Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Podcast Archives

Jul 16, 2026

Indigenous Speaker Series: Episode 6 – Diane Schenandoah

Born on Onondaga Nation territory, and the homelands of her father, Diane Schenandoah holds the responsibility of Faithkeeper for the Oneida Nation. She was born into the Wolf Clan and her mother, Maisie, was a Wolf Clan Mother for Oneida Nation. As a young woman, with the support of her artistic family, she pursued her love of the arts at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in ABQ, NM and later the prestigious Institute of American Indian Arts/Santa Fe, where she was mentored by Chiricahua Apache sculptor Allan Houser/Haozous. In addition to being an artist and a leader within her family, Clan, community, and Nation, Diane currently serves as Honwadiyenawa’sek (One Who Helps Them) at the Barnes Center at the Arch, Syracuse University, supporting students by sharing Haudenosaunee principles and philosophies on wellness and well-being. Her art is in numerous private collections and represented in the collections of the Iroquois Museum, Castellani Art Museum, Fenimore Museum/Cooperstown, and of course the New York State Museum.

Show Notes

Speaker Series on YouTube

Speaker Series on the Coalition to Dismantle website

Hear more from Diane on the Decolonizing 250 Years of America Webinar

Jul 16, 2026

Indigenous Speaker Series: Episode 5 – Wendsler Nosie

Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr. is a former Peridot District Councilman and Tribal Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Wendsler was born on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and was raised in the traditional Apache way of life. He graduated from the Globe High School in 1978, attended Merritt College in Oakland, California, attended Phoenix College in Phoenix, Arizona, and completed the State of Arizona Banking Academy. Dr. Nosie specializes in Bioethics, Sustainability and Global Public Health. He is dedicated to the preservation and protection of Native American culture, artifacts, history, religion, and tradition. Wendsler is the leader of the Apache Stronghold and Director of Gaan Bike Goz aa where he continues to advocate for indigenous religious and human rights and protecting the future for our next generations to come.

Show Notes

Apache Stronghold website

Apache Stronghold Facebook and Instagram

Speaker Series on YouTube

Speaker Series on the Coalition to Dismantle website

Jun 18, 2026

Indigenous Speaker Series: Episode 4 – Tela Troge

Tela Loretta Troge, Esq. is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and a member of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe. Tela is the director of the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers and the Niamuck Land Trust. She recently organized the Warriors of the Sunrise Sovereignty Camp 2020 in an attempt to raise awareness about the plight of the Shinnecock people. Tela graduated from Michigan State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor and certification in Indigenous Law and Policy from the Indigenous Law Program. She has been fighting for tribal sovereignty for the past 11 years as the attorney with the Law Offices of Tela L. Troge, PLLC.

Show Notes

Shinnecock Kelp Farmers

Mongabay video interview with Tela Troge and the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers

Watch the Speaker Series on YouTube

Watch the Speaker Series on the Coalition to Dismantle website

Jun 18, 2026

Indigenous Speaker Series: Episode 3 – Jim Rock

Jim Rock (Sisseton Dakota Father) has taught Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy for over forty years at reservation, urban and suburban high schools, colleges, tribal college and universities. He recently retired as the Director of Indigenous Programming for the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium and as an instructor in the Physics and Astronomy department of Swenson College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He is an Elder in Residence at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities COIN center and is a founding governing council member of the Makoche Ikikchupi Project to return exiled Ocheti Shakowin Oyate to their sacred homelands, and to live in sustainable earth lodge communities.

Show Notes

*Makoce Ikikcupi link

Speaker Series on YouTube

Speaker Series on the Coalition to Dismantle website

May 19, 2026

Indigenous Speaker Series: Episode 2 – Steve Darden

Steven A. Darden (Diné/Navajo and Cheyenne) is an artist, human rights advocate, business owner, and traditional practitioner. He is a long-time commissioner to the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, and currently serves as the vice-chair. Steve is a Luce Foundation Indigenous Knowledge Fellow. He sits on the council of elders for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.

Apr 16, 2026

Indigenous Speaker Series: Episode 1 – Sophie Pierre

Sophie Pierre served her community of ‘Aqam (the St. Mary’s Indian Band) of the Ktunaxa Nation for 30 years, 26 as elected chief, and for 25 years was the administrator of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council, now the Ktunaxa Nation Council. Sophie was recognized with the Order of Canada in 2016; the Order of British Columbia in 2002 and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the business category in 2003. Sophie’s commitment to good governance, accountability and leadership has been recognized by three honorary degrees from Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia and University of Canada West. Sophie, a mother of three and grandmother of five, now spends much of her time as an elder advisor to her community of ‘Aqam and to the Ktunaxa Nation. As a fluent speaker of the Ktunaxa language her commitment to the responsibility of passing on traditional knowledge remains her lifetime goal.

Show Notes

St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino – Ktunaxa owned resort

Watch the Speaker Series on YouTube

Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery Website: dismantlediscovery.org

Oct 3, 2025

Following the Spirit part 2 – Interview with Coalition Chaplain, Rev. Canon Deborah J. Royals

In this second part of our interview with Coalition Chaplain Debbie Royals, we continue our discussion of colonized/colonizing worship and the need for spiritual care in our work. This is a work in progress, as we together seek to realign ourselves with the Creator and Creation through worship.

Debbie is Pascua Yaqui from Tucson, AZ, a sister, mother to two wonderful young men and grandmother to four. She is an Episcopal priest, author, retreat leader and educator. Debbie earned a diploma in Nursing, a B.A. in Native American Spirituality and Theology from Prescott College, an M.Div. from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and a M.A. in Religion and Society from the Graduate Theological Union. She serves as the Canon for Native American Ministry in the Diocese of Arizona and is developing a“new church community called Four Winds serving Indigenous people. Debbie led the Indigenous Theological Training Institute for 10 years and published several journals with Indigenous theologians. She has published in books on prayer and daily meditations. Debbie has navigated the divide by forming a bridge as a Native American spiritual leader and Episcopal priest. Her passion for restorative justice and binding community is evident in every aspect of her life.

Watch video recordings of this and other episodes from Season 4 of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Podcast on our YouTube Channel.

Show Notes:

Decolonizing Worship happens the last Friday of every month at 1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. ET. Register for the Zoom link

Sarah and Sheri’s book: So That We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis

Sarah and Sheri’s Substack: So That We and Our Children May Live

You can follow the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery).

Sep 17, 2025

Sacred Imagination and Regenerating for Generations: Tela Troge’s Indigenous Speaker Interview

In the Indigenous Speaker Series being released on the Coalition website we asked Indigenous thought-leaders to reflect with us about what might comprise ecologically successful systems. Sarah and Sheri discuss some clips from Sarah’s interview with Tela Troge of the Shinnecock Nation.

Tela Loretta Troge, Esq. is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and a member of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe. Tela is the director of the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers and the Niamuck Land Trust. She recently organized the Warriors of the Sunrise Sovereignty Camp 2020 in an attempt to raise awareness about the plight of the Shinnecock people. Tela graduated from Michigan State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor and certification in Indigenous Law and Policy from the Indigenous Law Program. She has been fighting for tribal sovereignty for the past 11 years as the attorney with the Law Offices of Tela L. Troge, PLLC.

Watch video recordings of this and other episodes from Season 4 of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Podcast on our YouTube Channel.

Show notes:

Access the Indigenous Speaker Series on the DDoD website

Watch Tela’s Indigenous Speaker Series video/interview

Sarah’s Substack article about the Shinnecock Nation: Support the Shinnecock Right to Self-Determination

Sign up for a New Coalition Volunteer Orientation and/or a Coffee Hour

Sign up to receive our Newsletter

Prayers for Shinnecock and other Coalition campaigns

Sarah and Sheri’s book: So That We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis

Sarah and Sheri’s Substack: So That We and Our Children May LiveYou can follow the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery)

Aug 12, 2025

Interview with Coalition Chaplain, Rev. Canon Deborah J. Royals: Following the Spirit part 1

The Coalition has hired a Chaplain! Debbie Royals is piloting this new position, to feel out the possibilities of providing decolonizing worship and spiritual care to our growing movement. In this episode, we talk about what colonized/colonizing worship is and, thus, what constitutes decolonized/decolonizing worship. This is a work in progress, as we together seek to realign ourselves with the Creator and Creation through worship.

Debbie is Pascua Yaqui from Tucson, AZ, a sister, mother to two wonderful young men and grandmother to four. She is an Episcopal priest, author, retreat leader and educator. Debbie earned a diploma in Nursing, a B.A. in Native American Spirituality and Theology from Prescott College, an M.Div. from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and a M.A. in Religion and Society from the Graduate Theological Union. She serves as the Canon for Native American Ministry in the Diocese of Arizona and is developing a“new church community called Four Winds serving Indigenous people. Debbie led the Indigenous Theological Training Institute for 10 years and published several journals with Indigenous theologians. She has published in books on prayer and daily meditations. Debbie has navigated the divide by forming a bridge as a Native American spiritual leader and Episcopal priest. Her passion for restorative justice and binding community is evident in every aspect of her life.

Watch video recordings of this and other episodes from Season 4 of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Podcast on our YouTube Channel.

Show Notes:

Decolonizing Worship happens the last Friday of every month at 1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. ET. You can sign up through this calendar link by clicking on the event.

Sarah and Sheri’s book: So That We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis

Sarah and Sheri’s Substack: So That We and Our Children May Live

You can follow the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery).

Jun 12, 2025

Interview with Jonathan Smucker and Tim Nafziger: Catalyzing the Mennonite Story

As groups that came out of Mennonite organizing, Mennonite Action and the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery share similar values. Like our shared commitment towards decolonization. Learn about the origins of Mennonite Action and how the story of Anabaptism has inspired, and sometimes hindered, public organizing in this interview with Jonathan Smucker and Tim Nafziger.

Jonathan Smucker has worked for over twenty-five years as a political organizer, campaigner, and strategist. He is the co-founder of Popular Comms Institute, PA Stands Up, Lancaster Stands Up, Common Defense, Beyond the Choir, and Mennonite Action. He is a PhD candidate in sociology at University of California, Berkeley and author of Hegemony How-To: A Roadmap for Radicals.

Tim Nafziger lives in the Ventura River watershed on the traditional lands of the Chumash people in southern California. He has been organizing for peace and justice in Mennonite communities for 27 years, including with the Coalition and Mennonite Action. He enjoys writing, board games and photography and works professionally as a digital marketing consultant.

Watch video recordings of this and other episodes from Season 4 of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Podcast on our YouTube Channel

Show Notes:

“The Courage to Enter the Song,” written by Sarah Augustine, Tim Nafziger and Jonathan Smucker.

“Beyond Blaurock: The Other Origin Story of Anabaptism,” by Tim Nafziger.

A good article on Mennonite Action and its founding: “I Was Arrested While Singing Hymns for Ceasefire in Gaze.”

“The Movement Makes Us Human, An Interview with Dr. Vincent Harding on Mennonites, Vietnam, and MLK,” by Joanna Shenk.

Mennonite Action’s website

“Front Light” – A Mennonite Action Podcast

Sarah’s and my book: So That We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis

Sarah’s and my Substack: So That We and Our Children May Live

You can follow the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery on Instagram (@coalitiontodismantle) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/dismantlediscovery)