This week my guest is Glendon N. Smith, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and the Tribal Liaison for the Oregon State Police.

Glendon’s work focuses on building stronger communication and understanding between the State of Oregon, Oregon’s Tribes, and law enforcement. His role includes supporting government-to-government relationships, providing Tribal perspective, working on issues connected to treaty rights and tribal sovereignty, and helping improve communication around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons.

He was recently selected for the Public Service Ambassador Award by Governor Tina Kotek, with this year’s theme of “Leading with Purpose.” Glendon is also the first citizen of Warm Springs to receive this award.

In this conversation, we talk about what it means to serve as a Tribal Liaison, why relationship-building matters, and how Tribal perspective can help shape better conversations around public safety, sovereignty, and community trust.

Dave Smoot's story doesn't fit neatly into any one box — and that's exactly what makes it so compelling.

He's a Tribal Member of the Creek Nation in Oklahoma. A U.S. Army veteran. A tech industry pioneer who helped shape the early days of the software and microcomputer revolution. And today, the founder of companies working to produce sustainable aviation fuel at commercial scale in the United States — with tribal partnership woven into the foundation of that work.

Smoot's business career spans nearly 45 years, beginning after his honorable discharge from the Army Reserves in 1975. He spent two decades in the microcomputer industry, eventually rising to Director of Operations at Digital Research in Pacific Grove, California — a role that put him at the table alongside IBM, Microsoft, Apple, and Intel during one of the most transformative periods in tech history.

The 2026 Gathering of Nations is almost here, and in this episode of PowWowLife, I’m walking you through everything you need to know.

Whether you’re heading to Albuquerque in person or planning to watch from home, this episode is your guide to the 2026 Gathering of Nations. I’m talking about what to expect at the event, what you do not want to miss, tips for navigating the crowds, grand entries, Stage 49, vendors, and how the livestream will work this year on YouTube.

I’m also sharing a few personal stories about my connection to Gathering of Nations and why this year feels especially important.

In this episode:

• What to expect if you’re attending in person
• Grand entry and key moments you do not want to miss
• Stage 49, vendors, food, and crowd tips
• How to watch the livestream on YouTube
• Membership pricing and livestream details
• What free content will be available after the powwow
• Why Gathering of Nations means so much to me

Helpful links:

Gathering of Nations info:

https://www.powwows.com/gathering-nations-pow-wow-north-americas-largest-pow-wow/

Get updates:

https://pgowder-powwows-com.kit.com/2026gon

Join to watch the live stream:

https://www.youtube.com/@Powwows/join

Live stream page:

https://www.powwows.com/webcast/2026-gathering-of-nations-pow-wow/

Get the 2026 Gathering of Nations digital magazine:

https://powwows.thrivecart.com/2026-gathering-pow-wow-magazine/

If you’re going to Gathering this year, or watching from home, let me know in the comments.

What happens when you combine design talent, Indigenous identity, humor, and a sharp eye for what’s missing in the market? You get Born of Legends.

This week on Pow Wow Life, Shannon Romero shares how she built her brand, why contemporary Native representation matters, and how she created designs that reflect shared Indigenous experiences.

We also get into the business side, including how Etsy helped her launch and grow her work into something bigger.

Follow Born of Legends

www.bornoflegends.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bornoflegends/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bornoflegends/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bornoflegends

What does it take to build a creative life that actually means something?

In this episode of the Pow Wow Live Podcast, I sit down with Michelle Brown, Creative Director of Eighth Generation, for a conversation about art, fashion, purpose, and the courage it takes to choose your own path.

Michelle shares her journey into fashion and product design, including what it was like pursuing a creative career even when the people closest to her did not fully support that decision at first. She talks honestly about taking that leap, trusting her passion, and why being brave enough to follow your calling matters.

We also dive into the heart of what makes Eighth Generation so special, from their beautiful artist-designed products to the way they partner with Native artists to create more sustainable revenue and long-term opportunity. This is a conversation about creativity, culture, entrepreneurship, and building something bigger than yourself.

If you have ever wondered whether you should take a chance on your dream, this episode is for you.

This episode features a powerful conversation with the organizers of the Weaving Unity Southeastern MMIW Informational Pow Wow in Lexington, South Carolina.

We talk about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis and why this issue matters deeply here in South Carolina and across the Southeast. The organizers share why they created this event, what they hope the community takes away, and how powwows and gatherings like this can help bring awareness, education, healing, and unity.

This is an important conversation about protecting Native women, honoring families and loved ones, and making sure these stories are seen and heard.

Weaving Unity Pow Wow Information

https://calendar.powwows.com/events/weaving-unity-southeastern-mmiw-informational-pow-wow/

In this episode, I’m joined by Burgandi Trejo Phoenix for a real conversation about what it looks like to build a meaningful career and keep it grounded in who you are. We talk about identity, community, and the moments that shaped her path.

Follow Burgandi Trejo Phoenix

https://www.instagram.com/burgandiphoenix/?hl=en

In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Meeches and Denae Robinson, the producers behind the powerful true-crime documentary series TAKEN. Now in Season 5, TAKEN shares the stories of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Canada, including women and girls, men and boys, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, with one goal always at the center: honour their lives and help bring them home.

We talk about what goes into telling these stories with care, how the team works alongside families, elders and knowledge keepers, community leaders, and law enforcement, and why TAKEN focuses on both the hard facts of a case and the human moments that remind us who these loved ones truly were. We also dig into the bigger questions TAKEN raises about safety, systemic change, and what all of us can do to help end the violence.

In this interview for PowWows.com, Kali Reis dives deep into her role in the upcoming movie Mercy, sharing behind-the-scenes insights from the set and what it means to take on powerful characters.

She also talks about the crossover between her boxing career and acting, her life as an Indigenous woman, and how her commitment to community drives her work both on and off-screen.

Watch the trailer for Mercy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSS4yqd0x6o

Read my full review of Mercy

https://www.powwows.com/mercy-review-a-smart-tech-thriller-that-questions-ai-and-justice/

Two Native creatives. One powerful story about forgiveness and healing.

In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker Travis Holt Hamilton of Holt Hamilton Films and first time actor Frankie J Gilmore, who stars as Secody in the new feature film Finding Hozho. This drama follows a 70 year old Navajo veteran who must decide whether to forgive his terminally ill and abusive father or stay “in the shadows of Hozho” forever.

🎬 Watch the Finding Hozho trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS-zIOHUwhk&t=85s

🌐 Learn more: holthamilton.com/finding-hozho

If you enjoy conversations about Native storytelling, culture, and film, hit subscribe, give this video a like, and let me know in the comments if you have seen Finding Hozho yet or plan to check it out.

2025 Pow Wow Guide eBook

https://powwows.thrivecart.com/2025-pow-wow-guide-what-to-expect-lead/

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Pow Wow Essentials

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Join me for an interview with James Dommek Jr. and Kahlil Hudson to talk about Hulu’s haunting new documentary Blood & Myth.

The film follows James on a deeply personal journey back to a remote Native village in Northern Alaska, where a series of shocking crimes sparked chilling questions about culture, identity, and the line between myth and reality. At the heart of the story is the case of Teddy Kyle Smith, an Iñupiaq actor who claimed his violent actions were guided by encounters with the legendary Iñukuns — beings long feared in northern Native communities.

Directed by Kahlil Hudson and based on the Audible Original Midnight Son, Blood & Myth is more than a true-crime tale. It’s a powerful exploration of Native storytelling, the clash of worldviews, and what happens when you wander too far from home.

Find a Pow Wow in your state or province!

www.powwows.com/powwowsnearme

Pow Wow Essentials

https://www.powwows.com/essentials