We're Still here with Simon and Julie

The John Fugelsang Podcast

Crossover Media Group

Sexy Liberal Podcast Network, Sexy Liberal, Arts, News, Sanity, John Fugelsang, Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 31 January 2026

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode - Simon Moya Smith, and Julie Francella, talk with John about the resurgence of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in Minneapolis, drawing striking parallels between historical and contemporary struggles faced by Indigenous communities.

Simon and Julie emphasized the importance of understanding that the fight for Indigenous rights is not merely a relic of the past, but a living, breathing movement that continues to evolve. They pointed out that the emergence of social media has changed the landscape of activism, allowing Indigenous voices to share their stories and experiences in real-time, bypassing traditional media channels that historically marginalized their narratives.

The discussion also delved into the impacts of colonization on Indigenous identity and the ongoing trauma that Indigenous people face. Julie highlighted the psychological effects of racial profiling and the necessity for Indigenous youth to constantly prove their identity to authorities that often fail to recognize their sovereignty.

One of the most poignant moments in the episode came when Simon remarked, "For Indigenous people, it has been about protecting our community and life." This statement encapsulates the essence of the American Indian Movement's mission, which has always been about safeguarding not just Indigenous lives, but the entire community.

As the conversation unfolded, both Simon and Julie expressed their hope for a future where understanding and respect for Indigenous history and rights are paramount. They called on listeners to recognize that "nobody's illegal on stolen land," challenging the prevailing narratives that often ignore the historical context of Indigenous peoples' presence on their ancestral lands.

The episode culminated in a powerful reminder that the fight for justice is ongoing and that each generation has a role to play in advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples. As Simon aptly put it, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." This sentiment resonates deeply in a world where the struggles of the past continue to echo into the present.

For anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Indigenous issues and the complexities of identity, this episode is a must-listen. Simon and Julie's insights provide a valuable perspective on the importance of community, activism, and the enduring legacy of the American Indian Movement.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	It is time now for everybody's favorite part of this show.
0:09.6	You guys put up with me all week long so we can get to this hour.
0:13.7	Simon Moyes Smith is a Golala Lakota and Chicano journalist.
0:17.0	He's a contributing writer at NBC News and The Nation.com.
0:19.5	Simon's forthcoming book is Your Spirit Animal is a jackass, and he is an adjunct professor of indigenous studies. In Denver, he is a journalist who traffics in compassion and guts and justice. Simon. Welcome back. It's good to see you. Yeah, I love to be here, man. Thank you. Thank you, as always. Julie Franchella is a mental health professional with over 30 years of experience handling complex trauma with indigenous youth and families. Julie's an enrolled member of the Ojibway of Bachuana First Nation Reserve. She teaches indigenous studies at Durham College, focusing on the impacts of colonization on First Nations people. And I highly recommend her website, Julie, frecella.com because she's quite the amazing artist. Julie, welcome back.
0:56.0	Thank you so much for having us back. Always happy to be here. Thank you guys. I'm so glad you're
1:02.0	here right now. It's been last week, I thank you because it was so crazy because of Minneapolis,
1:07.0	and of course, it's gotten even crazier in the past couple of days. And I wanted to ask you guys about history and a history that never really ended. I know that AIM began in Minneapolis in the late 60s, right? Because of the way natives were being harassed and brutalized in the streets. And it is chilling how familiar this moment feels.
1:28.3	Simon, when you see the American Indian movement re-emerging in Minneapolis now,
1:32.3	what feels different to you and what feels the same?
1:36.3	I think it's just the social media that's different.
1:40.3	I mean, think about it. Back in the 60s and the 70s, when AIM, the American Indian movement were established, they were dependent, unfortunately, on white media in three mediums, right? So that was newspaper, that was radio, and that was television. Now they get to film things with this phone in their pocket. So that's the only difference. But again, it's,
2:02.4	think about it. For indigenous people, especially with AIM and for us for thousands of years,
2:07.0	it's about, it has been about protecting our community and life. So in the 60s and the 70s,
2:13.3	it was about protecting indigenous people. Now it's just about protecting everybody in the community.
2:19.2	And again, that's something that I don't know white Europeans understand for us,
2:24.5	that it's about protecting life.
2:27.1	And so that's what they're doing.
2:28.2	They're out there protecting the community.
2:29.7	And they, again, indigenous people understand, like they knew the brown berets. They were arm in arm with every minority that was fighting for their inalienable rights.
2:41.0	So they know that they're coming against, their ICE is going against or fighting indigenous people.
2:48.0	And again, in my language, people of the South are spaiola. So if anything,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Crossover Media Group, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Crossover Media Group and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.