September 22, 2025 • 53 mins
Connection with Cultural Roots dives deep into the vital importance of understanding, celebrating, and maintaining ties to one's cultural heritage. Through compelling interviews, insightful discussions, we explore the diverse traditions, values, stories, and experiences that shape our identities, connect us to our past, and inform our future. We uncover the richness and resilience of cultural roots and examine their profound impact on our lives, families, and communities, Maintaining traditions.
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ASharpe Outlook is broadcast live Mondays at 8AM PT on K4HD Radio - Hollywood Talk Radio (www.k4hd.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). ASharpe Outlook TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).
ASharpe Outlook Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asharpe-outlook--6643730/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This program is designed to provide general information with regards
to the subject matters covered. This information is given with
the understanding that neither the hosts, guests, sponsors, or station
are engaged in rendering any specific and personal medical, financial,
legal counseling, professional service, or any advice.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You should seek the services of.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Competent professionals before applying or trying any suggested ideas.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hello, and thank you for tuning in to a Sharp
Outlook on pay for HD Radio and Talk or TV.
I am Angela Sharp, your host our arm chair discussions
with industry experts will give you the steps, tools and
information to be successful in business and to prepare you
to be your best self. Hello, I'm Angela Sharp, and
(00:58):
I'm so glad you were able to join us. We're
going to have a really interesting conversation today about connecting
with your cultural roots, and it's really vital to get
an understanding, celebrating and maintaining ties to one's cultural heritage.
(01:18):
Through compelling conversations and insightful discussion, we explore the diverse traditions, values,
stories and experiences that shape our identities and connect us
to our past and inform our future. It's hard to
know where we're going when we don't know where we've
come from, and it makes it difficult to make the
(01:39):
right decisions or the right choices. But just going back
and connecting and getting involved in those cultural things, it
gives you a real perspective of what's going on in
your life. So I'm glad you're able to join us
as we uncover the richness and resilience of cultural roots
and examine their profound impact on our lives, families, and communities.
(02:05):
Well here from an expert and elder and every day
individuals who are actively engaged in preserving and revitalizing their cultures,
it's very important to keep your culture and to be
able to share that culture.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Today.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I am my guest as Vicky old Man, and she
is a highly respected cultural and passionate community leader dedicated
to preserving and promoting indigenous traditions and cultural heritage worldwide.
With over two decades of experience working in partnership with
diverse communities, Ickey possesses a profound understanding of the critical
(02:52):
role cultural heritage plays in fostering individual and collective identity,
resilience in the face of adversity, and strong social cohesion.
Vick has been an education facilitator, skilled trainer, working in
areas like strategic planning, community and organizational development, board development,
(03:15):
and team building. And as a consultant, she has provided
technical assistance, curriculum writing, and program coordination in both urban
and rural environments. She has worked in asset building. Native
CDFIs nonprofit organizational development train the trainers, communications and coaching,
(03:39):
and she is founding and managing partner of Seven Sisters
Community Development Group seven Sisters CDFIVE, serving low income families
in Native communities, Owner of The Real Native Roots Untold Stories,
a podcast bringing healing stories to communities and the next generation.
(04:03):
And I'll tell you this is a wonderful program to
listen in to and to get educated and also enlightened
as to how important cultural background and information is. I'd
like to invite Vicki to join me so we can
begin our conversation.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Yata, oh yeah, day hello, hello, hello it is I'm like,
I'm arriving starings and my ancestors and my cultural groundness.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yes, yes, it's so wonderful. It's so wonderful, and it's great.
I've been watching your show and it's a well, I
listened to it and I'll tell you, I've just enjoyed
every moment of you sharing untold like the untold stories,
stories a different things that aren't written in most books.
(05:03):
They're stories that are passed down and those are some
of the best stories you ever want to hear. You know,
if Hollywood actually wanted to be successful, they'd be trying
to tap into some of the stories because they're exciting.
They just grasp every emotion that you have within your
being and then they bring it to resolution and you say,
(05:29):
now I know what's in my system. And then you
have great poems that you always read. Do you have
a poem for us today?
Speaker 4 (05:41):
I do, and I just want to say yahat, thank
you so much for bringing me on.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
I just think anytime we can.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Connect with people deeply and share story, that's medicine in itself.
And I just ask those anyone who's listening in here,
just to take a deep breath with us before I
read the poems.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So, yeah, deep breath together and excel. I always like.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
To do that because you know, I don't know where
everyone's coming from, whatever conversation they may have had, or
what they're sitting with. No one of my favorite authors,
I love this man. I wish that I met him,
but he's already in the spirit world. Is Shirt Wogames,
and I'm reading from a book called What Comes from Spirit.
(06:35):
He's a great, great writer, and I just I love
this man. Okay, So here we go. It starts as
we all have stories within us. Sometimes we hold them gingerly,
sometimes desperately, sometimes as gently as an infant. It is
(07:01):
only by sharing our stories, by being strong enough to
take a risk, both in the telling and in the asking,
that we make it possible to know, recognize, and understand
each other.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
That is true. That is so true. And sometimes it
does take courage to become that vulnerable to share those stories.
But you know, I've gotten to the place where I
have to share stories because I know there's someone else
walking the same path I've walked, and if I can
(07:39):
help them by sharing my story, I think my life
was worth living because someone has learned and gathered some
wisdom from maybe my stupid decisions. But it doesn't matter, good,
bad or whatever. It was a choice when we're walking
down the path. We turned right and still left, or
(08:02):
we backed up or whatever it is.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
You know, Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And I feel like when
you had shared about our learnings.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I feel like even watching.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
A baby an infant, that is story watching right, And
as an elder, I receive that acknowledgement.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
As an elder, when I watch a tile, I'm.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Also receiving and learning from them. Like I feel like
sometimes it is important we listen to our elders. And
recently my dad actually was like, we're going back and
forth and talking and he's like, listen, and I was like,
like a little like a Chile, I'm like, oh, I'm
over talking, Papa.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
I need to listen, you know. And it's the same
thing with the baby.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
A child, they can scream and yell like and they're
trying to tell us listen, you know, I need something
or I need to tell you something. And I feel
like even when we're in nature, nature is also telling
us that, like listen.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
So I think.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Wherever we're at on the spectrum of our life journey
that we are, if we're open, right, if we're open
and vulnerable to receive, you will get the message. You
will get the medicine that is needed. And part of
that is just being fully present and really listening and
not being distracted. And gosh, that's that's hard these days.
(09:29):
There's so much going on in so much.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Destruction, a lot of a lot of noise. There's a
lot of noise out there, and some some of the
things going on I refuse to listen to because it's
not it's not healthy, it's it doesn't promote, you know, positivity,
And so you know, I'm also cautious of what I
(09:54):
let into my spirit because even sometimes you know, even
people that you know, you have to say, oh, you know,
it's been it's been good, but I got to go
my route. You need to go the direction that you're going,
because it's not my place to try to change your mind.
(10:14):
You'll find that out on your own as you keep
walking down the journey. But yeah, it's really, really, really important,
so exploring what it means to be native in a
modern world, because I noticed recently there's a lot of
younger and I'm so proud of our youth, the younger
(10:38):
Indigenous people are. They're coming up strong. Where maybe I
would have been really quiet and feeling my way, they
are very vocal now and they are really speaking some
things and I'm so proud of them. And they're taking
they're picking up the mantle and their continue and to
(11:01):
you know, fight the good fight. And they're making the
noises and sitting down and at the table and making
sure there is a table for them. I mean, the
youth is really really doing some great things. So what
does it What does it mean to you?
Speaker 4 (11:18):
M I feel like what it means to me is
like our ancestors.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Prayers are showing up.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
You know.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I think about my grandparents and even my parents and
they've taught me and how I you know, pray to universe, creator, spirit,
whatever people use in terms of language. We're always praying
for currently right, we pray for going forward. We pray
for our young people. We pray for the generation. We
(11:49):
pray that they stay in tack and be healthy. So
I think that one is one of them. In my
humble opinion is my foundational thought is prayers are being received,
they're happening, they're in motion. And I also think, you know,
our young people they're just so they're smart, They listen,
they observe, and they're also not afraid, which I love
(12:11):
because they're pushing back on like old ideas, and you know,
because science also comes into play in showing evidence. And
this is why I love about our indigenous and our
cultural ways, is that we have known since time memorial,
what the land does, we know, what why we do
(12:35):
certain things, what we believe. People thought they were superstitious,
and now scientists catching up and realizing, hey, there's some
validity here with smudging, there's some validity here with you know,
internal trauma. So when they think of because I remember
my aunts, like my grandparents and my mother, my aunties.
(12:56):
When I was caring, they would always say to me, we.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Care for what you think.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Be careful what you put in your mind, you know,
watch be careful with how you move and how much.
But don't be lazy, you know, because they understood trauma.
They didn't have those words, but they knew that if
I was hurting and crying and aching, the baby's going
to feel that. And the baby's already you know, getting
(13:21):
that sense. So I feel like young people are also
learning about somatic work about trauma, historical traumas, societal trauma,
and they're trying, they're flipping, they're flipping the narrative. They're
not owning being victims anymore and saying, hey, we have
we have the medicine, and that's our songs, our prayers
(13:43):
our language, and I love it when I see young people,
like on Instagram or on TikTok and they're practicing the
language and they feel like, I don't know how old
you are, but you're probably younger than me. When I
was speaking and try to speak my language, I would
get shamed, like it was like the elders. Some of
(14:06):
my relatives would, you know, get on me. They would
tease me, and then that would make me feel discouraged
to try practicing. And so I make it a point
to really try to encourage our people. When you see
our young people trying encourage them, show them gently, don't
shame them.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
And I think that's.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
So I'm like, I'm so happy for our young people.
And I also think though they need to practice more
listening skills.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Though yeah, I'm hurd they're listening, but like I said,
they I mean just recently, they had a canoe journey
on the blackham A River out here in Oregon. It's
like one hundred and thirty miles. They paddled that whole
(14:57):
way and I was like, whoa you know, and nobody said,
oh you guys, you get up, you go do this.
They decided themselves and I've been seeing a lot of
it because I'm in the Stay Outle area, but no
closer to Portland and near the water, the ocean, the rivers,
and I see a lot of the journeys being done
(15:18):
by different tribes so that the youth can find out
this is what your ancestors endured. So did you be here?
And it's just incredible, you know, to see that, And
that's why I love you know, some of the stories
that you have on your podcast. You know, you know,
(15:39):
why did you decide to do that podcast?
Speaker 4 (15:42):
So the story is, this is right before covid it
maybe a year twenty eighteen. A friend of mine on
Instagram would always see me post little stories on there,
and then he inboxed me because you should do a podcast,
And honestly, I had no clue. I wasn't listening to
any podcast then. So then I researched. I'm like, what
(16:03):
what am I going to talk about? You know, And
because my stories back then would just be little journeys
of you know, me trying something new or experimenting or
commenting on you know, a dish or whatever, and so
I really it wouldn't let go of me, you know,
when creator drops the seed in you of an idea,
you can't let it go, Like your mind goes back
(16:25):
to it and you're like, h there's something here, And.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
So I wouldn't it wouldn't leave me.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
And I'm like, okay, I'm hearing you spirit, right. So
I started researching and then then I really sat with
what am I going to talk about?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
And then it landed. I was like, Vicky, you love stories.
You love when your.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
Mom tells you her story about going to the dump
yard when she was little to find toys. And she
tells a story because she says her youngest sister would
go way down in the dump yard to get the
best to and one time that happened and the aunts
and uncles are like, let's go. We're going to you know,
(17:07):
dairy Queen or something like that. So they all go
and they there's a lot of kids, and so they
didn't realize my aunt wasn't in there. So they're like,
they realized she's not here. So they go back and
she's standing there crying, but with a really cool doll.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
But everybody's seeing their ice cream. So those kind of stories.
I was like, oh my god, and I'm like, well,
IM tell me that story again, and so that I
was like, those are untold stories. Those are stories that she.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Would not share, you know, and my grandmother as well.
I would say, Grandma, tell me the story about that
rock again. So then I was like, Okay, I know
untold stories, but what what's the first half of this
this podcast? So the goal really was to interview. I
didn't even like to use the word interview. It's connect
and tell me story.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Tell me tell me a moment and time in.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Your life that was hard or that was special, or
that gave you insight. And I also really believe that
stories heal. So once that all came together, I bought
the equipment and this is what I was going to do,
was that I was going to pack the equipment and
all my business travels. I was going to stay a
(18:17):
day later or come early and then find local stories
from community people. And then COVID happened, I launched it,
I still did it, and it was really good. And
so now I try to think about, you know, while
I'm in the community, can I get a story or
at least meet somebody to you know, schedule a story
(18:38):
connection going forward?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
And I will just say it's been such a joy.
I love it and.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
It's a hobby. It's a love it's a love project.
So I'm enjoying it. I do have some ideas about
what I might want to do with it later, but
for now, I'm just you know, doing it when I
can because I.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
My day job, which just keeps you pretty busy too.
But it is h that's that's uh. I mean, that
takes us way back to Oista. I know all of
the things I mean, and that's how I remember you.
You were always so involved in you know, training and
(19:21):
training the trainers and sharing knowledge and information, always out
there sharing knowledge and doing capacity building, building up communities.
So they now had the tools, they now had the skills,
they now had the understanding of how to navigate, you know,
in this you know capitalistic you know society. I mean
(19:45):
it's just, yeah, you have done some wonderful work.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
And I give you that all to you know, honestly,
I I give that to spirit because I feel like
we're a vessel. So when we're talking and feeling and
expressing like it's information coming through coming out. And I
also give credit to all my mentors, people who have
(20:13):
spent time to shape and encourage me and also pushed me,
and I feel like my lived experience, but also my
connection with my community, which is the community people, the practitioners,
you know, leaders who who saw something in me to
give me enough time and encouragement to continue to do
(20:35):
this work so I can reciprocate that back.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
I feel like if we don't follow and live.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Through our values, that then things don't fully align or
it makes it harder in our life. And I try
really hard to live my life through values in looking
at community, looking at reciprocity, you know, intuition where I
really feel try to listen to what is being said
(21:02):
and really try to follow that then to be in
my head because our head always, our brain wants to
make sense and sometimes things we may not make sense
of it, and so that's where we tap into our body.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
And I feel like that's cultural.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Like I think about my grandparents and my particularly my grandparents,
and how I watch them make decisions and how they
move about their life.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
They I see them.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
When I was little, I would see them and how
they would move and even like healers watching them, and
it's all like intuitive, you know, it's really staying grounded.
And if we're not grounded, and we're shaky and you
know it makes work relationships harder in our life.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Oh yeah, well it's it's like we we end up
we did like you said, we have a we have
a path that was designed m hm this and and
creator has f us made us, tested us, prepared us
to walk this specific path. And getting off of that path,
you're going to have, you know, conflict, and it's going
(22:10):
to make like you said, it's going to make things
harder because that's not the road you're supposed to be on.
That's not the work you're supposed to be doing. And
some of us, we we took on work that it
paid the bills, but it wasn't our purpose. And so
as I tell young people now, you can be spending
an awful lot of years working, make sure it's something
(22:34):
that gives you joy, makes you fulfilled and actually, like
you said, serves others other than yourself, you know. And
and because you kind of want to leave footprints, you know,
you want to leave footprints so that someone's going to
remember your name, they're going to remember what you did,
(22:55):
They're going to remember a story you told. They're going
to remember a poem that was written or a painting
that was painted they're going to remember because, first off,
when you're in the right realm and you're walking in
spirit is guiding you. When you speak, there's an energy
that comes from you that blesses those people so that
(23:17):
they now become energized to do some of the very
same things. And yeah, I'm just listening. It just seems like,
you know, that was something that was just in your
DNA to be out there, you know, working with communities,
bringing things together, bringing skills together, and now bringing the
(23:40):
culture together and telling stories about you know, who who
y'all who we are as people. And I believe in
culture because, like I said, it took me a while
to accept accept it because of just some of the
things that I experienced or I saw when I was
(24:03):
growing up and then moving into a corporate environment being
so strict and so and me being the only woman
there in finance and tech and them actually not wanting
me to be there. But I didn't care because I
was going to be who I was going to be,
And I just let them know, You're not that important.
(24:26):
You are replaceable. In fact, all of us are, so
get you know, get off your high horse and let's
sit down, let's work through some you know, solutions here.
And because you know, I'm just here for my paycheck,
I'm not trying to be friends. So let's let's get
to work. I mean, I really had to put on
a hard exterior to be working in an environment when
(24:49):
it was just all men and and men that did
not want women in their industry. The things that I heard,
you know, and I I spoke, I spoke up. I
remember there was this one VP and so disrespectful. He
would go down the halls and wink at them, at
(25:11):
the women, and they hated it. So I waited until
the CEO flew in from New York. Now this was
a Fortune ten corporation. He flew in for a meeting
and I saw them walking down the hall. I thought,
I'm going to break this habit of his. So when
they were walking towards me, and before I went past,
(25:33):
I winked, Oh man, I'm telling you. Everybody was just flustered,
you know, And I was like, well, bet you won't
do that again. And you know what, never did it again.
Sometimes you even have to you have to understand that's
not how you're supposed to behave towards others. Regardless of
(25:57):
what their color is or regardless of what their color
culture is. Everyone deserves respect, refect respect mine and so yeah,
I've fought a few fights.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I love that I put my hand up because that
means I was like, you mirrored what you did?
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Was you mirrored back to him? Look at this behavior.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Yeah, you're doing the only way to make him stop.
And he was just so embarrassed because then the guy
looked at him and I was a standard looking and
I know he wanted to fire me. How are you
going to fire me from Lincoln? That's what you do?
And so, uh didn't do it again, never did it again.
It's like, you know, it's it's just one of those
(26:39):
things and just little little things like that. I remember
of just you know, taking that path and what I
had to do. But I have freedom now, I feel free,
and so now I want to give back information and
things like that. But you know, from your extensive experience
of working with diverse communities, what do you see as
(27:01):
some of the most pressing challenges they face and in
maintaining their unique cultural traditions in today's rapidly changing, an
increasingly globalized world. Do you see any challenges so you know.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
I work directly, so I work in two spaces now,
like with organizations directly or with intermediaries that give resources
to these organizations.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
And so what I'm finding, particularly with.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
Our organizations, like our Native Indigenous nonprofits, particularly that you.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Know, the way we the way they.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Run an organization which is a nonprofit five oh one
C three status was not designed in a cultural lens
by all means. It's it was not set up that
way with us in mind. And so we have been
we have been constantly like code talking right, trying to
(28:07):
figure out how a system that is so boxy and
structured and not with the cultural lens, and how.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
To navigate that, and some have you like, you know
they're getting through it, but it's still rigid because when
you think about our culture, we're about relationships.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
We're about we're about We're not about scarcities. You think
about nonprofit sector, it's about scarcity, like enough income, We
got to bring in money, and like it's this scarcity mindset.
But when you think from an indigenous list lens, there's
no such thing.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
We have plenty. There's plenty here, and.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
How we share generously is also different, which is a
different mindset and how provides services. Right, It's like you
have to have certain requirements, you know, you have to
have a certain amount of income. So they have these
strict guidelines. And when you think about how our mindset is,
it's it's no wonder. It's really tricky. So I'm like,
(29:10):
you know, us trying to noodle through the waffle and
how to design. But I'm seeing now more and more organizations,
which I love. They are rewriting their policies. They're rewriting
what they feel is true to their you know, community people,
(29:32):
but their employers. So for example, you know, having time
for ceremony, you know, having time for different like for
self care, whether that means going to sweat or something
like that. Excuse me not having a sense of urgency
looking at their time and how they do their work differently,
(29:55):
not a straight you know, Monday through Friday from eight
to five, you know, And I think they're experimenting. They're experimenting,
and they're also experimenting with structures of their leadership in
terms of their board of directors and trying to look
more of a flat structure and looking at you know,
(30:18):
here are anchors are, here are councils, from different places
that we need to work with versus here are the
you know, five oh one C three kind of board
board status. So I'm seeing folks experimenting their prototyping and
trying things out now because they know what's in place.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
It has been challenging.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Oh yeah, oh gosh. And believe me, I'm quite aware.
Being someone who's worked in finance and then worked in tech,
which is all rigid, all boxed in, you know, no
no no ways of maybe changing it or going outside
the box or this, that and the other, I can
(30:58):
see how it Well, it conflicts with a communit community
mindset because you're right, the way they're written, there are
no communities involved. It's like, Okay, these are your funds,
this is what we expect you to do, This is
what we want you to report, this is what we're
going to end up reimbursing. This is what we're not
going to pay for. I mean, just you know, all
(31:21):
these different things instead of saying these are your needs.
However you feel you need to administer this this award
so that you meet your goals and objectives. You know,
as long as the funds are spent on your project,
that's all. That's necessary, but to narrow it down to
(31:43):
you need to see two people. I want how many
people and you know, counting the numbers of people that
actually got served and all those things. How about caring
more about the quality of service instead of how many
numbers you got and that, you know, it's almost like
you you dehumanize even the projects that you're trying to fund.
(32:06):
And it's and I know you have to have rules.
I know you have to have regulations, but you can
have humanity and sensitivity and those rules. I mean, I'm
I've got a lot of people lying up. I'm We're
going to do whatever we can to change the corporate environment.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
So one thought came to my mind recently, and that
is looking at the nonp nonprofit arm and when you
think about our communities before these systems were in place,
we were in smaller community hubs, right, like family pods,
you know, and then you know clan pods, name pods.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
And when we were living in that format, we helped
each other.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
So if people went hunting, people come back and then
they disseminate, you know, to everyone, not just to the family.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
They thought about the whole family.
Speaker 4 (33:01):
So back then I feel like we we were providing
these needs and services and gaps that we don't have
as much now, Like I know, communities are still trying
to bring that like build that connection. It's the connection
of the community to support and help one another. And
(33:23):
what happened is, you know, the nonprofit you know, comes
into this system like, well there's a need because people
were starting to isolate and not provide service or help
with one another.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
So that disconnect.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
You know, it's a strategy, right, a disconnect of putting
us in different places, cutting off resources. And so now
we have the nonprofit nonprofit sector trying to fill that
when in essence, we can really do that for each other.
But part of that is us reconnecting, us coming back
(33:58):
into community, us working and helping one another. So then
you know, the nonprofit you know, doesn't need to be
in that place. It's like it's filling that gap. And
you know, and what had happened though, is the disconnect.
And so what I'm noticing particularly now is that a
(34:20):
lot of organizers and community are realizing we're trying to
be placed in a space of fear of being isolated
and not being in community, and we need to go
back to being in community. That's why our ceremonies are
so important, because that's when we're there. We're quiet, we're praying,
we're connected, We're in a whole different mindset.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
We're not thinking about work. Right.
Speaker 4 (34:44):
And then the last thing I'll just say about the
intermediars've been working with a lot of foundations and funders.
There's a lot of interest in the past six years
of them wanting to do work in our communities. And
at the very beginning, I ask them, is your board
on board? Do you have a plan? Is this just
(35:05):
a moment or is this a long term strategy? If
you don't have any of these things in place, or
have you all did some cultural training, training about our
people in the community, do you got any of these things,
then you've got some work to do, because we don't
want people coming in for a moment because it seems
sexy or it's a requirement, like a checkof and then
(35:26):
they leave after a couple of years. Right. So so anyway,
there is interest, and there's also hesitation because they're like,
we know we've done harm, but we don't know what
to do. So that's an interesting, you know shift that
I've seen when I.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Knew you back then.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Six years of you know, philanthropy funders are wanting to
but they're not sure, and they also know that they've
done harm and they don't want to do more harm,
but they still got a long ways to go.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Yeah. Well, and the thing is if they and I'm
just going to put this out there, if you're wanting
to do something in the communities, then you need to
bring people from the community to sit at the table
to plan, to help you with the planning, to help
you with with the design of the program you're trying
(36:23):
to do, to help you with finding out what really
is is needed. You know, you've decided without even talking
to someone what the need is, instead of bringing people
to the table coming up with a whole plan together
that now you can be successful. But when if you
(36:45):
don't know anything about the culture, you know nothing about
the traditions, you know nothing about the historical trauma, you
know nothing about the economics that's there. I mean, you
know nothing about the hierarchy, you don't know anything about it.
You don't know about the community. And then you want
to come in and uh and help because you know, yes,
(37:09):
there has been harm, there's been a lot of harm.
But then what you need to do is go to
the leaders of those communities and get information and better yet,
find out exactly what's needed, and then find out who
would be best to facilitate that program from your community.
(37:31):
How about that. You know, we've got to sit at
the table or you're not going to be successful. So
bring us to the table, not after you've made decisions,
but at the beginning of the thought process, and then
it would be a lot more successful. I know that.
I know that. You got to you know, you've got
(37:51):
to change your mindset on how you've been doing business.
If you want to do something somewhere, you need to
bring the people in that you want to do the
work with. Because you're not dealing with children. You're dealing
with adults. So they have ideas, they have thoughts, and
they know what works. I yeah, I've been there. You know,
(38:15):
I've been through all of that.
Speaker 4 (38:19):
It's hard work, and I'll also say it's it's also
rewarding when an organization, whether it's our native group or
the non native organizations, make headway. Even the small winds
are like yay, you know, particularly in this environment, and
(38:40):
you know, I just have to hand it to our
people like we do so much with so little, and
we are so freaking amazing and creative. We have we have,
we have challenges and we're still working through it, and
I have hope, and I, as I said earlier, I
believe some of these prayers are you know, some of
the that are happening is because of the prayers that
(39:01):
are parents.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Yes for us, Yeah, I mean, we're just you know,
a continuation of what the ancestors designed many many years ago,
and we're just carrying it on. You know, sometimes you
don't know why you're thinking the thought, but it's like
you hear something and it's like, yeah, that's right, that's
(39:25):
what I really need to do. And it's just like
you're just continuing the work that was started and uh.
And it's something that's just totally outside of the normal
education programs and different things like that. It's just so
so different, so different. And what specific ways does cultural
education contribute to fostering a strong sense of identity, belonging
(39:49):
and self esteem because there's you know, there's some youth
that still seem i mean, just from what I'm reading
and things, they don't seem to be connected to their
cultural traditions there and they don't have an identity. Oh,
they're struggling with trying to get identity. Can you think
(40:11):
of some just some ways to get connected and be
able to have that sense of identity and belonging.
Speaker 4 (40:23):
I think, honestly, it really has to start with their desire.
We talk about the word vulnerability, and it's vulnerability in
both places and like reaching out, but also for individuals
in the respective communities to also reach out to to see.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Like there's a need here.
Speaker 4 (40:46):
And I found out recently here in Albuquerque, there's a
program where they were teaching young people how to butcher.
And anyway, my mom knew that person, and so she goes.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
I'm gonna go over there. He told me to come
to go eat.
Speaker 4 (41:00):
So she goes with him and come to find they
hired somebody to teach him how to butcher.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
He was really late and my mom.
Speaker 4 (41:11):
My mom is a master butcher. She's seventy five years old. Boy,
they give her the knife and she was there teaching.
She didn't even expect to be teaching. But sometimes I
feel like those kind of opportunities are like I was like, Mom,
you should get involved, you should go there. Because she's retired,
she lives with me, and you know, I'm like, mom, you.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
Should do that. You know. She's like, I can't do it,
and I'm like, yes, you just did. You butchered her sheep.
Speaker 4 (41:37):
For everybody, and they were and the young people were
just so intrigued, and she was talking about why you
can't do because they had the sheep tied up for
a while and it was getting hot and you're supposed
to do this early in the morning, you know, walking
about the science of it and then anyway. So that's
an example of like there are things in our backyard
(42:00):
we don't even know about, programs and people who are
there to help, and part of it is taking the
first step. I think we as individuals too, Like I
have two young young men, my boys, twenty seven and
twenty three, and I do my part to try to
like say something in Navajo to them, or send maybe
(42:22):
a video about someone who's talking about maybe the money,
the coyote and where it goes. You know, I tell
them those things. But what's important is repetition. They need
to hear it, they need to practice it, you know,
learning a song, practicing your language, even if it's one
or two words, you know.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
Putting that because your body.
Speaker 4 (42:44):
It's in your DNA and we just have to practice.
And I think there's so much content out there, it's amazing.
You cannot say you don't know. It's right at our fingertips.
But the best I think is find people in your community,
finding programs that do the learning, the lived experience, like
(43:06):
the butchering sheep.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
Right.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
I know there's I recently found out there's somebody who
does rug weaving, and I'm learning, and I'm like, I
want to take that hat so I can sharpen my skills.
So I think being in the arts is like as
Indigenous people, art and music is like in our DNA.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
It's going into.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
That because it's healing and you just don't know what's
going to come out of that.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
Oh, I tell you I had. I took vacation years ago.
I was going to bring my mother, but she got
ill and wasn't able to travel. But I spent two
weeks there at Navajo and Hope, and then I went
over to New Mexico and oh my gosh, the rugs
are just incredible, Oh my goodness. And then I, you know,
(43:55):
got a lot of turquoise and silver and love the
blue corn flour and making bread from it and corn
bread from it, and and you know, the beans. And
I recently was looking for choke cherries and it's like,
oh my goodness, it was just it's just you know, incredible.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
You know.
Speaker 3 (44:19):
Right now, a lot of the tribes have their website
where you can take lessons language lessons online, so the
youth can can those that you know don't know the
language can learn the language. A lot of the elders
(44:39):
have gone in and actually written a book. If they
have them on Amazon, then they can get the you
know books that they can take the lessons, but then
they actually have you know, someone actually doing the annunciation
and all of that stuff, so they can learn the
language if they don't have someone who's speaking it, you know,
(45:00):
on a regular basis at home, so they can you know,
capture it. But so they have opportunities now and then
I think in some of the some of the schools
they're taking teaching language also so that they don't lose
you know, the language and part of the culture and
stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
Yeah, you know, when you're saying that, it made me
think about like when I grew up, right, my my
parents were a part of the relocation they got pulled away.
My mom, I think, when she's seven, got pulled from
her home and was placed in Shemaha Orgon and her
her her history was really rough.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
It was not pretty. It was rough.
Speaker 4 (45:41):
Her mom died when she was like seven, really young.
So and my dad his his was so different. He
was very culturally he grew up in a very culturally
grounded home, and he got placed in organ not organ
utah Ogden when he was more like, I think in
(46:02):
tenth grade.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
Where he started first grade. It was tenth grade.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
Anyway, The point of what I'm making here is like
I remember when I was little. I remember my mom
was saying, you're learning English. It's important because she would
get beaten, you know. So those are her stories, and
I'm the next generation. And I realized I spoke pretty
(46:28):
good Navajo when I was growing up. But then when
I went away to college and I don't practice it,
it got really choppy trying to like practice it again
with my mom and again it's like coming back to practice.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
And at one point I would blame like, will you
guys blame me my parents? You practice with us, If
you guys talk to us in Navajo, we'd be like
you know, you know, expert.
Speaker 4 (46:51):
And then I realize, now I'm at the age where
I'm like, I have no one to blame but myself.
I can learn it. There's tools there. I just practiced it,
and you know, practice with my parents, and there's still hope.
So I leave that with anyone who is learning the
wants to learn the language. There's hope that people out
(47:11):
there who are willing to teach. It's just up to
us to make that decision to incorporate the language back
into our day to day and the songs and the
art and the music and the food. As you were saying,
food is an art, it's medicine.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
And so there's so much around us. We have no.
Speaker 3 (47:32):
Excuse, right And the thing is what I've after all
these years I've been here in the earth, I realized
that especially Native indigenous peoples, they understand not only the earth,
(47:54):
but the gifts from the earth, the roots, the play ants,
the trees, the leaves, the different parts of plants and things,
the healing that comes from just the nature. This out there.
Not rushing to some doctor and start taking those pharmaceuticals,
(48:15):
but there's medicine in you know, a particular bean or
in a particular root, or in a particular plant, or
And in fact, I was trying to learn it from
a lady from Warm Springs years ago. She helped me
and gave me some advice and roots and things. And
(48:38):
when I had all sort of colitis and I had
been on medication for eighteen years, she gave me this
devil's claw and I never had another episode. And it's
been almost forty years. I've never had another episode. And
it is such a vile disease. And so I practice
(49:02):
teas and roots and plants. I got a pantry full
of that's my medicine cabinet. And I tell the doctors,
don't talk to me about pills. Just tell me what's
the problem is, and I will find something to take
that is going to make my body healthy because I'm
not going to do the pills and all of that
stuff with the side effects again. And so I think,
(49:25):
I think, you know, other cultures are missing out when
we're not communicating between indigenous peoples, you know, from different
you know places, because some know medicines, some know you
know the earth and maybe you know mining or something
(49:46):
like that and doing it without destroying the water. Some
know you know other particular things, and we would be
able to probably be healthier, happier, more sound, more peaceful people.
If we were communicating with each other's cultures, we would
(50:07):
be grasping all of the knowledge and all of the
wisdom of the creator. But you know, there's just been
so many, so many things that have happened. It makes
it very difficult to say you don't have a reason,
you know, to feel the way you feel. Well, okay,
(50:28):
then I'm just gonna understand that you just don't know
what you're talking about. Then maybe I need to tell
you a few stories and then we can talk. But
I think probably, you know, I think all the time,
how can we as individuals and communities, you know, actively
create more inclusiveness without being harmed, and more welcoming and
(50:54):
respectful spaces so that we can all share. We need
to learn from one another.
Speaker 4 (51:00):
Yeah, it starts with It starts with themselves. Everybody has
a responsibility in how they show up in whatever spaces
they are, whether it's in a relationship and a home
and a business and a community. It starts with self,
and it starts with people working on themselves. Looking at
(51:21):
the mirror, Like the mirror you know, like looking at
like ooh, I don't like that, right, and accepting who
you are, loving yourself, trying not to beat ourselves up.
Speaker 2 (51:33):
You know, heal the past. It's done. So how do
I move from here?
Speaker 3 (51:40):
You know?
Speaker 4 (51:40):
I all of us have been through heartbreak, oh people,
And but there's learning. Those those relationships were learning, right,
even like we've gone to the next plane.
Speaker 2 (51:54):
We have to start with us.
Speaker 4 (51:56):
Yes, And I'm going to just read this real quickly
by Richard so here goes.
Speaker 2 (52:03):
Creator does not tell us.
Speaker 4 (52:05):
Who to love, only that we learn how love is spiritual.
It comes from the spirit place. There is no color there,
no gender, no skin, no history, no time, no right,
no wrong, no better, no best, and certainly no politics.
(52:29):
Is a place of pure love. It is our common home,
and we all return to it someday. So it's our
soul's mission.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
To learn love.
Speaker 4 (52:38):
Remember that we spring from love, and houl your loved
ones close. When you trust your life to Creator and
become willing to take the next indicated step, all matter
of miracles become possible. I remain in slack jaw wonder
at the richness of my life.
Speaker 3 (52:56):
Oh that's a beautiful poem, and that is the last
word to close our show. Thank you so much for
being with us today, Vicki, and thank you everyone that
tuned in, and please join us again next week at
eleven am Eastern time eight am Pacific time at a
Sharp Outlook and whatever you do, stay informed. I want
(53:24):
to thank you for joining us on a Sharp Outlook.
We have been informed and energized to take the next steps.
We have posted links to websites and videos to learn
more on today's topic. Please join us again next week
for another thought provoking conversation right here on key for
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(53:48):
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This program is designed to provide general information with regards
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
You should seek the services of.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Competent professionals before applying or trying any suggested ideas.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hello, and thank you for tuning in to a Sharp
Outlook on pay for HD Radio and Talk or TV.
I am Angela Sharp, your host our arm chair discussions
with industry experts will give you the steps, tools and
information to be successful in business and to prepare you
to be your best self. Hello, I'm Angela Sharp, and
(00:58):
I'm so glad you were able to join us. We're
going to have a really interesting conversation today about connecting
with your cultural roots, and it's really vital to get
an understanding, celebrating and maintaining ties to one's cultural heritage.
(01:18):
Through compelling conversations and insightful discussion, we explore the diverse traditions, values,
stories and experiences that shape our identities and connect us
to our past and inform our future. It's hard to
know where we're going when we don't know where we've
come from, and it makes it difficult to make the
(01:39):
right decisions or the right choices. But just going back
and connecting and getting involved in those cultural things, it
gives you a real perspective of what's going on in
your life. So I'm glad you're able to join us
as we uncover the richness and resilience of cultural roots
and examine their profound impact on our lives, families, and communities.
(02:05):
Well here from an expert and elder and every day
individuals who are actively engaged in preserving and revitalizing their cultures,
it's very important to keep your culture and to be
able to share that culture.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Today.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I am my guest as Vicky old Man, and she
is a highly respected cultural and passionate community leader dedicated
to preserving and promoting indigenous traditions and cultural heritage worldwide.
With over two decades of experience working in partnership with
diverse communities, Ickey possesses a profound understanding of the critical
(02:52):
role cultural heritage plays in fostering individual and collective identity,
resilience in the face of adversity, and strong social cohesion.
Vick has been an education facilitator, skilled trainer, working in
areas like strategic planning, community and organizational development, board development,
(03:15):
and team building. And as a consultant, she has provided
technical assistance, curriculum writing, and program coordination in both urban
and rural environments. She has worked in asset building. Native
CDFIs nonprofit organizational development train the trainers, communications and coaching,
(03:39):
and she is founding and managing partner of Seven Sisters
Community Development Group seven Sisters CDFIVE, serving low income families
in Native communities, Owner of The Real Native Roots Untold Stories,
a podcast bringing healing stories to communities and the next generation.
(04:03):
And I'll tell you this is a wonderful program to
listen in to and to get educated and also enlightened
as to how important cultural background and information is. I'd
like to invite Vicki to join me so we can
begin our conversation.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Yata, oh yeah, day hello, hello, hello it is I'm like,
I'm arriving starings and my ancestors and my cultural groundness.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yes, yes, it's so wonderful. It's so wonderful, and it's great.
I've been watching your show and it's a well, I
listened to it and I'll tell you, I've just enjoyed
every moment of you sharing untold like the untold stories,
stories a different things that aren't written in most books.
(05:03):
They're stories that are passed down and those are some
of the best stories you ever want to hear. You know,
if Hollywood actually wanted to be successful, they'd be trying
to tap into some of the stories because they're exciting.
They just grasp every emotion that you have within your
being and then they bring it to resolution and you say,
(05:29):
now I know what's in my system. And then you
have great poems that you always read. Do you have
a poem for us today?
Speaker 4 (05:41):
I do, and I just want to say yahat, thank
you so much for bringing me on.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
I just think anytime we can.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Connect with people deeply and share story, that's medicine in itself.
And I just ask those anyone who's listening in here,
just to take a deep breath with us before I
read the poems.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So, yeah, deep breath together and excel. I always like.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
To do that because you know, I don't know where
everyone's coming from, whatever conversation they may have had, or
what they're sitting with. No one of my favorite authors,
I love this man. I wish that I met him,
but he's already in the spirit world. Is Shirt Wogames,
and I'm reading from a book called What Comes from Spirit.
(06:35):
He's a great, great writer, and I just I love
this man. Okay, So here we go. It starts as
we all have stories within us. Sometimes we hold them gingerly,
sometimes desperately, sometimes as gently as an infant. It is
(07:01):
only by sharing our stories, by being strong enough to
take a risk, both in the telling and in the asking,
that we make it possible to know, recognize, and understand
each other.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
That is true. That is so true. And sometimes it
does take courage to become that vulnerable to share those stories.
But you know, I've gotten to the place where I
have to share stories because I know there's someone else
walking the same path I've walked, and if I can
(07:39):
help them by sharing my story, I think my life
was worth living because someone has learned and gathered some
wisdom from maybe my stupid decisions. But it doesn't matter, good,
bad or whatever. It was a choice when we're walking
down the path. We turned right and still left, or
(08:02):
we backed up or whatever it is.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
You know, Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And I feel like when
you had shared about our learnings.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I feel like even watching.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
A baby an infant, that is story watching right, And
as an elder, I receive that acknowledgement.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
As an elder, when I watch a tile, I'm.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Also receiving and learning from them. Like I feel like
sometimes it is important we listen to our elders. And
recently my dad actually was like, we're going back and
forth and talking and he's like, listen, and I was like,
like a little like a Chile, I'm like, oh, I'm
over talking, Papa.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
I need to listen, you know. And it's the same
thing with the baby.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
A child, they can scream and yell like and they're
trying to tell us listen, you know, I need something
or I need to tell you something. And I feel
like even when we're in nature, nature is also telling
us that, like listen.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
So I think.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Wherever we're at on the spectrum of our life journey
that we are, if we're open, right, if we're open
and vulnerable to receive, you will get the message. You
will get the medicine that is needed. And part of
that is just being fully present and really listening and
not being distracted. And gosh, that's that's hard these days.
(09:29):
There's so much going on in so much.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Destruction, a lot of a lot of noise. There's a
lot of noise out there, and some some of the
things going on I refuse to listen to because it's
not it's not healthy, it's it doesn't promote, you know, positivity,
And so you know, I'm also cautious of what I
(09:54):
let into my spirit because even sometimes you know, even
people that you know, you have to say, oh, you know,
it's been it's been good, but I got to go
my route. You need to go the direction that you're going,
because it's not my place to try to change your mind.
(10:14):
You'll find that out on your own as you keep
walking down the journey. But yeah, it's really, really, really important,
so exploring what it means to be native in a
modern world, because I noticed recently there's a lot of
younger and I'm so proud of our youth, the younger
(10:38):
Indigenous people are. They're coming up strong. Where maybe I
would have been really quiet and feeling my way, they
are very vocal now and they are really speaking some
things and I'm so proud of them. And they're taking
they're picking up the mantle and their continue and to
(11:01):
you know, fight the good fight. And they're making the
noises and sitting down and at the table and making
sure there is a table for them. I mean, the
youth is really really doing some great things. So what
does it What does it mean to you?
Speaker 4 (11:18):
M I feel like what it means to me is
like our ancestors.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Prayers are showing up.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
You know.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I think about my grandparents and even my parents and
they've taught me and how I you know, pray to universe, creator, spirit,
whatever people use in terms of language. We're always praying
for currently right, we pray for going forward. We pray
for our young people. We pray for the generation. We
(11:49):
pray that they stay in tack and be healthy. So
I think that one is one of them. In my
humble opinion is my foundational thought is prayers are being received,
they're happening, they're in motion. And I also think, you know,
our young people they're just so they're smart, They listen,
they observe, and they're also not afraid, which I love
(12:11):
because they're pushing back on like old ideas, and you know,
because science also comes into play in showing evidence. And
this is why I love about our indigenous and our
cultural ways, is that we have known since time memorial,
what the land does, we know, what why we do
(12:35):
certain things, what we believe. People thought they were superstitious,
and now scientists catching up and realizing, hey, there's some
validity here with smudging, there's some validity here with you know,
internal trauma. So when they think of because I remember
my aunts, like my grandparents and my mother, my aunties.
(12:56):
When I was caring, they would always say to me, we.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Care for what you think.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Be careful what you put in your mind, you know,
watch be careful with how you move and how much.
But don't be lazy, you know, because they understood trauma.
They didn't have those words, but they knew that if
I was hurting and crying and aching, the baby's going
to feel that. And the baby's already you know, getting
(13:21):
that sense. So I feel like young people are also
learning about somatic work about trauma, historical traumas, societal trauma,
and they're trying, they're flipping, they're flipping the narrative. They're
not owning being victims anymore and saying, hey, we have
we have the medicine, and that's our songs, our prayers
(13:43):
our language, and I love it when I see young people,
like on Instagram or on TikTok and they're practicing the
language and they feel like, I don't know how old
you are, but you're probably younger than me. When I
was speaking and try to speak my language, I would
get shamed, like it was like the elders. Some of
(14:06):
my relatives would, you know, get on me. They would
tease me, and then that would make me feel discouraged
to try practicing. And so I make it a point
to really try to encourage our people. When you see
our young people trying encourage them, show them gently, don't
shame them.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
And I think that's.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
So I'm like, I'm so happy for our young people.
And I also think though they need to practice more
listening skills.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Though yeah, I'm hurd they're listening, but like I said,
they I mean just recently, they had a canoe journey
on the blackham A River out here in Oregon. It's
like one hundred and thirty miles. They paddled that whole
(14:57):
way and I was like, whoa you know, and nobody said,
oh you guys, you get up, you go do this.
They decided themselves and I've been seeing a lot of
it because I'm in the Stay Outle area, but no
closer to Portland and near the water, the ocean, the rivers,
and I see a lot of the journeys being done
(15:18):
by different tribes so that the youth can find out
this is what your ancestors endured. So did you be here?
And it's just incredible, you know, to see that, And
that's why I love you know, some of the stories
that you have on your podcast. You know, you know,
(15:39):
why did you decide to do that podcast?
Speaker 4 (15:42):
So the story is, this is right before covid it
maybe a year twenty eighteen. A friend of mine on
Instagram would always see me post little stories on there,
and then he inboxed me because you should do a podcast,
And honestly, I had no clue. I wasn't listening to
any podcast then. So then I researched. I'm like, what
(16:03):
what am I going to talk about? You know, And
because my stories back then would just be little journeys
of you know, me trying something new or experimenting or
commenting on you know, a dish or whatever, and so
I really it wouldn't let go of me, you know,
when creator drops the seed in you of an idea,
you can't let it go, Like your mind goes back
(16:25):
to it and you're like, h there's something here, And.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
So I wouldn't it wouldn't leave me.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
And I'm like, okay, I'm hearing you spirit, right. So
I started researching and then then I really sat with
what am I going to talk about?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
And then it landed. I was like, Vicky, you love stories.
You love when your.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
Mom tells you her story about going to the dump
yard when she was little to find toys. And she
tells a story because she says her youngest sister would
go way down in the dump yard to get the
best to and one time that happened and the aunts
and uncles are like, let's go. We're going to you know,
(17:07):
dairy Queen or something like that. So they all go
and they there's a lot of kids, and so they
didn't realize my aunt wasn't in there. So they're like,
they realized she's not here. So they go back and
she's standing there crying, but with a really cool doll.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
But everybody's seeing their ice cream. So those kind of stories.
I was like, oh my god, and I'm like, well,
IM tell me that story again, and so that I
was like, those are untold stories. Those are stories that she.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Would not share, you know, and my grandmother as well.
I would say, Grandma, tell me the story about that
rock again. So then I was like, Okay, I know
untold stories, but what what's the first half of this
this podcast? So the goal really was to interview. I
didn't even like to use the word interview. It's connect
and tell me story.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Tell me tell me a moment and time in.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Your life that was hard or that was special, or
that gave you insight. And I also really believe that
stories heal. So once that all came together, I bought
the equipment and this is what I was going to do,
was that I was going to pack the equipment and
all my business travels. I was going to stay a
(18:17):
day later or come early and then find local stories
from community people. And then COVID happened, I launched it,
I still did it, and it was really good. And
so now I try to think about, you know, while
I'm in the community, can I get a story or
at least meet somebody to you know, schedule a story
(18:38):
connection going forward?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
And I will just say it's been such a joy.
I love it and.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
It's a hobby. It's a love it's a love project.
So I'm enjoying it. I do have some ideas about
what I might want to do with it later, but
for now, I'm just you know, doing it when I
can because I.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
My day job, which just keeps you pretty busy too.
But it is h that's that's uh. I mean, that
takes us way back to Oista. I know all of
the things I mean, and that's how I remember you.
You were always so involved in you know, training and
(19:21):
training the trainers and sharing knowledge and information, always out
there sharing knowledge and doing capacity building, building up communities.
So they now had the tools, they now had the skills,
they now had the understanding of how to navigate, you know,
in this you know capitalistic you know society. I mean
(19:45):
it's just, yeah, you have done some wonderful work.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
And I give you that all to you know, honestly,
I I give that to spirit because I feel like
we're a vessel. So when we're talking and feeling and
expressing like it's information coming through coming out. And I
also give credit to all my mentors, people who have
(20:13):
spent time to shape and encourage me and also pushed me,
and I feel like my lived experience, but also my
connection with my community, which is the community people, the practitioners,
you know, leaders who who saw something in me to
give me enough time and encouragement to continue to do
(20:35):
this work so I can reciprocate that back.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
I feel like if we don't follow and live.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Through our values, that then things don't fully align or
it makes it harder in our life. And I try
really hard to live my life through values in looking
at community, looking at reciprocity, you know, intuition where I
really feel try to listen to what is being said
(21:02):
and really try to follow that then to be in
my head because our head always, our brain wants to
make sense and sometimes things we may not make sense
of it, and so that's where we tap into our body.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
And I feel like that's cultural.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Like I think about my grandparents and my particularly my grandparents,
and how I watch them make decisions and how they
move about their life.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
They I see them.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
When I was little, I would see them and how
they would move and even like healers watching them, and
it's all like intuitive, you know, it's really staying grounded.
And if we're not grounded, and we're shaky and you
know it makes work relationships harder in our life.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Oh yeah, well it's it's like we we end up
we did like you said, we have a we have
a path that was designed m hm this and and
creator has f us made us, tested us, prepared us
to walk this specific path. And getting off of that path,
you're going to have, you know, conflict, and it's going
(22:10):
to make like you said, it's going to make things
harder because that's not the road you're supposed to be on.
That's not the work you're supposed to be doing. And
some of us, we we took on work that it
paid the bills, but it wasn't our purpose. And so
as I tell young people now, you can be spending
an awful lot of years working, make sure it's something
(22:34):
that gives you joy, makes you fulfilled and actually, like
you said, serves others other than yourself, you know. And
and because you kind of want to leave footprints, you know,
you want to leave footprints so that someone's going to
remember your name, they're going to remember what you did,
(22:55):
They're going to remember a story you told. They're going
to remember a poem that was written or a painting
that was painted they're going to remember because, first off,
when you're in the right realm and you're walking in
spirit is guiding you. When you speak, there's an energy
that comes from you that blesses those people so that
(23:17):
they now become energized to do some of the very
same things. And yeah, I'm just listening. It just seems like,
you know, that was something that was just in your
DNA to be out there, you know, working with communities,
bringing things together, bringing skills together, and now bringing the
(23:40):
culture together and telling stories about you know, who who
y'all who we are as people. And I believe in
culture because, like I said, it took me a while
to accept accept it because of just some of the
things that I experienced or I saw when I was
(24:03):
growing up and then moving into a corporate environment being
so strict and so and me being the only woman
there in finance and tech and them actually not wanting
me to be there. But I didn't care because I
was going to be who I was going to be,
And I just let them know, You're not that important.
(24:26):
You are replaceable. In fact, all of us are, so
get you know, get off your high horse and let's
sit down, let's work through some you know, solutions here.
And because you know, I'm just here for my paycheck,
I'm not trying to be friends. So let's let's get
to work. I mean, I really had to put on
a hard exterior to be working in an environment when
(24:49):
it was just all men and and men that did
not want women in their industry. The things that I heard,
you know, and I I spoke, I spoke up. I
remember there was this one VP and so disrespectful. He
would go down the halls and wink at them, at
(25:11):
the women, and they hated it. So I waited until
the CEO flew in from New York. Now this was
a Fortune ten corporation. He flew in for a meeting
and I saw them walking down the hall. I thought,
I'm going to break this habit of his. So when
they were walking towards me, and before I went past,
(25:33):
I winked, Oh man, I'm telling you. Everybody was just flustered,
you know, And I was like, well, bet you won't
do that again. And you know what, never did it again.
Sometimes you even have to you have to understand that's
not how you're supposed to behave towards others. Regardless of
(25:57):
what their color is or regardless of what their color
culture is. Everyone deserves respect, refect respect mine and so yeah,
I've fought a few fights.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I love that I put my hand up because that
means I was like, you mirrored what you did?
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Was you mirrored back to him? Look at this behavior.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Yeah, you're doing the only way to make him stop.
And he was just so embarrassed because then the guy
looked at him and I was a standard looking and
I know he wanted to fire me. How are you
going to fire me from Lincoln? That's what you do?
And so, uh didn't do it again, never did it again.
It's like, you know, it's it's just one of those
(26:39):
things and just little little things like that. I remember
of just you know, taking that path and what I
had to do. But I have freedom now, I feel free,
and so now I want to give back information and
things like that. But you know, from your extensive experience
of working with diverse communities, what do you see as
(27:01):
some of the most pressing challenges they face and in
maintaining their unique cultural traditions in today's rapidly changing, an
increasingly globalized world. Do you see any challenges so you know.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
I work directly, so I work in two spaces now,
like with organizations directly or with intermediaries that give resources
to these organizations.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
And so what I'm finding, particularly with.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
Our organizations, like our Native Indigenous nonprofits, particularly that you.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Know, the way we the way they.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Run an organization which is a nonprofit five oh one
C three status was not designed in a cultural lens
by all means. It's it was not set up that
way with us in mind. And so we have been
we have been constantly like code talking right, trying to
(28:07):
figure out how a system that is so boxy and
structured and not with the cultural lens, and how.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
To navigate that, and some have you like, you know
they're getting through it, but it's still rigid because when
you think about our culture, we're about relationships.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
We're about we're about We're not about scarcities. You think
about nonprofit sector, it's about scarcity, like enough income, We
got to bring in money, and like it's this scarcity mindset.
But when you think from an indigenous list lens, there's
no such thing.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
We have plenty. There's plenty here, and.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
How we share generously is also different, which is a
different mindset and how provides services. Right, It's like you
have to have certain requirements, you know, you have to
have a certain amount of income. So they have these
strict guidelines. And when you think about how our mindset is,
it's it's no wonder. It's really tricky. So I'm like,
(29:10):
you know, us trying to noodle through the waffle and
how to design. But I'm seeing now more and more organizations,
which I love. They are rewriting their policies. They're rewriting
what they feel is true to their you know, community people,
(29:32):
but their employers. So for example, you know, having time
for ceremony, you know, having time for different like for
self care, whether that means going to sweat or something
like that. Excuse me not having a sense of urgency
looking at their time and how they do their work differently,
(29:55):
not a straight you know, Monday through Friday from eight
to five, you know, And I think they're experimenting. They're experimenting,
and they're also experimenting with structures of their leadership in
terms of their board of directors and trying to look
more of a flat structure and looking at you know,
(30:18):
here are anchors are, here are councils, from different places
that we need to work with versus here are the
you know, five oh one C three kind of board
board status. So I'm seeing folks experimenting their prototyping and
trying things out now because they know what's in place.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
It has been challenging.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Oh yeah, oh gosh. And believe me, I'm quite aware.
Being someone who's worked in finance and then worked in tech,
which is all rigid, all boxed in, you know, no
no no ways of maybe changing it or going outside
the box or this, that and the other, I can
(30:58):
see how it Well, it conflicts with a communit community
mindset because you're right, the way they're written, there are
no communities involved. It's like, Okay, these are your funds,
this is what we expect you to do, This is
what we want you to report, this is what we're
going to end up reimbursing. This is what we're not
going to pay for. I mean, just you know, all
(31:21):
these different things instead of saying these are your needs.
However you feel you need to administer this this award
so that you meet your goals and objectives. You know,
as long as the funds are spent on your project,
that's all. That's necessary, but to narrow it down to
(31:43):
you need to see two people. I want how many
people and you know, counting the numbers of people that
actually got served and all those things. How about caring
more about the quality of service instead of how many
numbers you got and that, you know, it's almost like
you you dehumanize even the projects that you're trying to fund.
(32:06):
And it's and I know you have to have rules.
I know you have to have regulations, but you can
have humanity and sensitivity and those rules. I mean, I'm
I've got a lot of people lying up. I'm We're
going to do whatever we can to change the corporate environment.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
So one thought came to my mind recently, and that
is looking at the nonp nonprofit arm and when you
think about our communities before these systems were in place,
we were in smaller community hubs, right, like family pods,
you know, and then you know clan pods, name pods.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
And when we were living in that format, we helped
each other.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
So if people went hunting, people come back and then
they disseminate, you know, to everyone, not just to the family.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
They thought about the whole family.
Speaker 4 (33:01):
So back then I feel like we we were providing
these needs and services and gaps that we don't have
as much now, Like I know, communities are still trying
to bring that like build that connection. It's the connection
of the community to support and help one another. And
(33:23):
what happened is, you know, the nonprofit you know, comes
into this system like, well there's a need because people
were starting to isolate and not provide service or help
with one another.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
So that disconnect.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
You know, it's a strategy, right, a disconnect of putting
us in different places, cutting off resources. And so now
we have the nonprofit nonprofit sector trying to fill that
when in essence, we can really do that for each other.
But part of that is us reconnecting, us coming back
(33:58):
into community, us working and helping one another. So then
you know, the nonprofit you know, doesn't need to be
in that place. It's like it's filling that gap. And
you know, and what had happened though, is the disconnect.
And so what I'm noticing particularly now is that a
(34:20):
lot of organizers and community are realizing we're trying to
be placed in a space of fear of being isolated
and not being in community, and we need to go
back to being in community. That's why our ceremonies are
so important, because that's when we're there. We're quiet, we're praying,
we're connected, We're in a whole different mindset.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
We're not thinking about work. Right.
Speaker 4 (34:44):
And then the last thing I'll just say about the
intermediars've been working with a lot of foundations and funders.
There's a lot of interest in the past six years
of them wanting to do work in our communities. And
at the very beginning, I ask them, is your board
on board? Do you have a plan? Is this just
(35:05):
a moment or is this a long term strategy? If
you don't have any of these things in place, or
have you all did some cultural training, training about our
people in the community, do you got any of these things,
then you've got some work to do, because we don't
want people coming in for a moment because it seems
sexy or it's a requirement, like a checkof and then
(35:26):
they leave after a couple of years. Right. So so anyway,
there is interest, and there's also hesitation because they're like,
we know we've done harm, but we don't know what
to do. So that's an interesting, you know shift that
I've seen when I.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Knew you back then.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Six years of you know, philanthropy funders are wanting to
but they're not sure, and they also know that they've
done harm and they don't want to do more harm,
but they still got a long ways to go.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Yeah. Well, and the thing is if they and I'm
just going to put this out there, if you're wanting
to do something in the communities, then you need to
bring people from the community to sit at the table
to plan, to help you with the planning, to help
you with with the design of the program you're trying
(36:23):
to do, to help you with finding out what really
is is needed. You know, you've decided without even talking
to someone what the need is, instead of bringing people
to the table coming up with a whole plan together
that now you can be successful. But when if you
(36:45):
don't know anything about the culture, you know nothing about
the traditions, you know nothing about the historical trauma, you
know nothing about the economics that's there. I mean, you
know nothing about the hierarchy, you don't know anything about it.
You don't know about the community. And then you want
to come in and uh and help because you know, yes,
(37:09):
there has been harm, there's been a lot of harm.
But then what you need to do is go to
the leaders of those communities and get information and better yet,
find out exactly what's needed, and then find out who
would be best to facilitate that program from your community.
(37:31):
How about that. You know, we've got to sit at
the table or you're not going to be successful. So
bring us to the table, not after you've made decisions,
but at the beginning of the thought process, and then
it would be a lot more successful. I know that.
I know that. You got to you know, you've got
(37:51):
to change your mindset on how you've been doing business.
If you want to do something somewhere, you need to
bring the people in that you want to do the
work with. Because you're not dealing with children. You're dealing
with adults. So they have ideas, they have thoughts, and
they know what works. I yeah, I've been there. You know,
(38:15):
I've been through all of that.
Speaker 4 (38:19):
It's hard work, and I'll also say it's it's also
rewarding when an organization, whether it's our native group or
the non native organizations, make headway. Even the small winds
are like yay, you know, particularly in this environment, and
(38:40):
you know, I just have to hand it to our
people like we do so much with so little, and
we are so freaking amazing and creative. We have we have,
we have challenges and we're still working through it, and
I have hope, and I, as I said earlier, I
believe some of these prayers are you know, some of
the that are happening is because of the prayers that
(39:01):
are parents.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Yes for us, Yeah, I mean, we're just you know,
a continuation of what the ancestors designed many many years ago,
and we're just carrying it on. You know, sometimes you
don't know why you're thinking the thought, but it's like
you hear something and it's like, yeah, that's right, that's
(39:25):
what I really need to do. And it's just like
you're just continuing the work that was started and uh.
And it's something that's just totally outside of the normal
education programs and different things like that. It's just so
so different, so different. And what specific ways does cultural
education contribute to fostering a strong sense of identity, belonging
(39:49):
and self esteem because there's you know, there's some youth
that still seem i mean, just from what I'm reading
and things, they don't seem to be connected to their
cultural traditions there and they don't have an identity. Oh,
they're struggling with trying to get identity. Can you think
(40:11):
of some just some ways to get connected and be
able to have that sense of identity and belonging.
Speaker 4 (40:23):
I think, honestly, it really has to start with their desire.
We talk about the word vulnerability, and it's vulnerability in
both places and like reaching out, but also for individuals
in the respective communities to also reach out to to see.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Like there's a need here.
Speaker 4 (40:46):
And I found out recently here in Albuquerque, there's a
program where they were teaching young people how to butcher.
And anyway, my mom knew that person, and so she goes.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
I'm gonna go over there. He told me to come
to go eat.
Speaker 4 (41:00):
So she goes with him and come to find they
hired somebody to teach him how to butcher.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
He was really late and my mom.
Speaker 4 (41:11):
My mom is a master butcher. She's seventy five years old. Boy,
they give her the knife and she was there teaching.
She didn't even expect to be teaching. But sometimes I
feel like those kind of opportunities are like I was like, Mom,
you should get involved, you should go there. Because she's retired,
she lives with me, and you know, I'm like, mom, you.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
Should do that. You know. She's like, I can't do it,
and I'm like, yes, you just did. You butchered her sheep.
Speaker 4 (41:37):
For everybody, and they were and the young people were
just so intrigued, and she was talking about why you
can't do because they had the sheep tied up for
a while and it was getting hot and you're supposed
to do this early in the morning, you know, walking
about the science of it and then anyway. So that's
an example of like there are things in our backyard
(42:00):
we don't even know about, programs and people who are
there to help, and part of it is taking the
first step. I think we as individuals too, Like I
have two young young men, my boys, twenty seven and
twenty three, and I do my part to try to
like say something in Navajo to them, or send maybe
(42:22):
a video about someone who's talking about maybe the money,
the coyote and where it goes. You know, I tell
them those things. But what's important is repetition. They need
to hear it, they need to practice it, you know,
learning a song, practicing your language, even if it's one
or two words, you know.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
Putting that because your body.
Speaker 4 (42:44):
It's in your DNA and we just have to practice.
And I think there's so much content out there, it's amazing.
You cannot say you don't know. It's right at our fingertips.
But the best I think is find people in your community,
finding programs that do the learning, the lived experience, like
(43:06):
the butchering sheep.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
Right.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
I know there's I recently found out there's somebody who
does rug weaving, and I'm learning, and I'm like, I
want to take that hat so I can sharpen my skills.
So I think being in the arts is like as
Indigenous people, art and music is like in our DNA.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
It's going into.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
That because it's healing and you just don't know what's
going to come out of that.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
Oh, I tell you I had. I took vacation years ago.
I was going to bring my mother, but she got
ill and wasn't able to travel. But I spent two
weeks there at Navajo and Hope, and then I went
over to New Mexico and oh my gosh, the rugs
are just incredible, Oh my goodness. And then I, you know,
(43:55):
got a lot of turquoise and silver and love the
blue corn flour and making bread from it and corn
bread from it, and and you know, the beans. And
I recently was looking for choke cherries and it's like,
oh my goodness, it was just it's just you know, incredible.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
You know.
Speaker 3 (44:19):
Right now, a lot of the tribes have their website
where you can take lessons language lessons online, so the
youth can can those that you know don't know the
language can learn the language. A lot of the elders
(44:39):
have gone in and actually written a book. If they
have them on Amazon, then they can get the you
know books that they can take the lessons, but then
they actually have you know, someone actually doing the annunciation
and all of that stuff, so they can learn the
language if they don't have someone who's speaking it, you know,
(45:00):
on a regular basis at home, so they can you know,
capture it. But so they have opportunities now and then
I think in some of the some of the schools
they're taking teaching language also so that they don't lose
you know, the language and part of the culture and
stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
Yeah, you know, when you're saying that, it made me
think about like when I grew up, right, my my
parents were a part of the relocation they got pulled away.
My mom, I think, when she's seven, got pulled from
her home and was placed in Shemaha Orgon and her
her her history was really rough.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
It was not pretty. It was rough.
Speaker 4 (45:41):
Her mom died when she was like seven, really young.
So and my dad his his was so different. He
was very culturally he grew up in a very culturally
grounded home, and he got placed in organ not organ
utah Ogden when he was more like, I think in
(46:02):
tenth grade.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
Where he started first grade. It was tenth grade.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
Anyway, The point of what I'm making here is like
I remember when I was little. I remember my mom
was saying, you're learning English. It's important because she would
get beaten, you know. So those are her stories, and
I'm the next generation. And I realized I spoke pretty
(46:28):
good Navajo when I was growing up. But then when
I went away to college and I don't practice it,
it got really choppy trying to like practice it again
with my mom and again it's like coming back to practice.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
And at one point I would blame like, will you
guys blame me my parents? You practice with us, If
you guys talk to us in Navajo, we'd be like
you know, you know, expert.
Speaker 4 (46:51):
And then I realize, now I'm at the age where
I'm like, I have no one to blame but myself.
I can learn it. There's tools there. I just practiced it,
and you know, practice with my parents, and there's still hope.
So I leave that with anyone who is learning the
wants to learn the language. There's hope that people out
(47:11):
there who are willing to teach. It's just up to
us to make that decision to incorporate the language back
into our day to day and the songs and the
art and the music and the food. As you were saying,
food is an art, it's medicine.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
And so there's so much around us. We have no.
Speaker 3 (47:32):
Excuse, right And the thing is what I've after all
these years I've been here in the earth, I realized
that especially Native indigenous peoples, they understand not only the earth,
(47:54):
but the gifts from the earth, the roots, the play ants,
the trees, the leaves, the different parts of plants and things,
the healing that comes from just the nature. This out there.
Not rushing to some doctor and start taking those pharmaceuticals,
(48:15):
but there's medicine in you know, a particular bean or
in a particular root, or in a particular plant, or
And in fact, I was trying to learn it from
a lady from Warm Springs years ago. She helped me
and gave me some advice and roots and things. And
(48:38):
when I had all sort of colitis and I had
been on medication for eighteen years, she gave me this
devil's claw and I never had another episode. And it's
been almost forty years. I've never had another episode. And
it is such a vile disease. And so I practice
(49:02):
teas and roots and plants. I got a pantry full
of that's my medicine cabinet. And I tell the doctors,
don't talk to me about pills. Just tell me what's
the problem is, and I will find something to take
that is going to make my body healthy because I'm
not going to do the pills and all of that
stuff with the side effects again. And so I think,
(49:25):
I think, you know, other cultures are missing out when
we're not communicating between indigenous peoples, you know, from different
you know places, because some know medicines, some know you
know the earth and maybe you know mining or something
(49:46):
like that and doing it without destroying the water. Some
know you know other particular things, and we would be
able to probably be healthier, happier, more sound, more peaceful people.
If we were communicating with each other's cultures, we would
(50:07):
be grasping all of the knowledge and all of the
wisdom of the creator. But you know, there's just been
so many, so many things that have happened. It makes
it very difficult to say you don't have a reason,
you know, to feel the way you feel. Well, okay,
(50:28):
then I'm just gonna understand that you just don't know
what you're talking about. Then maybe I need to tell
you a few stories and then we can talk. But
I think probably, you know, I think all the time,
how can we as individuals and communities, you know, actively
create more inclusiveness without being harmed, and more welcoming and
(50:54):
respectful spaces so that we can all share. We need
to learn from one another.
Speaker 4 (51:00):
Yeah, it starts with It starts with themselves. Everybody has
a responsibility in how they show up in whatever spaces
they are, whether it's in a relationship and a home
and a business and a community. It starts with self,
and it starts with people working on themselves. Looking at
(51:21):
the mirror, Like the mirror you know, like looking at
like ooh, I don't like that, right, and accepting who
you are, loving yourself, trying not to beat ourselves up.
Speaker 2 (51:33):
You know, heal the past. It's done. So how do
I move from here?
Speaker 3 (51:40):
You know?
Speaker 4 (51:40):
I all of us have been through heartbreak, oh people,
And but there's learning. Those those relationships were learning, right,
even like we've gone to the next plane.
Speaker 2 (51:54):
We have to start with us.
Speaker 4 (51:56):
Yes, And I'm going to just read this real quickly
by Richard so here goes.
Speaker 2 (52:03):
Creator does not tell us.
Speaker 4 (52:05):
Who to love, only that we learn how love is spiritual.
It comes from the spirit place. There is no color there,
no gender, no skin, no history, no time, no right,
no wrong, no better, no best, and certainly no politics.
(52:29):
Is a place of pure love. It is our common home,
and we all return to it someday. So it's our
soul's mission.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
To learn love.
Speaker 4 (52:38):
Remember that we spring from love, and houl your loved
ones close. When you trust your life to Creator and
become willing to take the next indicated step, all matter
of miracles become possible. I remain in slack jaw wonder
at the richness of my life.
Speaker 3 (52:56):
Oh that's a beautiful poem, and that is the last
word to close our show. Thank you so much for
being with us today, Vicki, and thank you everyone that
tuned in, and please join us again next week at
eleven am Eastern time eight am Pacific time at a
Sharp Outlook and whatever you do, stay informed. I want
(53:24):
to thank you for joining us on a Sharp Outlook.
We have been informed and energized to take the next steps.
We have posted links to websites and videos to learn
more on today's topic. Please join us again next week
for another thought provoking conversation right here on key for
HD Radio and Talk for TV. Listen to the podcast
(53:48):
on all the podcast apps, and until next week, stay informed.
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