Published by Rick Harp
A weekly roundtable about Indigenous issues and events in Canada and beyond. Hosted by Rick Harp.
Listen on Apple Podcasts1 hr 20 min
Introducing the first in our four-part series for Summer 2026! Collected, connected conversations drawn from our decade-deep archive, it's a mini-series that falls smack dab in the middle of our mega-series , Beyond Fires & Floods: Indigenous Narratives in an Era of Extremes , our co-convened gathering of climate journalists, scholars and experts. Which is why we thought it only makes sense to make these compilations climate-compatible with the overarching theme of 'Petrostate Pushback': Indigenous resistance to the political, cultural and economic forces driving resource extraction and exploitation—the costs of which fall disproportionately on Indigenous lands, waters and those who depend on them. And with BFF rooted in the realm of media, what better place for us to start, as we banter on 'both sides' binaries, bitumen bias, and bravery as viewed via the myopic lens of mainstream news. Featured voices this podcast include (in order of appearance): • Terese Mailhot , author and Visiting Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Sweet Briar College in Virginia • Kim TallBear, Professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities • Clifford Atleo Jr., Professor, Senior Advisor and Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Affairs at the University of British Columbia • Regan Boychuk, co-founder of Reclaim Alberta and the Alberta Liability Disclosure Project • Candis Callison , BFF co-convenor, Professor with the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and the School for Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia • Kwame Mckenzie, practicing psychiatrist, CEO of Wellesley Institute • David Suzuki, award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster • Michael Redhead Champagne, Ininew advocate, speaker and author // CREDITS: Creative Commons music this episode includes: ' When Time Called Me Darling ,' ' Mercury' and ' Jupiter ' by HoliznaCC0; ' JMHBM ' by Thumper; and, ' She Walked in and Changed Nothing ' by smallertide. Our series' opening theme is " Ice Temple " by HoliznaCC0; its closing theme is " Upstream Color " by Mark Wilson X. This episode was hosted/produced/edited by Rick Harp.
37 min
ON THIS EPISODE… Part 12 of BFF: Beyond Fires and Floods , our extended climate series based on a three-day gathering of Indigenous journalists, scholars and experts we co-convened last fall at UBC. And at the tail-end of BFF 's second day, we set aside time for participants to pause and reflect on all they'd heard to that point, a session we entitled 'Synthesis.' Kickstarting it all last episode , invited respondents Alice Te Punga Somerville and Kim TallBear , whose opening insights last episode set the stage for the responses to follow, including those of fellow BFF attendees Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, Pasang Sherpa, Renae Watchman, Kaila Jefferd-Moore, Cutcha Risling Baldy, and Eriel Tchekwie Deranger. // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY). SFX: 'Dropping the mic' by freesound_community from Pixabay .
24 min
ON THIS EPISODE: Part 11 of BFF: Beyond Fires and Floods , our extended series on Indigenous climate narratives, based on conversations we co-convened over 3 days last fall at UBC. And with a lot of ground covered those first two days, we thought it best to end day two with a session for reflection, an open-ended exchange we entitled 'Synthesis.' (So, if by chance this is your very first foray into BFF , it's recommended you start from the start , to get the most out of all this episode's call-backs and references.) Kicking things off, respondents Alice Te Punga Somerville and Kim TallBear , who offered their observations before co-moderators Candis Callison and Rick Harp would throw it to the floor for wider discussion. // CREDITS: Intro theme 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Torches and Pitchforks ' by Gagmesharkoff (CC-BY); ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY); ' fairitale 2 ' by Ondrosik (CC-BY).
32 min
ON THIS EPISODE: the tenth takeaway from BFF: Beyond Fires and Floods , our extended series on Indigenous climate narratives, collecting close to 40 journalists, scholars and experts last fall at UBC. This time 'round, the closing portion of "Taking on Water," which, if you caught the first half , got a little 'fishy' as we went along. Proving perhaps that everything and everyone is connected at some point in time and space, including our panelists Tara Atleo , Shannon Waters , Tristan Ahtone and Zoe Todd , as we continued to interweave waters' well-being with that of fish and humans, supplemented by the thoughts of fellow BFF attendee Ozzy Michelin. // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY).
30 min
ON THIS EPISODE: The ninth instalment of BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods —our extended series on Indigenous climate narratives—presents the beginning of "Taking on Water," the fourth session of our gathering's second day, encapsulated as follows: Oceans cover some two-thirds of the planet; watersheds traverse and transcend human borders. Water is literally everywhere, yet that hasn't stopped colonial governments from trying to control and contain its movements, along with the lives of those it sustains. From rivers and lakes, to oceans and ice, this session looks at how Indigenous narratives work to convey the upstream sources and downstream consequences of melting glaciers, rising sea levels, floods, and droughts, both for aquatic life and the Indigenous lifeways dependent on them. Meanwhile, with bodies like wide-ranging watersheds complicating any formulation of climate-related problems and solutions, what does that imply for the structure and scope of our storytelling? Joining MI host/producer Rick Harp are panelists Tristan Ahtone (sitting in for Grist -mate Anita Hofschneider ), Tara Atleo , Zoe Todd , and Shannon Waters . 🕮 Learn more about BFF , including our core sponsors, at mediaindigena.com/BFF // CREDITS: Intro/extro theme 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY); ' Seen from the Unseen ' by Ondrosik (CC-BY).
32 min
ON THIS EPISODE: The eighth instalment of BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods —our extended series on Indigenous climate narratives—presents the back half of "Reframing Fire & Forests," recorded at day two's third session. Moderated by UBC Professor (and MI regular) Candis Callison , she re-joins panelists Warren Cardinal McTeague , Keara Lightning , Leonard Linklater , and Bernard Perley , with follow-up responses by fellow BFF attendees Matteo Cimellaro and Olga Ulturgasheva. Learn more about BFF , including our core sponsors, at mediaindigena.com/BFF // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY).
30 min
ON THIS EPISODE: Part seven of BFF: Beyond Fires and Floods, where we go beyond mainstream infatuation with crisis and catastrophe to instead dive deep into Indigenous climate narratives. Recorded at a 3-day gathering of nearly 40 journalists, scholars and experts last fall at UBC, "Reframing Fire & Forests" was day two's third session, encapsulated as follows: With extreme fire events monopolizing our attention in the daily news cycle, long-standing Indigenous-led practices of forest care, stewardship and prevention have only begun to make their way into public consciousness and policy. Yet as fires only intensify in an ever-changing climate, one might ask just how 'wild' wildfires are to begin with. Drawing on our discussion of acute events as sites or intersections of larger systems and institutions, panelists will discuss how they make sense of landscapes still reeling from colonialism, and the specific and profound challenges Indigenous communities face as they actively respond to, mitigate, and plan for climate change. Specific attention will also be paid to the role Indigenous languages—another casualty of colonialism many now seek to repair—could play to enable enriched climate coverage. Moderated by Candis Callison —a jointly-appointed Professor in the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies at UBC—she sat together with panelists Warren Cardinal McTeague , Keara Lightning , Leonard Linklater , and Bernard Perley . Learn more about BFF , including our core sponsors, at mediaindigena.com/BFF // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY); ' Dream Diary ' by Pamela Yuen (CC-BY)
40 min
ON THIS EPISODE: the sixth instalment of BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods —our extended series on Indigenous climate narratives—in which we bring you the back half of "Storying Systems vs. Symptoms," day two's second session. Returning for the remainder of this conversation, moderator Candis Callison picks things up with panelists Michelle Cyca , Tiara R Naputi , Jeffrey Ansloos , and Gina Starblanket . We also hear the thoughts of fellow BFF attendees Savannah Ridley, Stephanie Papik and Eriel Tchekwie Deranger. Learn more about BFF , including our core sponsors, at mediaindigena.com/BFF // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY).
37 min
ON THIS EPISODE: Part five of BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods , in which we bring you the first half of 'Storying Systems vs. Symptoms,' the second session of the second day of climate conversations we co-convened with dozens of Indigenous scholars, journalists and experts last October at the University of British Columbia. Moderated by long-time MEDIA INDIGENA roundtabler Candis Callison—a jointly-appointed Professor in the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies at UBC—she was joined at the panel by Jeffrey Ansloos , Michelle Cyca , Tiara R Naputi , and Gina Starblanket , which was described as follows: According to scholar Adam Hanieh, transforming our current climate trajectory means confronting 'the multiple logics of a social system that has served to center oil throughout all aspects of our lives, and we cannot extricate ourselves from oil's pervasiveness, certainly not at a pace necessary to halt runaway climate change, while remaining within this social system.' Can seeing climate change as symptomatic of systems and structures shed greater light on the impacts of ongoing colonial policies and institutions? In this session, we ask how we can move beyond event-centric journalistic practices to reflect underlying structural problems, system change, and long-term solutions. Relatedly, we also unpack what Candis Callison calls 'crisis-talk,' where the only allowable discourse is 'what must be done now,' foreclosing larger questions of how we got here or what led up to such crises." ✪ BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods is sponsored by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, the Global Journalism Innovation Lab, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC ✪ // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY); ' Leverage ,' by 1000 Handz (CC BY)
33 min
ON THIS EPISODE: BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods —part four, featuring the back half of "Storytellers Without Borders," the lead-off session on BFF 's second day, where close to 40 scholars, journalists and experts gathered to discuss Indigenous climate narratives last October at UBC. Returning with their thoughts are panelists Tristan Ahtone, Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, Deborah McGregor and Stephanie Wood, along with contributions by fellow BFF attendees Mark Trahant, Gina Starblanket, Cutcha Risling Baldy, and Eriel Tchekwie Deranger. ✪ BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods is sponsored by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, the Global Journalism Innovation Lab, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Museum of Anthropology ✪ // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY).
38 min
ON THIS EPISODE: part three of BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods! (And if this is your first encounter with our new series, you might want to start with BFF Part 0 , i.e. , episode 365, for best results.) Based on three days of conversations hosted at UBC last October, BFF brought together close to 40 scholars, journalists and experts who document and depict how Indigenous peoples contend with climate change. In this instalment, "Storytellers Without Borders," the first in our second day's sessions, we discuss what and whom climate change stories currently serve—to what extent is what we're experiencing global change or continuity? As inheritors of a world wrought by centuries of extraction and colonialism, the deeply globalized structures and systems we now live in and with are the consequence of competing empires' efforts to terraform our territories. Yet so much of mainstream climate journalism is confined to nationalist narratives of technosaviourism, where petro-states promise a pivot to eco-states in hopes of preserving the socio-economic status quo. In this session—featuring panelists Tristan Ahtone , Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson , Deborah McGregor , and Stephanie Wood —we explored why our narrative lens(es) on climate change must be commensurate with the scale of global forces driving it. ✪ BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods is sponsored by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, the Global Journalism Innovation Lab, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Museum of Anthropology ✪ // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY); ' Tales ' by 1000 Handz (CC-BY).
37 min
ON THIS EPISODE: The back half of our live panel at the Great Hall of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, it was the only public portion of BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods, our 3-day gathering of journalists, scholars and experts focused on Indigenous narratives of climate change. Assembling four seasoned storytellers— Judi Kochon , Paul Seesequasis , Tanya Talaga , and Mark Trahant —they joined host/moderator Rick Harp to set the table for the other three-dozen voices who gathered that weekend back in October 2025. ✪ BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods is sponsored by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, the Global Journalism Innovation Lab, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Museum of Anthropology ✪ // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY).
41 min
On this episode, the formal kick-off to our extended series, Beyond Fires & Floods (BFF): Indigenous Narratives in an Era of Extremes, beginning with the first half of a panel recorded last October before a live audience in the Great Hall of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC . The opening, public component of a 3-day gathering of journalists, scholars and others focused on Indigenous narratives of climate change, the panel assembled four seasoned storytellers embodying decades of experience, a wide-ranging conversation which served as a microcosm of the overall event—co-convened by MI host/producer Rick Harp and Candis Callison, UBC Professor and long-time MI roundtabler. ** GRATITUDE ** Special thanks to Mitiana Arbon, Pacific Curator at MOA—one of BFF 's four core sponsors, alongside the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation , the Global Journalism Innovation Lab , and the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs . // CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic.
54 min
ON THIS EPISODE: Part 0 of "Beyond Fires and Floods: Indigenous Narratives in an Era of Extremes." Otherwise known as "BFF," it's the name of a three-day gathering we co-convened last October on Musqueam Lands, home to the campus of UBC. Assembling close to 40 participants from media, academia and more, BFF fostered connections and conversations on Indigenous experiences and expertise with climate change. An extensive set of dialogues to be released on MEDIA INDIGENA in the weeks and months to come, we thought we'd first ground it with an overview of BFF 's origins, contents, and objectives. "We" meaning co-convenors Rick Harp (MI host/producer) and Candis Callison , UBC Professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and the School for Public Policy and Global Affairs, and, of course, long-time MI roundtabler. *** BFF: Beyond Fires & Floods is sponsored by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, the Global Journalism Innovation Lab, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Museum of Anthropology. *** // CREDITS: Creative Commons music this episode includes ' Cloud Seven ' by Joseph Sacco (CC-BY); ' Growth ' by 1000 Handz (CC BY); ' Sorta Satie Op 1 Nostalgia ' by Lopkerjo (CC BY). Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic.
42 min
On this episode: the last of our five-part series on the seminar, "Sovereignty First: Tackling the White Possessive in an Era of 'Collaboration,'" where we jump into genomics, a realm rife with racialized thinking and practice according to population scientist and Princeton graduate anthropology student Noah Collins. Yet despite challenges to Indigenous-led research in terms of access to financial and human resources, Collins notes that hasn't stopped their projects from prioritizing community over commerce. Returning to the table with host/producer Rick Harp to discuss Collin's presentation in depth are Kim TallBear (Professor of American Indian Studies at University of Minnesota–Twin Cities) and Candis Callison (Professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and School for Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia). CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Magnetic ' by 1000 Handz (CC BY).
1 hr 3 min
ON THIS EPISODE: part four of 'the White Possessive,' the latest in our five-part series on the seminar, "Sovereignty First: Tackling the White Possessive in an Era of 'Collaboration.'" Based on a presentation about pretendianism by Kim TallBear (Professor of American Indian Studies at University of Minnesota–Twin Cities), she joins fellow MI roundtabler Candis Callison (Professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and School for Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia) and host/producer Rick Harp to discuss what makes settler self-indigenization—where colonial cosplay works to both emulate and eliminate the Indian—arguably the final frontier of white possessiveness. CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Slow Me Down ' by Jangwa; ' Magnetic ' by 1000 Handz (CC BY).
47 min
ON THIS EPISODE: part three of 'the White Possessive,' the latest in our five-part series on the seminar, "Sovereignty First: Tackling the White Possessive in an Era of 'Collaboration.'" This time around, the property in question is intellectual. Rooted in a talk by Olga Ulturgasheva (Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester), we digest and discuss her account of how unscrupulous colleagues misappropriated and misrepresented her personal stories and observations, a case study in what she calls "epistemological extractivism." Returning to the roundtable with host/producer Rick Harp are MI regulars Kim TallBear (Professor of American Indian Studies at University of Minnesota–Twin Cities) and Candis Callison (Professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and School for Public Policy and Global Affairs at UBC). CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Magnetic ' by 1000 Handz (CC BY).
37 min
ON THIS EPISODE: Part two of 'the White Possessive.' And back in part one , we brought you the basics of this analytical framework as articulated by Aileen Moreton-Robinson, an analysis at the heart of the event, "Sovereignty First: Tackling the White Possessive in an Era of 'Collaboration.'" Featuring five presentations, the first was by none other than MI's Candis Callison (Professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and School for Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia), applying her lens as a media scholar. Here in our second engagement with the ways whiteness works to possess every last thing, we see how that possessiveness seemingly knows no bounds—right down to the extraction of our bodies' most minute material. Drawing on a presentation by Jennifer Brown (Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Alaska Native Studies at the University of Alaska-Southeast) on how that's played out in Alaska in some dubious public health research and reportage, host/producer Rick Harp is joined once again by Candis and fellow MI regular Kim TallBear (Professor of American Indian Studies at University of Minnesota–Twin Cities) to reflect further on Brown's talk. CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' Magnetic ' by 1000 Handz (CC BY).
1 hr 22 min
ON THIS EPISODE: Interrogating 'the white possessive.' And according to Indigenous scholar Aileen Moreton-Robinson , countries like Canada, Australia and the U.S. are best understood as 'white possessions'—possessions which take a great deal of work and resources to maintain, a relentless reproduction of "the nation-state's ownership, control and domination" over stolen Indigenous lands and waters. But, of course, the machinations of white possessiveness can also be less overt. Secure in their belief in a colonial status quo, states now promote Indigenous 'inclusion' within socioeconomic systems predicated on their dispossession and disappearance. Gestures at 'collaboration' that are more confabulation, a 'reconciliation' that's really about recuperation. The kind of contradictions discussed extensively at " Sovereignty First : Tackling the White Possessive in an Era of 'Collaboration'"—an October 2024 panel inspired by Moreton-Robinson's insights into whiteness, race and the state—a series of presentations we'll reflect on over the next few episodes. Sitting with host/producer Rick Harp , MI regulars Kim TallBear , Professor of American Indian Studies at University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, and Candis Callison , Professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and School for Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia. CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is ' nesting ' by birocratic; ' Magnetic ' by 1000 Handz (CC BY).
49 min
On this episode: the back half of the all-Indigenous panel MI host/producer Rick Harp moderated at "Reimagining Political Journalism: Perils, Possibilities & What Comes Next"—convened last November by Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication in Ottawa—in which the audience joins in with their thoughts and questions for our all-star panelists: Candis Callison , Associate Professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and the School for Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia Veldon Coburn , faculty chair of McGill University's Indigenous Relations Initiative and assistant professor at the Institute of Canadian and Aboriginal Studies at the University of Ottawa Brett Forester , a reporter and broadcaster with CBC Indigenous in Ottawa Pam Palmater , podcaster, professor and chair of Indigenous Governance at Toronto Metropolitan University Niigaan Sinclair , media commentator, Faculty of Arts Professorship in Indigenous Knowledge and Aesthetics at University of Manitoba's Department of Indigenous Studies CREDITS: Our intro/extro theme is 'nesting' by birocratic; ' relaxed days , ' by snoozy beat (CC BY).