Indigenous Insights: An Evaluation Podcast

In this heartfelt episode of Indigenous Insights, host Gladys Rowe sits down with An Garagiola, an evaluator, researcher, writer, and PhD student. An shares her remarkable journey from overcoming personal and systemic challenges to becoming a passionate advocate for Indigenous research sovereignty. She reflects on her work with CEDAR (Community Engagement for Decolonizing and Advancing Research) and the Truth Project, discussing th...

Community Stories in Indigenous Evaluation with Veronica LaJoie

In this episode of Indigenous Insights, host Gladys Rowe sits down with Veronica LaJoie, a dedicated member of the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, artist, and Indigenous evaluation specialist. Veronica shares her transformative journey into evaluation, beginning with foundational teachings from the Indigenous Evaluation Framework and scholars and leaders wh...

In this episode Gladys speaks with Shelby Corley, CEO of Three Hive Consulting and founder of Eval Academy. Shelby reflects on her journey into evaluation, drawing from her background in anthropology and health services to build a responsive and impactful consulting practice. Through Three Hive, Shelby emphasizes flexibility, relationship-building, and doing good work that aligns with community values.

The conversation explores how...

In this episode host Gladys Rowe engages in a powerful conversation with Indigenous feminist philosopher and educator Shelbi Nahwilet Meissner. Shelbi shares her journey into evaluation through her work on Indigenous language reclamation and her deep engagement within Indigenous research methods. She discusses the significance of relationship-building, the centrality of kinship and gender diversity, and the creation of the Indigeno...

In this episode, host Gladys Rowe is joined by Heather Burke and Cheyenne Williams for a conversation about the power of community-led learning and environmental stewardship. The guests share their experiences working on The Xwulqw'selu Riparian Guardians Program in Cowichan territory, highlighting the importance of centering Indigenous knowledge holders in education. The discussion also explores how institutions like Vancouver Isl...

In this episode, Gladys sits down with Dr. Pālama Lee, Dr. Brandon Ledward, and Nina Murrow to discuss Native Hawaiian wellbeing and Indigenous evaluation frameworks. Together, they share their journeys into the field of evaluation, exploring how ancestral knowledge, community-driven approaches, and data sovereignty are transforming health and social outcomes for Native Hawaiians. The group reflects on the significance of the Kūkul...

In this episode Gladys gets to know three amazing guests, Olivia Roanhorse, Rebecca Rae, and Daphne Littlebear as they share stories about their evaluation journeys, their work as a team, and an Indigenous evaluation network that they have been nurturing in New Mexico. 

Olivia Roanhorse, MPH, COO and Portfolio Lead, Roanhorse Consulting, LLC. Olivia provides leadership and oversight of key policy, research, and evaluation projec...

In this final episode of the special season that has focused on the arts and arts based practices in evaluation, Gladys reflects on the learnings she has gathered from the stories shared and on an inspiring exhibit from her recent visit to the Tate Modern in London. 

From this episode:

About Richard Wagamese's Medicine Walk (2014). https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-friday-edition-1.5260084/as-it-happened-the-archiv...

In this episode we learn more about multidisciplinary artist Mi’gmaq artist and storyteller Brandon Mitchell from Listuguj First Nation. Dive into Brandon’s journey from childhood stories to a career in graphic novels and animation, and how he now empowers others to tell their own stories. Explore the intersection of art, culture, and evaluation in this inspiring conversation.

Brandon Mitchell is Mi’gmaq from Listuguj First Natio...

Dr. Cathy Mattes is a Michif curator (MMF citizen, Westman Local-Southwest Region), writer, and art history professor based out of Sprucewoods, Manitoba, Canada. Her curation, research and writing centers on dialogic and Indigenous knowledge-centered curatorial practice as strategies for care. She has a PhD in Indigenous Studies from the University of Manitoba, and currently teaches at the University of Winnipeg in the History of A...

In this episode Gladys sits down with Michael Lawrenchuk, who is not only her dad, but a prophetic storyteller who has greatly influenced her passion for the arts. He speaks to the role of theatre in his own healing journey and the power of storytelling.

Michael Lawrenchuk has been involved in theatre, film and television as an actor, director and writer since 1991. Michael is a graduate of the UofW's Honour's Acting Program. He ...

In this episode Tiffany shares her journey to develop an Indigenous beadwork methodology, how beading shows up in her work, and the stories she has witnessed as a community embedded scholar. 

CW: Discussion of Indian Residential Schools

Bio

Dr. Tiffany Prete is a member of the Kainai (Blood Tribe) of the Siksikasitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), located in the Treaty 7 area. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociolo...

In this episode Linda and Larry share stories from over four decades of research and evaluation using arts-based methods of engagement. They discuss the many meaningful and authentic ways they have used to approach people in their evaluation projects including drawing, photographs, collage, and poetry. They urge evaluators to consider how we might change how we listen to and tell stories in our work. 

Larry & Linda wrote a blog...

In this episode Gladys and Terrellyn talk about storytelling as methodology and worldview, songs in evaluation, accountabilities of evaluators, building a canoe in a learning journey, and Metuaptmumk. It’s a full and spirit filled conversation that we hope will nourish you, and inspire you to consider arts-based methods in your evaluation and everyday practices. 

Terrellyn Fearn is an Indigenous scholar-practitioner. She is Mi'kmaq...

In this episode Gladys sits in conversation with Jennica Nichols and Maya Lefkowich of AND Implementation. Jennica and Maya talk about their own evaluation origin stories and everything arts-based evaluation! The conversation meanders through the excitement, cautions, and learnings on their professional journey with arts-based practices and methods in evaluation. We talk about creating intentional moments of reflection, creativity,...

In this first episode for a special Season 2, Gladys shares what she has been up to, the stories that provide direction in her life, and what listeners can expect in the next episodes. She recounts the power and necessity of story to hold a space for Indigenous resurgence and decolonial futures and shares some poetry - because that’s what she loves to do! 

Resources from this episode

Resurgence of Indigenous Nationhood: Centering t...

In this final episode Gladys reflects on the first season of Indigenous Insights and shares her understandings of Indigenous evaluation and why it is a critical mechanism for decolonial futures.

And, as a sneak peak into the fun of Season Two, Gladys invites listeners into a space of reflection and poetry creation to think about (and feel into) what they have learned/unlearned throughout the journey of this first season.

Please fee...

Sam Bird is a citizen of Peguis First Nation, currently residing in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She is a Program Partner at the Mastercard Foundation, Canada Programs, with a focus on Youth Engagement. She’s passionate about creating systems change for Indigenous young people. Outside of work she loves to enjoy all that northwestern Ontario has to offer when it comes to hiking, canoeing, and skiing. Sam is also an emerging writer, with w...

Dr. Karen Alexander is Ojibwe from the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She is the proud mother of four and grandmother of five. Karen’s culture as an Indigenous person is most important to her and she passes down her knowledge about how to live life ‘in a good way’ to her children and grandchildren. She has always strived to help other Indigenous people to heal and has been an addictions counselor and clinical social wor...