The Indigenous Foundation is proud to present Unrooted, a podcast focused on centering Indigenous voices and stories. Through Unrooted, we hope to dismantle systems of oppression and 'uproot' the deeply ingrained issues and racism that exist against Indigenous peoples to this day. We hope to share intersectional, holistic perspectives and experiences through speaking with Indigenous and Afro-Indigenous advocates and change-makers.
Becoming a Matriarch: Grief, Boundaries, and the Sacred Work of Healing with Helen Knott
Bestselling author Helen Knott shares her profound journey of healing from grief and trauma with host Breanne Smith, offering insights into boundaries and reclaiming inherent worth.
9 Dec 2025
📚Books as Medicine: Decolonize Your Bookshelf & Honor Indigenous Voices with Dominique Burleson
We’re celebrating Indigenous storytelling by talking about what it really means to decolonize your bookshelf and reclaim the stories that shape identity, culture, and connection.
Breanne sits down with Dominique Burleson, Lumbee bookseller and founder of Paperbacks & Frybread, to explore the power of Indigenous representation in literature and the role books play in remembering who we are.
Dominique shares her journey from homeschool mom to viral bookstore owner and advocate for Indigenous literature, offering insight into how stories can reconnect us to language, cultural roots, and ancestral knowledge.
As we honor National American Indian Heritage Month (a little late), this conversation is a reminder that storytelling is survival - and that Indigenous books are acts of resistance, reclamation, and love.
This is a reminder that decolonizing your bookshelf is a pathway to reclaiming your narrative and carrying Indigenous stories into the future - not just in November, but year-round.
EPISODE TOPICS:
🔷 Indigenous Storytelling
🔷 Indigenous knowledge
🔷 Decolonization
🔷 Indigenous teachings
🔷 Decolonizing education
🔷 Decolonized homeschooling
🔷 intergenerational healing
🔷 generational healing
🔷 breaking generational trauma
🔷 diverse books
🔷 cultural preservation
🔷 Indigenous podcast
🔷 The Indigenous Foundation
🔷 Indigenous ceremonies
🔷 Indigenous healing
🔷 Indigenous author
🔷 Native American author
🔷 Native American Heritage Month
🔷 Indigenous author
🔷 Native American storytelling
🔷 Indigenous resilience
🔷 Ancestral knowledge
🔷 Native American teachings
🧡 Support & Connect: 🌐 https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/
📲 Follow us on Instagram: @theindigenousfoundation & @breazieboozhoo
and Dominique Burleson @paperbacks_n_frybread
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on Indigenous wisdom, resistance, & healing
30 Sept 2025
🧡 Orange Shirt Day 101: The History, Conversation Starters & Ways to Create Change
Orange Shirt Day is more than a date on the calendar - it’s a powerful call to remember, learn, and act. In this solo episode, co-host Breanne explores the history of Orange Shirt Day, the legacy of residential schools in Canada, and the story of Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose stolen orange shirt sparked a nationwide movement for truth and reconciliation.
You’ll hear:
Why September 30th was chosen as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The lasting impact of residential school trauma and the strength of Indigenous survivors & families
How wearing an orange shirt helps raise awareness that Every Child Matters
Practical conversation starters for families, classrooms, and communities
Meaningful ways to support Indigenous communities - from self-education to advocacy
Whether you’re new to Orange Shirt Day or seeking deeper understanding, this episode offers education, reflection, and actionable steps to stand with Indigenous peoples and help build a more truthful, just future.
EPISODE TOPICS:
🔷 What is Orange Shirt Day?
🔷 Who is Phyllis Jack Webstad?
🔷 Every Child Matters
🔷 Truth and Reconciliation
🔷 Residential schools Canada
🔷 Building a better future
🔷 Reconciliation actions
🔷 Indigenous history
🔷 Generational healing
🔷 Native American stories
🔷 Indigenous healing
🔷 Indigenous podcast
🔷 Indigenous storytelling
🔷 Indigenous perspectives
🔷 Native American philosophy
🔷 Residential school survivor story
🔷 Ancestral knowledge
🔷 Indigenous teachings
🔷 Indigenous stories
🔷 Native American teachings
🔷 Indigenous voices
🔷 Survivor Stories
🔷 Ways to support Indigenous Communities
🔷 Indigenous leaders
🔷 Orange Shirt Day in classrooms
🔷 Indigenous teaching in classrooms
🔷 Conversation starters
🔷 Classroom conversation starters
🧡 Support & Connect:
🌐 https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/ (https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/)
📲 Follow us on Instagram:
@theindigenousfoundation
&
@breazieboozhoo
The Orange Shirt Society: https://orangeshirtday.org
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on Indigenous wisdom, resistance, & healing
4 Sept 2025
🐺 Feeding the Good Wolf: A Story of Indigenous Wisdom & Healing
If you’ve been feeling torn between who you are & who you're trying to become, this Indigenous story offers powerful guidance. In this episode of Unrooted, we explore the powerful Cherokee story of the two wolves that live inside each of us-one fueled by fear, anger, & ego… the other by love, peace, & compassion. Through this wise Indigenous teaching, we uncover what it means to choose healing, even when it’s hard, & how the energy we feed becomes the life we live.
This isn’t just a story - it’s a map for inner growth, emotional regulation, & reclaiming your power after pain. Whether you're healing from trauma, navigating big emotions, or simply seeking a deeper connection to yourself, this episode offers reflection, grounding, and guidance through an ancestral lens.
✨ Discover which wolf you’ve been feeding
✨ Learn how Indigenous wisdom can guide your healing
✨ Shift your daily choices toward compassion, growth, & self-love
Tune in & let this sacred teaching remind you: you are not the battle - you are the storyteller.
EPISODE TOPICS:
🔷 Feed the good wolf
🔷 Indigenous knowledge
🔷 Cherokee stories
🔷 Cherokee teachings
🔷 Native American wisdom
🔷 Building a better future
🔷 Becoming your best self
🔷 Indigenous wisdom
🔷 Generational healing
🔷 Native American stories
🔷 Indigenous healing
🔷 Indigenous podcast
🔷 Indigenous storytelling
🔷 Indigenous perspectives
🔷 Native American philosophy
🔷 Personal growth
🔷 Ancestral knowledge
🔷 Indigenous teachings
🔷 Indigenous stories
🔷 Native American teachings
🧡 Support & Connect:
🌐 https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/ (https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/)
📲 Follow us on Instagram:
@theindigenousfoundation
&
@breazieboozhoo
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on Indigenous wisdom, resistance, & healing
19 Apr 2025
Seven Generations Principle: Healing the Past & Shaping the Future
What if every decision you made today could impact the lives of those who come seven generations after you?
In this episode of the Unrooted Podcast, our co-host Breanne explores the deep roots & modern relevance of the Seven Generations Principle - an Indigenous philosophy grounded in ancestral wisdom, long-term thinking, & collective responsibility.
We dive into the origins of this principle in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, how it connects to Anishinaabe teachings through the word aanikobijigan, and the many ways this timeless teaching still applies to our lives today - from sustainability and community building to healing generational trauma and preserving Indigenous culture.
Whether you're just beginning to learn about Indigenous knowledge systems or are reconnecting with your own roots, this episode offers both reflection & action.
You’ll learn:
🌱 What the Seven Generations Principle really means
🌊 How to apply it to land, water, & environmental decisions
💞 How it shapes relationships, community, & long-term healing
🧬 The connection between Indigenous wisdom & science (hello, epigenetics!)
🌺 5 actionable ways to live by this principle today
🪶 Why your healing matters not just for you - but for future generations
EPISODE TOPICS:
🔷 Seven Generations Principle
🔷 Indigenous knowledge
🔷 Haudenosaunee Confederacy
🔷 Anishinaabe teachings
🔷 building a better future
🔷 aaniikobijigan meaning
🔷 Indigenous environmentalism
🔷 generational healing
🔷 breaking generational trauma
🔷 epigenetics & Indigenous wisdom
🔷 cultural preservation
🔷 Indigenous podcast
🔷 The Indigenous Foundation
🔷 Indigenous storytelling
🔷 climate justice
🔷 sustainable living
🔷 Indigenous perspectives
🔷 Native American philosophy
🔷 decolonizing the future
🔷 ancestral knowledge
🔷 Indigenous teachings
🧡 Support & Connect:
🌐 https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/
📲 Follow us on Instagram:
@theindigenousfoundation
&
@breazieboozhoo
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on Indigenous wisdom, resistance, & healing
24 Jun 2022
Indigenous Perspective: Introducing Yourself
Tansi! Hello! In this episode of Unrooted, join podcast host Lazaya in a conversation on the significance of Introducing one another, and how you can introduce yourself in an Indigenized way. Introductions are quite often overlooked in today’s fast-paced society, and this episode illustrates the importance of slowing down and really understanding our peers through introductions. This episode highlights Lazaya’s perspective on introductions, and Lazaya explains the difference between an Indigenized introduction versus a westernized introduction. Lazaya shares an in-depth step by step foundation to perfecting your Indigenized introductions, whether you are meeting new friends, classmates, teachers, elders or co-workers!
26 Apr 2022
Connecting Conversations with Leo and Jeremy
In this episode of Unrooted one of TIF’s podcast hosts; Kasey McDonald is joined by Leo Manning, host of the “Words of Medicine” podcast and Jeremy Ratt, host of the CBC podcast “Pieces”. This episode titled “Connecting Conversations” is meant to bring a sense of connection, community and an outlet to share and reflect. In this episode, we talk about identity, language learning, re-connecting and whatever else we happen to stumble upon. Join us for a “connecting conversation” on Unrooted! Resources: Culture for Life - http://cultureforlife.ca/ , Indigenous Cultural Understanding Resources - https://alignab.ca/indigenous-initiatives-resources/ , Hope For Wellness Help Line - 1-855-242-3310 Native Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-877-209-1266 Kids Help Phone:1 800 668 6868 Ontario Post-Secondary Student Helpline: 1-866-925-5454 Ontario Post-Secondary Student Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-2433
3 Mar 2022
The Indian Child Welfare Act and Brackeen v Haaland
In this episode, co-hosts Kasey and Chloe talk about an important case in the Supreme Court this January. This case is so significant that could potentially be used to overrule the Indian Child Welfare Act and even threaten indigenous sovereignty. This case is Brackeen vs. Haaland, the result of a lawsuit in 2018 in which the federal district court of Texas ruled that the Indian Child Welfare Act is unconstitutional on the basis of it being racist to white people. A panel from the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed, and the case has now been sent to the Supreme Court. Kasey and Chloe also talk about IWCA (the Indian Child Welfare Act), what it is, and its impacts. *Note: This episode was created in December 2021, so the reason some current dates are referred to in the future is due to the episode’s recording date.*
22 Jan 2022
21 Things: Expropriation and European Names
Hi everyone!! We missed you! In this episode of the 21 Things series under the Unrooted (@theindigenousfoundation) podcast, co-hosts Roaa and Izzy will be discussing and enlightening each other on the topics of expropriation and European names, the next two items in the Indian Act. They will also be adding an additional item this week.
As always please enjoy and remember learning is the minimum, ensure to integrate action items into your everyday life and support Indigenous peoples, always.
10 Jan 2022
Indigenous Perspective: Education System
Aanii! Boozhoo! Tânisi! Hello everyone! Welcome back to another episode of Unrooted, a podcast by The Indigenous Foundation. In today's episode, our two co-hosts, Lazaya (a part Plains Cree woman from Sweetgrass First Nation and Onion Lake First Nation) and Kelsey (an Anishinaabe and Dutch woman from Saugeen First Nation), will be talking about Indigenous perspectives of our current education systems with special guest Zhaawnong. Zhaawnong is an Anishinaabe content creator from Kitigan Zibi First Nation. He is known for his TikToks (@Zhaawnong) that educate others on various issues that impact Indigenous peoples as well as his comedy TikToks that cater to what many call native humour. This podcast episode highlights the perspectives of these three Indigenous folks and the changes they believe are necessary to better accommodate Indigenous peoples in our education systems.
27 Nov 2021
21 Things: Reserves and Enfranchisment
WELCOME BACK!! In this episode of the 21 Things series under the Unrooted (@theindigenousfoundation) podcast, the co-hosts Izzy and Roaa will be unpacking, learning and discussing the next two topics in the Indian Act, reserves and enfranchisement!
In this episode we mention many action items individuals can partake in and share with those around them. We wanted to highlight some Indigenous led organizations and educational resources to continue the work! Below 👇🏼 are the resources outlined in the episode! Please check them out :)
Indigenous led organizations:
Idle No More:
https://idlenomore.ca (https://idlenomore.ca/)
Honour The Earth:
https://www.honorearth.org (https://www.honorearth.org/)
Indigenous Environmental Network:
https://www.ienearth.org/?fbclid=IwAR3C9B5gbdf_Ux-Z2PEo7MUoWbqs_OiURc_2d8KfEJkd46QHNZkgLXK0hjI (https://www.ienearth.org/?fbclid=IwAR3C9B5gbdf_Ux-Z2PEo7MUoWbqs_OiURc_2d8KfEJkd46QHNZkgLXK0hjI)
Legacy of Hope:
https://legacyofhope.ca (https://legacyofhope.ca/)
Additional Resources:
http://unistoten.camp (http://unistoten.camp/)
https://www.facebook.com/giniwcollective/ (https://www.facebook.com/giniwcollective/)
Izzy’s article: Indigenous peoples and the right to vote
https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/indigenous-peoples-and-the-right-to-vote (https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/indigenous-peoples-and-the-right-to-vote)
22 Sept 2021
Clean Drinking Water in Indigenous Communities
Aanii! Boozhoo! Tânisi! Hello everyone! Welcome back to another episode of Unrooted, a podcast by The Indigenous Foundation. In today's episode, our two co-hosts, Lazaya (a part Plains Cree woman from Sweetgrass First Nation and Onion Lake First Nation) and Kelsey (an Anishinaabe and Dutch woman from Saugeen First Nation), will be talking about the crisis of clean drinking water in Indigenous communities and how it impacts them as Indigenous peoples. This podcast episode is one of a continuous series that will be talking about and breaking down the lack of clean drinking water when it comes to Indigenous communities. This topic is one that is severely overlooked and constantly silenced or hidden by the government and media. With that, we encourage everyone to listen and go beyond the podcast to learn about the actions you can take to contribute to ending this crisis.
11 Sept 2021
Indigenous Representations in Universities
Boozhoo! Ayukîi! Héehe! Hau! Hey everyone! We are so excited to share another episode of The Indigenous Foundation's podcast, Unrooted. In today's episode, our podcast hosts Chloe, Katie, and Kasey will be diving into the topic of Indigenous representation in universities across Turtle Island, as well as their experience as Native students when it comes to the admission process and university experience. Katie is a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and a rising sophomore college student; Chloe is a part-indigenous senior in high school; and Kasey is a member of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation in Ontario and currently finishing up college. Our hosts will be talking about various topics when it comes to university representation of Native students, including land acknowledgments in universities and the discrimination Indigenous students face when it comes to affirmative action.
Links & Resources:
American Indian College Fund: https://collegefund.org/students/
College Horizons: https://collegehorizons.org/
Cobell Scholarship: https://cobellscholar.org/
Read "A Third University is Possible" for free online: https://manifold.umn.edu/read/a-third-university-is-possible/section/ba50806d-ff18-4100-9998-784aecb42ae4
Dear Native College Student: http://nativeappropriations.com/2015/01/dear-native-college-student-you-are-loved.html
25 Aug 2021
21 Things: Band Councils and Status
Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of Unrooted, a podcast by The Indigenous Foundation (@theindigenousfoundation) on Instagram. In today's episode, our co-hosts Roaa Abdalla and Isabella Thurston will be introducing their new podcast series, which will be covering around 2 to 3 topics each episode relating to the bestseller, "21 Things You Might Not Know About The Indian Act." In this episode, they will be delving into a number of important topics included in this book, such as the Imposed Elected Chief and Band Council System, and the denial of status for Indigenous women.
Please note that many of the topics discussed in this episode may be triggering for some, so proceed with caution.
14 Feb 2021
Indigenous representation in media
In this episode, our co-hosts Meera and Sena invite Michaella Shannon, (of Nehiyaw, Lakota, and Irish heritage) who is an eTalks correspondent host, actress, activist, and model, as they explore the representation of BIPOC, especially Indigenous peoples in the media industry. They cover a variety of topics, including the difference between diversity and inclusion, the ever changing diversity found in the media industry, and Michaella's personal experience being a model, film director, and actor, as well as her journey following what inspired her to take an interest in the media industry.
31 Jan 2021
The crisis of MMIWG: Don't stay silent.
In this episode, our co-hosts Meera and Sena along with our guest host, Jordan Marie Daniel talk about the crisis of MMIWG, as well as Jordan's inspirational journey of how she decided to advocate for MMIWG rights through her passion for running, and what inspired her to do so.
This podcast is a part of The Indigenous Foundation, a youth-led not for profit organization seeking to raise awareness about indigenous rights globally and make a difference through the use of infographics, articles, artwork, and podcasts. Check out their instagram @theindigenousfoundation to learn more!
Inside a recent episode
Becoming a Matriarch: Grief, Boundaries, and the Sacred Work of Healing with Helen Knott
Published 15 Jun 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Why aren't you doing this? And I'm like, I work so much. I can only do so much. And this is what I'm able to do. And he was just kept voicing his discontent with what I was able to give. And I was like, at this point, that's not for me to reconcile. Like, that's for you, because this is the version that you think I should show up as. And I'm telling you, this is what I'm capable of and still be well, right? And it was learning to be okay with that, with not only within my family, but in other places in my life of being like, that's okay. […]
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