The Wandering Naturalist Podcast

01/07/2026

Rivers are truly one of our biggest connecters. Take a moment to think about what meaning rivers hold in your life.... For our new co-host, Ellen, rivers bring her back to her hometown of Redwood Falls - named for a tributary of the Minnesota River. She also shared this town's claim to fame: the state's largest municipal park! Go parks!!

https://friendsoframseypark.com/

Big Year of Rivers

Enjoy the beauty of nature at Ramsey Park and Ramsey Falls Redwood Falls, MN 56283. Visit the zoo and more! Join the Friends of the Park.

01/06/2026

Season 8 premieres TOMORROW with a series of episodes all about the 2026 Big Year of Rivers. This is also our first set of episodes with our new co-host Ellen at the helm with Brandon. Wander with us as we embark on this new and exciting journey!

01/01/2026

Happy New Years and welcome to the BIG YEAR OF RIVERS! We are so excited to share all kinds of ways that water connects people and planet over the next year. Our first episodes come out next Wednesday, in the meantime... get out and WANDER!

Big Year of Rivers

12/31/2025

We're officially one week away from the premiere of Season 8 of our award-winning Wandering Naturalist podcast, and we have important announcements to make.

Wildlife expert, bug enthusiast, defender of the outdoors and overall amazing human, Angela Grill will be stepping down from her role as co-host to focus on her new position as Wildlife Supervisor here at Three Rivers. While Angela may no longer be co-hosting the podcast, she will certainly be making appearances on the show as an interviewed expert.

Ellen Munshower, a naturalist at Lowry Nature Center, will be signing on and stepping up to the mic as the podcast’s new co-host, joining fellow co-host, Brandon Baker. We're super stoked to have Ellen's effervescent energy, incredible nature knowledge and upbeat personality joining us on this new and exciting journey.

Please join us in sharing your favorite memory or moment with Angela and welcoming Ellen to the team!

11/29/2025

There are so many opportunities to learn about the Dakota and Ojibwe who have called the land of Minnesota home for thousands of years. From visiting museums like Hoċokata Ṫi or the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, to learning about culture through food at Owamni. We encourage you to keep learning and growing your understandings beyond Native American Heritage Month!

https://owamni.com/

Native American Life in the Suburbs

Best New Restaurant Award – 2022. Experience the true flavors of North America, featuring foods of Mni Sota Makoce, Land Where the Waters Reflect the Clouds. We have removed colonial ingredients such as wheat flour, cane sugar and dairy. We are proud to present a decolonized dining experience.

11/28/2025

Tawnya Stewart shared a piece of advice with Wandering Naturalist listeners - she encouraged us to do our own research about the land and the Native American history so that we can show up to conversations with a deeper understanding. One of many great resources is Understand Native Minnesota. Check out the link below for research, news, and ways to get involved.

https://www.understandnativemn.org/

Native American Life in the Suburbs

Tribes are modern, thriving governments, and Native Americans make important contributions to our state every day. But most Minnesotans have little or no in-depth understanding of the state’s tribes, their history, governments, and culture. By sharing accurate information through a dedicated campa...

11/27/2025

While this event has already passed, perhaps today is a great day for you to find your own way to express gratitute for water and share intentions for taking care of the water. And check back in next year for the fourth annual water blessing.

https://youtu.be/LKCbvixWX8k?si=LOaFT3m8NxE6H2Fk

Native American Life in the Suburbs

The water blessing at Medicine Lake was a celebration for Indigenous Peoples Day. For video licensing inquiries, contact: [email protected]

11/26/2025

Tawnya Stewart shares our nature word of the podcast "Debwewin" meaning "truth." This word comes from one of the seven Ojibwe values. Learn more about these values and how to pronounce them at the link below.

https://ojibwe.net/projects/the-gifts-of-the-seven-grandfathers/

Native American Life in the Suburbs

The Gifts of the Seven Grandfathers Origins Like all cultures that survive many centuries, there is collective knowledge about the meaning of life that is shared from one generation to the next. The Anishinaabeg have many stories

11/25/2025

"I know that sometimes we have a very busy life and world, and sometimes just stepping out into nature and just taking it all in can really recharge us." - Tawnya Stewart

11/24/2025

There are loads of amazing things happening with Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ (Bassett Creek) to ecologically restore the area. This website spells out a bit more of the cultural significance and the projects that are going on right now.

https://www.bassettcreekwmo.org/haha-wakpadan-indigenous-culture

Native American Life in the Suburbs

- Roxanne Biidabinokwe Gould, professor emeritus of Indigenous and environmental studies. Roxanne lives in Golden Valley near the Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ.

11/23/2025

Tawyna Stewart shares that she is a part of the Native Rebuilders program through the Native Governance Center. This organization's website is full of incredible resources and programs.

https://nativegov.org/

Native American Life in the Suburbs

Native Governance Center is a Native-led nonprofit working to strengthen Native nations’ sovereignty in Mni Sota Makoce, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

11/22/2025

Our last guest this month is Tawnya Stewart. Tawnya also shares her story in the Haha Wakpadan/Basset Creek Oral History project. You can catch the whole story here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shJtIlL3BeQ

Native American Life in the Suburbs

Tawnya Stewart (Anishinaabe and African American) grew up in Robbinsdale and Crystal in the 1970s. She earned an Executive MBA from the Carlson School of Man...