Tribe of Testimonies
The Book of Mormon, a scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, describes two peoples: Lamanites and Nephites. After a last great battle, the Nephites were destroyed from the face of the earth. The remnants of the Lamanites are among the ancestors of today’s North American Native Americans. Andrea Hales (Navajo), the host of Tribe of Testimonies, interviews faithful Native American Latter-day Saints of tribes across the U.S. and Canada to learn how the Gospel of Jesus Christ has influenced their lives. Everyone’s story is different—conversions, families, missions, educations, careers, talents, achievements, failures, trials. As we share our stories, maybe we can strengthen each other. May we all walk in beauty. // This podcast is not sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, we love the Church. For further information on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please visit ComeUntoChrist.org.
Episodes
190 episodes since 2020
Valerie Hosteenez - Navajo
Life is not easy. It's not supposed to be. And some of the challenges we bring upon ourselves. Valerie has had challenges in her life that were from other people's decision. And she has also taken challenges, like major hikes. She is planning o...
September 17, 2024
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Episode 187
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48:37
Maribeth Mills - Ute Mountain Ute & Northern Ute
There is a part in this conversation when Maribeth talks about her time in the temple. She said that the temple became more precious to her through the following steps: (1) Just going. Just being there. Giving it time. (2) Listening to the ordi...
September 10, 2024
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Episode 186
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47:07
Harriet Whitmer - Cherokee
Heavenly Father prepares us for different things. Harriet Whitmer was prepared for her educational career here and there. And then she was blessed by being willing to step into the Indian Education program in her community. She loved learning t...
September 04, 2024
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Episode 185
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51:42
Bartley Harris - Saulteaux-Cree (Peguis First Nation)
Recently we read and talked about the Stripling Warriors in the war chapters in the book of Alma. We talked about the parents, actually, more than the youth. Why? Because the parents were the ones that we are more like right now. We have the yo...
August 27, 2024
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Episode 184
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54:28
Gordon Limb - Ho-Chunk (Winnebago)
It is definitely interesting how some people come to the careers that they do. I read a book by one of my MPA professors who described that process--it isn't a straight line. Gordon Limb's career has not followed a "straight line." But he has b...
August 20, 2024
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Episode 183
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1:02:54
Gayle Toyebo Roulain - Kiowa
The honesty and pure testimony that Gayle shares in this episode is real and powerful. She just talks about her relationships with family and how God has always been a part of those relationships. She talks about how she has used prayer for per...
August 13, 2024
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Episode 182
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57:55
Tolani Francisco - Pueblo of Laguna
Some people have incredibly fascinating stories. Tolani's story is fascinating. She started life without a birth certificate. She's ending life with multiple graduate degrees. There's a moment when she talks about how she's not always made the ...
August 06, 2024
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Episode 181
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47:15
Nancy Bear Cloud - Apsáalooke (Crow), Gros Ventre, & Assiniboine
Oh. My. Goodness! Nancy Bear Cloud is beaming! I'm the luckiest because I got to watch her face and eyes as she described her life and testified of Jesus Christ and the blessings found in the temple. She tells here about her life, about how it ...
July 30, 2024
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Episode 180
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1:02:28
DaNae Elton - Navajo
In so many ways, DaNae feels like a sister to me. We both grew up so loved by both sides of our families, but yet there was a cultural disconnect. Not an intentional or harmful disconnect, but more situational. At BYU, DaNae started looking mor...
July 23, 2024
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Episode 179
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47:30
Doug Macdonald - Lakota & Assiniboine
A while back, my great aunt sent me the names of two people she thought would be amazing guests. Well, finally, someone else convinced Brother Macdonald that he needed to share his testimony more often and more boldly. Doug said things during t...
July 16, 2024
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Episode 178
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55:01
Sylvia Miera-Fisk - Navajo, Pueblo, Yaqui
As I'm always keeping an eye out for possible guests, I was shocked to find out we had a gubernatorial candidate who fits this podcast! Sylvia was so kind and interesting to visit with. She's smart and quick. She's well-spoken and thoughtful. I...
July 09, 2024
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Episode 177
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51:01
Priscilla Pearson - an Indian Placement Program Story
There are some controversial topics surrounding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of them is the Indian Placement Program. I happen to be particularly thankful for the Program. And so is Priscilla Pearson. I interviewed her d...
July 02, 2024
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Episode 176
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52:34
Lance Morris - Assiniboine & Sioux
Lance Morris has done much good in Indian Country. He has helped honor veterans. He has stood for rights to worship and live. But he says that the most important things to him are much closer. He says that the living the tenants of the Gospel o...
June 26, 2024
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Episode 175
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55:48
Bob Adams - Tlingit
We didn't exactly follow the normal episode pattern. But that's okay. Bob taught us about how the history of his people has brought him where he is and makes him who he is. His ancestors and their stories really matter. And maybe we don't have ...
June 18, 2024
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Episode 174
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54:48
Blaine Goklish - Eastern Shoshone, White Mountain Apache, Blackfeet, & Pawnee
This episode was recorded two weeks before Blaine was baptized and now uploaded after his baptism! I'm so happy for him!!! I wish I could have been there to witness his special day and to hug him! (Gee whiz, I'm using a lot of exclamation marks...
June 11, 2024
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Episode 173
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47:11
JJ First Charger - Kainai (Blood Tribe), Blackfoot Confederacy
There's a part in this conversation when JJ talks about feeling despair. I think that's why I needed to interview him. When have you felt despair? How did you respond to that? What caused it? What did you do to get out of it? I think it's impor...
June 04, 2024
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Episode 172
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1:02:17
Kaika Cole - Kanienkeha (Mohawk)
This episode doesn't "sound" right because I managed to turn my microphone off when I was adjusting the stand. But this episode sounds awesome in all wonderful things Kaika taught us. He loves his heritage because it brings him closer to our Sa...
May 28, 2024
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Episode 171
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51:04
Lucille Hunt - Navajo & Comanche
When she was a young lady, Lucille found the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She has been on fire with that testimony ever since! Even when she was called to serve a full-time proselyting mission right in her backyard! Her description of how she became...
May 22, 2024
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Episode 170
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55:08
Samantha Begay-Bass - Navajo & Tewa Pueblo
I really didn't know much about Samantha before we started visiting. But I'm so glad that we had this time to chat. She really sees the hand of God in her life--and I love that! She and her husband are a team in the goals that they have for the...
May 17, 2024
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Episode 169
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43:22
Dhanielle Declay - White Mountain Apache
Dhanielle Declay reached out to me because her testimony is burning brightly. There are so many analogies with fire during this conversation. And there is the topic of a real-life fire that about took Dhanielle's life. She is a burn survivor. A...
May 03, 2024
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Episode 168
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53:52
Geoff & Akasha Balkman - Oglala Lakota / Yankton & Oglala Lakota
Ah...where to begin with this one. Geoff and Akasha came to my house. And they didn't use a tissue once. You might need one though. This is a tough, tough story. They lost their son out of the blue. Their son just didn't wake up one day. The ba...
April 23, 2024
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Episode 167
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1:01:13
Jacob Obioma - Navajo
One of a kind. Literally. Jacob is Navajo and Nigerian. No siblings. He's one of a kind. But something else that I love about Jacob is that he has dedicated his life to sharing his love of Jesus Christ. He wants people to see Jesus through his ...
April 17, 2024
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Episode 166
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55:29
LaRue Willie - Navajo
One of the first people that has sent me multiple emails is LaRue. She often sends me a note to tell me how much something someone said on Tribe of Testimonies has affected her. It's taken me a couple years to get her to agree to be a guest. I'...
April 09, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 165
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48:26
Ira Jones - Seneca
In a few days from the posting of this episode, a full eclipse will pass over much of the United States. In this conversation, Ira explains a Seneca story about making promises of peace during an eclipse. He is planning on doing a similar pledg...
March 26, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 164
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48:21
Joshua Freeman - Hopi
The longer we talked, the more I appreciated the things Josh had to say about life and family. We talked a lot off the recording as well. There is just so much that I could appreciate about his experiences. Josh shares about some of his family'...
March 26, 2024
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Season 1
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Episode 163
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58:55