Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast

In this inspiring episode of the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast, Drs. Shyra and Rye Barberstock welcome Carl Jr. Kodakin-Yakelya, a Shutagot'ine (Mountain People) leader from Tulita and Délı̨nę in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories and the founder of Ever Good Medicine.

Carl Jr. shares how his work brings youth and Elders together through medicine walks, on-the-land teachings, and cultural apprenticeship, helping to pass on knowledge that has protected the Land for generations. Through his Medicine Walk Apprenticeship Program, young people learn about traditional plant medicines alongside practical skills in community leadership, entrepreneurship, and wellness.

The conversation also explores the climate realities facing Northern communities—from low water levels on the Mackenzie River to shifting seasons and the arrival of new plants, animals, and pests. Carl Jr. reflects on what these changes mean for food systems, medicines, housing, and community wellbeing, and why adaptation must be rooted in land-based learning, cultural protocols, and intergenerational care.

Together, Shyra, Rye, and Carl Jr. discuss the importance of creating safe cultural spaces, including healing camps and community arbors, where the next generation can reconnect with Land, language, and spirit.

This episode is a powerful reminder that climate adaptation is not only about responding to change—it is also about strengthening culture, restoring wellness, and carrying teachings forward.

🌍 Themes: Indigenous climate adaptation, medicine walks, Dene knowledge, youth leadership, Elders, land-based healing, Northern climate change, cultural resurgence.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Carl Jr. Kodakin-Yakelya is helping youth and communities adapt to climate change through medicine, mentorship, and connection to the Land.

In this powerful episode of the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast, Drs. Shyra and Rye Barberstock welcome Colin Arlt, a Métis/Michif leader from Treaty 4, founder and Executive Director of the Buffalo Culture Collective.

Grounded in the teachings of Wahkohtowin—kinship with more-than-human relatives—Colin shares his journey of reconnecting with buffalo not simply as animals, but as relatives, teachers, and partners in renewal. He reflects on how buffalo shaped Métis history and identity, and why returning buffalo hides and other materials back to Indigenous communities is an act of rematriation, healing, and nation-building.

Together, Shyra, Rye, and Colin explore the cultural, ecological, and educational dimensions of buffalo stewardship—from hide camps and hands-on learning to the Buffalo Treaty and the growing movement to restore buffalo relationships across communities. Colin also speaks to the importance of creating space for Métis voices in these conversations, and how buffalo can bring people together across generations, nations, and ways of knowing.

This episode is a moving reminder that buffalo restoration is not only about conservation—it is about relationship, responsibility, and resurgence.

🌍 Themes: buffalo kinship, Wahkohtowin, Métis identity, buffalo rematriation, hide camps, Indigenous education, Buffalo Treaty, ecological restoration.

🎧 Tune in to hear how buffalo are bringing people back into relationship with land, culture, ancestors, and one another.

In this episode of the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast, Drs. Shyra and Rye Barberstock continue their conversation with Quinn Meawasige, an Anishinaabe community leader from Serpent River First Nation and the Northeast Community Relations Lead with Gaagige Zaagibigaa, a grassroots initiative supporting First Nations food self-determination across Northern Ontario.

Building on the stories shared in Part I, Quinn takes listeners deeper into the work of land-based education, food sovereignty, and cultural renewal. He shares how seasonal culture camps—guided by moon cycles and rooted in community teachings—create spaces for families and youth to reconnect with ancestral knowledge, language, and land.

Throughout the conversation, Quinn reflects on the importance of revitalizing Anishinaabemowin as a living, verb-based language, supporting household-level food sovereignty, and restoring relationships with the land through harvesting, hunting, and land-based practices.

The discussion also explores the role of cultural burning to renew berry islands, community-led stewardship of watersheds and ecosystems, and how Indigenous communities are blending Traditional Knowledge and Western science to respond to environmental change.

This episode offers a powerful reminder that rebuilding relationships with the land also strengthens culture, language, food systems, and community wellbeing.

🌍 Themes: land-based learning, Indigenous food sovereignty, Anishinaabemowin revitalization, cultural burning, foodways in Northern Ontario, community-led stewardship.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Indigenous communities are restoring foodways, renewing language, and guiding climate leadership through relationships with land and water.

In this episode of the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast, Drs. Shyra and Rye Barberstock welcome Quinn Meawasige, an Anishinaabe community leader from Serpent River First Nation and a founding member of the Waterways Collective.

Quinn shares the story behind this youth-led paddling collective and its mission to reconnect Indigenous communities with their ancestral waterways through land- and water-based learning. From paddling to sacred pictograph sites to revitalizing manoomin (wild rice) and operating community micro-fish hatcheries, the Collective’s work brings together cultural renewal, environmental stewardship, and community education.

Throughout the conversation, Quinn reflects on the importance of reclaiming water travel as an act of cultural resurgence, mentoring the next generation of Indigenous leaders, and creating opportunities for youth to safely return to the land and water through paddling training and certifications.

The discussion also explores how communities are bridging Traditional Knowledge and scientific monitoring, including local efforts to test fish for PFAS contaminants in response to the mining legacy affecting Serpent River’s waterways.

This is Part I of a two-part interview, offering a powerful look at how youth-led initiatives are restoring relationships with water, culture, and territory.

🌍 Themes: Indigenous youth leadership, paddling and water reclamation, pictograph sites, manoomin revitalization, fish hatcheries, community-led environmental monitoring.

🎧 Tune in to hear how returning to the water can restore culture, strengthen community, and guide the next generation of Indigenous climate leadership.

In this thought-provoking episode of the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast, Dr. Shyra Barberstock welcomes a special guest—her co-host and partner, Dr. Rye Barberstock—for a deep dive into the ecological and cultural wisdom encoded in Wampum.

Dr. Rye Barberstock, a Haudenosaunee scholar and member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, shares insights from his research on the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt—an ancient treaty of shared ecological responsibility. Together, Shyra and Rye explore how Wampum acts as a climate decision-maker, carrying environmental data, stories of resilience, and teachings rooted in natural law.

This episode invites listeners to reimagine climate action through the lens of Indigenous governance, knowledge systems, and our original agreements with the Earth.

🌍 Themes: Wampum belts, Indigenous climate leadership, Dish with One Spoon, natural law, ecological stewardship, Indigenous sovereignty.

🎧 Tune in to discover how ancient shell beads carry timely lessons for today’s climate crisis—and why the Earth needs us to listen.

In this episode of the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast, Dr. Shyra Barberstock sits down with her co-host and special guest, Dr. Rye Barberstock, to explore the profound relationship between Indigenous ecological knowledge and climate change.

Dr. Rye Barberstock, a Haudenosaunee scholar and member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, shares ancestral wisdom passed down through generations, reflecting on the universal language of life, the sacred rhythm of Mother Earth, and the deep interconnections between humans, land, and non-human relatives.

Through stories of traditional ecological knowledge, material culture, and Indigenous sciences, this episode offers a powerful perspective on how ancient wisdom informs contemporary climate resilience. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the role of Indigenous knowledge in understanding and adapting to our ever-changing environment.

Subscribe to the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast for more conversations that bridge traditional wisdom and modern climate action. Visit IndigenousClimateHub.ca to stay engaged!

In this episode of the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast, hosts Dr. Shyra Barberstock and Dr. Rye Barberstock sit down with Bethany Whiteknife, a proud member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. As an archaeologist and social-cultural anthropologist in training, Bethany brings a unique perspective on how climate change is reshaping traditional land-based practices.

She shares heartfelt reflections on the impact of warming winters and shifting ice conditions on her community, the resilience of Indigenous knowledge systems, and the role of youth in protecting culture and the environment.

Join us for this inspiring conversation on the power of cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and the strength of Indigenous voices in the fight against climate change.

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to support Indigenous-led climate action!

#IndigenousClimateHub #ClimateAction #CulturalResilience

In the final installment of our three-part series, Drs. Shyra and Rye Barberstock welcome back the inspiring Celeste Smith for a powerful conversation on Indigenous leadership in global food sovereignty and climate justice. From her role as the North American focal point for the Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples Mechanism (CSIPM) to her work with the UN FAO World Committee for Food Security and La Via Campesina, Celeste is amplifying Indigenous knowledge systems on the world stage.

We also explore her groundbreaking initiatives, Cultural Seeds and We Will Plant Lodge, and discuss how Indigenous-led solutions are shaping a more just and sustainable future. Tune in for a compelling discussion on advocacy, land justice, and the power of traditional ecological knowledge in tackling the climate crisis.

Learn more about Celeste’s work at https://wewillplantlodge.com and subscribe to the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast for more inspiring conversations. Miigwech for joining us on this journey!

Welcome back to the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast! In this episode, Drs. Shyra and Rye Barberstock continue their three-part conversation with Celeste Smith, an Oneida seed steward, traditional agriculturalist, and changemaker from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Building on part one, where Celeste shared her journey of reconnecting Women and Gender Diverse People to the land, this episode explores her powerful work at the national level. As Co-Chair of the International Committee for the National Farmers Union (NFU) and a leader with Food Secure Canada, Celeste is driving systemic change in food systems and Indigenous food sovereignty.

Grab a tea or coffee and join us as we discuss how Indigenous leadership is shaping national policies, land justice, and sustainable food systems for future generations. Don’t forget to check out the links in our show notes to learn more about Celeste’s impactful work. Stay tuned for part three, where we’ll explore her influence on the global stage! 🌎✨

In this special episode of the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast, hosts Drs. Shyra and Rye Barberstock welcome Celeste Smith, a visionary leader in Indigenous food sovereignty and land stewardship. Celeste, an Oneida woman from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, is the founder and director of Cultural Seeds and We Will Plant Lodge, two groundbreaking initiatives that are revitalizing Indigenous agricultural traditions.

Join us as we explore Celeste’s inspiring journey from growing plants in her basement to creating We Will Plant Lodge, an ecological center on Manitoulin Island dedicated to healing, learning, and reconnecting with ancestral lifeways. She shares her wisdom as a traditional agriculturalist, a seed steward, and an advocate for women and Two-Spirit individuals reclaiming their relationship with the land.

This episode is part one of a three-part series, where we dive into Celeste’s local, national, and international work in food justice and environmental sustainability. So, grab a cup of tea, get comfortable, and tune in to hear how Celeste is transforming communities—one seed at a time.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave us a review to help amplify Indigenous voices!

Drs. Shyra and Ryan "Rye" Barberstock introduce the Indigenous Climate Hub Podcast—a space where Indigenous voices lead the conversation on climate change and adaptation in Canada.

Join Shyra and Rye as they share what listeners can expect: inspiring stories from Indigenous climate leaders, knowledge keepers, and communities working to protect lands, waters, and ways of life. Whether you’re passionate about climate action, Indigenous knowledge, or community-driven solutions, this podcast is your guide to understanding and supporting Indigenous-led climate initiatives.

Hit play and start your journey with us!