Edith Leoso shares her Indigenous knowledge with the Find Your Wild Podcast

with Host Brianna Godberson

Leoso’s profound words struck me to my core while filming People & Wolves. In this podcast, Leoso discusses native perspectives reminding us that humans were placed on this earth last and the Ma’iingan (brother wolf) is very significant in our environment. Leoso says the wolf takes care of what is sick in our environment. The wolf provides a balance to the environment. Leoso relayed the story of when she was participating in the tagging of wolves and how they followed one wolf as they went into a barn full of cows. she said the wolf walked through uninterested in the herd because the farmer must have had very healthy cows. There was no predation of the cows and she attributes that to how the wolf takes only the sick animals. She tells the stories that have been handed down through generations as her people have lived on this land for centuries. She related the interconnectedness of all beings placed on this earth by the creator. To me, Leoso represents in her stories a lesson on living with each other; alongside the living and non-living elements that make up the bounty of our planet Earth. She speaks to us in a calm straightforward voice relaying indigenous cultural knowledge yet she gives an urgent warning to us of a native prophecy of what is to come. Will we heed that message in these times of climate catastrophe? Tune in to the podcast to find out.

About Edith Leoso

Edith served nearly 18 years as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa in northern Wisconsin. Served two terms on the Bad River Tribal Council. Her story is featured in the book, “Love WI.”

Leoso has co-authored a Ph.D. dissertation with Jessica Conaway, Ph.D. entitled, Ganawendam Ginibiiminaan, which is being edited by the publishers. She is currently working with Professor Jingyi Wei of Jinan University in Guangzhou, China on the non-tangible component of Heritage Preservation. Leoso is a certified Grants Specialist and Grant Reviewer and is in training to become a certified Peer Specialist. She has assisted several college students on papers related to Tribal Historic Preservation, Culture, and History. She was recently published in the ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science as a co-author to
“Waking from Paralysis: Revitalizing Conceptions of Climate Knowledge and Justice for More Effective Climate Action, March 2022.

She has provided countless interviews, including on NPR- All Things Considered, as well as numerous presentations relating to Tribal Historic Preservation to a variety of audiences, and was filmed in short videos and documentaries some are posted on YouTube.
Leoso has been cast member in several films. Her most recent film is the full feature documentary, Bad River: A Story of Defiance which premiered at select AMC Theaters throughout the country. She is featured in the award-winning People & Wolves by Rachel Tilseth, released in D3c3mb34 2024. Edith works for and takes care of Nibi (the Water), for future generations, and is still available as an Indigenous Tribal Cultural Consultant.

Find Your Wild Podcast

Welcome to the Find Your Wild Podcast, where we explore the deep connections between nature, animals, and the wild within us.
Hosted by Brianna, each episode features insightful conversations with guests who share their unique perspectives on how they connect with the natural world. From everyday practices to profound experiences, our guests reveal how they embrace nature in their daily lives. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, an animal lover, or simply looking for inspiration to reconnect with the earth, this podcast will inspire you to rediscover the wild within and around you.

www.youtube.com/@TheFindYourWildPodcast