Michael Runningwind introduces himself and explains the traditional greeting in his native language, which acknowledges the life in each person. He discusses the importance of language in connecting with ancestors and cultural understanding. Michael shares his background, including his military service in the Marine Corps and subsequent challenges in reintegrating into civilian life. Currently, he considers himself retired but self-employed, working on establishing a 501(c)(3) organization to provide scholarships for young people from indigenous backgrounds. Michael also creates and sells crafts, including jewelry and art.
He focuses on Native American cultural practices and leadership. Michael shares his experiences as a spiritual leader and the challenges he faces in his community. He describes the process of receiving certain rights involving an intense sweat lodge ceremony lasting from early morning until late at night. Runningwind expresses frustration with the local Native community's tendency to seek permission for cultural practices from outsiders and their resistance to change as well as touching upon the complexities of American indigenous identity, focusing on its intersections with other racial identities and the challenges of defining indigeneity across borders. Michael who identifies as mixed Seneca, Apache, and Otomi, shares personal experiences to illustrate how appearance and genetic heritage can complicate indigenous identification. The conversation touches on the need for a broader understanding of indigenous identity that accounts for historical migrations, cultural intersections, and the artificial nature of national borders in the Americas.
Thank you so much for joining the show Michael we cannot wait to have you back soon!
