of Mike Lente (Isleta)

Drinking was a part of Mike’s family culture as he was growing up… and it left it’s mark on him. Eventually, he picked up the bottle himself and became an alcoholic. He brought those troubles into his own family. Then something happened to his wife. She was acting different. One day Mike came home to...

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In my darkest times… in my darkest hours – The Story of Jeff VanEvery

Jeff VanEvery (Upper Cayuga) has a story to tell. It's his story of hope, how radical change came into the life of a man who once was a drinker, bouncer, and fighter... and who almost lost everything he really cared for.

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Herman’s Haircut – The Story of a medicine man, a Navajo preacher, and the power of God

Navajo Herman Williams was living and preaching on a reservation in South Dakota.  One day a man came to give Herman a haircut.  It turned out the he was a local medicine man… and he had plans for Herman’s hair.  This is an amazing story about spiritual power.  If you’ve ever wondered about whether Jesus...

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Tom Claus (Mohawk) Shares Christmas Memories

Tom Claus reflects on what Christmas was like growing up on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario many years ago. After all the gifts were opened, the family would sit down together and read the Christmas story from the Bible. Tom goes on to read the story for us and then speaks about the...

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An Orphan’s Christmas – Soapy Dollar (Mescalero Apache)

Soapy Dollar is a Mescalero Apache who was abandoned at birth on the streets of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  After being picked up by a fortune teller and passed around till he was five, he was placed in a ranch for homeless and delinquent boys.  This would become home for the rest of his youth.  As...

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I’m Free – The Story of Allen Early (San Carlos Apache)

Allen, a San Carlos Apache, was raised in the traditional way by his father. His dad sent him away to school.  Soon Allen got involved in alcohol, drugs, and gang life.  He became so violent that the people in his community wanted him put away. But jail couldn’t hold him. He escaped many times.  Finally,...

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He was seeking revenge, but found Love. The Story of Jim Rickteroff (Athabaskan)

Jim grew up being hated, abused, and very angry… and so it wasn’t long before he was bent on getting revenge. He trained in martial arts, preparing for the day when he would meet his abusers again. He was hot on the trail of one of them in Anchorage… but when Jim would go in...

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The Rescuer Rescued – The Story of Gordon Thayer (Ojibwe)

Gordon got into serious trouble as a young man.  He ended up standing before a judge who presented him with two choices: join the military or go to reform school.  Gordon joined the Air Force and eventually became a part of the special forces unit, Pararescue, serving two tours in Vietnam.  Pararescue’s motto is “These...

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Abandoned, abused, forgiven, free. An elder shares her story – The Testimony of Anne Morrow (Cree)

Anne’s mother abandoned the family when Anne was just a little girl. When Anne was five years old her father put her in residential school where she was abused. How does one overcome such trauma? As she shares her life’s journey you’ll find a remarkable story of forgiveness… not just in what she says, but...

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The Shepherd’s Song – Psalm 23

These are challenging days across Native North America and throughout the world. For many First Nations and Native American communities, the prospect of contracting Covid-19 is frightening. Underlying health conditions put many Native people at greater risk with this coronavirus. Tribal leaders are working hard to protect their communities and we’re grateful. The uncertainty of...

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The Story behind Christmas – Jason French (Cherokee)

Like all of us, the Christmas story has a background… and it begins with our Creator. Join us as Jason French starts at the beginning and helps us understand the significance of this day that was first celebrated by angels in the night sky near Bethlehem and now is celebrated by people from tribes and...

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Abandoned but not Forsaken. The Testimony of Soapy Dollar (Mescalero Apache)

A young, pregnant teenager leaves her reservation for the city and gives birth to her child. She returns home alone, after leaving her baby in an alley. The child is found by a fortune-teller who takes him home and passes him around for the first five years of his life. Finally, she places him in...

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New Life – The Testimony of Jess French (Cherokee)

Ever heard voices? Jess has. As a night club entertainer, he was preparing for a show one Friday evening when he heard an unfamiliar voice ask him a strange question. Besides Jess and the bartender, there was no one else around… and the bartender hadn’t said anything. It was disturbing. Jess immediately asked for a...

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The Fear is Gone – The Story of Eddie Lindsey (Creek)

As a young person, Eddie was afraid of dying. One day he and his aunt had a good talk about it.  If you’ve ever wondered about death you might be interested in what she shared with him. Eddie also reflects on the influence that his father had on him. He always knew that his daddy...

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“Why you always smiling?” The Testimony of Julius Twohearts (Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux)

Julius Twohearts – Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux: Julius grew up on the Spirit Lake reservation in northeastern North Dakota. From his youth, his life was a toxic mixture of anger and alcohol. He eventually went to prison for attacking a police officer – sending him to the hospital. Years later, while Julius was drinking under a...

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No Turning Back – The Story of Herman Williams (Navajo)

Herman was born and raised on the Navajo reservation. His grandparents brought him up in the Navajo language, culture, and tradition. As a teenager he jumped in the back of a truck for a two-week work opportunity, and headed off the rez for the first time in his life. He was surprised and intrigued by...

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