Assistant professor Sarah Dees of Iowa State University examined this former business for her paper published by American Religion.
She also highlights the ironies of this time when "Indian medicine" companies became mainstream as the U.S. government enacted policies to restrict Indigenous healing and spiritual practices.
River to River host Ben Kieffer talks with Dees and Great Plains Action Society Executive Director Sikowis Nobiss about historic examples of non-natives misrepresenting cultures for economic gain while pushing stereotypes and causing harm when unequal power dynamics are at play.
Guests:
- Sarah Dees, assistant professor of American religions, Iowa State University
- Sikowis Nobiss, Plains Cree/Saulteaux citizen of the George Gordon First Nation, executive director, Great Plains Action Society
This episode was originally produced 6-26-23