In this episode of Native Circles, Eva Bighorse and Dr. Farina King talk with Dr. Yvette Brown-Shirley, a Diné neurologist specializing in sports neurology and brain injury medicine at Barrow Neurological Institute. Dr. Brown-Shirley shares her experiences of becoming a neurologist and how her identity as a Diné woman healer informs her approach to medicine. She discusses the urgent need to address health inequities affecting Native communities, such as the lack of access to neurological care for Native American student-athletes facing risks of brain injuries. With a deep commitment to community engagement, she offers insights on fostering well-being and advocating for better recognition of brain health disparities.

Additional Resources:

Yvette Brown-Shirley, MD, Barrow Neurological Institute

"Here Before, Hear Now Podcast: Dr. Yvette Brown-Shirley," Arizona's Family (3TV/CBS 5), March 18, 2024

Boderra Joe, "Elevating neurological care: Diné female sports neurologist bringing light to brain health," Navajo Times, January 25, 2024.

Christine Armer is a Cherokee elder and language instructor of nearly 20 years at the University of Oklahoma who grew up in a Cherokee community where she wasn’t introduced to the English language until she attended grade school. This is the first of a new Native Circles podcast series featuring Native Language Protectors and Carriers, including Mrs. Armer. Listen to her story of teaching Cherokee language and why learning Native American languages at all levels of education is crucial. Dr. Farina King narrates this episode highlighting her distinguished colleague.

Learn more about the efforts to protect and support the study of Native American languages (and all languages) at the University of Oklahoma through the following petitions:

Oppose the Removal of Foreign Language Gen Ed requirements at the University of Oklahoma

Keep Indigenous Languages Alive at OU

For more information about the Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair, see the hyperlink.

Learn more about Native American Languages at the University of Oklahoma.

See Christine Armer cited in "Native American, other languages in jeopardy at OU," The Norman Transcript, November 21, 2024.

Special thanks to Brian D. King for editing the Language Protectors and Carriers series.

In this Native Circles episode, Eva Bighorse and Dr. Farina King sit down with Violet Duncan, an award-winning author, dancer, and storyteller from the Plains Cree of the Kehewin Cree Nation and of Taino descent. Together, they trace Violet's path as a creative force, diving into the themes of her National Book Award-nominated youth novel, Buffalo Dreamer (published by Nancy Paulsen Books in 2024), and her upcoming children's book, "Life is a Dance." The conversation touches on the impacts of the Indian residential school system, the power of storytelling in mental health and community healing, and the joys and challenges of family life. Violet's reflections on promoting Indigenous storytelling and arts through her work with Young Warriors, dedicated to cultivating spaces for Indigenous performance and practices, offer a powerful reminder of the resilience and vibrancy of Indigenous peoples.

Recommended Resources:

Violet Duncan, official website

Violent Duncan, About the Author webpage on Penguin Random House

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan webpage on Penguin Random House

"Buffalo Dreamer: An Interview with Author Violet Duncan [S7 Ep. 228]," Brave New Teaching podcast, October 10, 2024

I Am Not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer Reviewed by Debbie Reese, Social Justice Books

"Violet Duncan- I Am Native," interview on KidLit in Color

"Guest Post: Recognizing Our Past, Awakening Our Future by Violet Duncan (Buffalo Dreamer)," School Library Journal, September 4, 2024

Violet Duncan on Instagram @violetduncan