Emergence - remembering our ancestors’ teachings and how to carry forward their original instructions for each generation.

Chahta Chatter

Welcome to Chahta Chatter!
Our ancestors have used our stories for generations upon generations for instructions on how to live a good way on the earth; they also have encoded ways in which we can heal.

Emergence is a the creation story for the Choctaws of how they came into this world that we are currently living in. This story gives us the opportunity to learn about ancestral Choctaw teachings and how to carry forward these original instructions for each generation and within each environment we inhabit. Importantly, we must remember to value one another, our inner relationships with more than human kin, and our environment.
Meet our host:
Dr. Michelle Johnson-Jennings is a Choctaw tribal member, clinical health psychologist, and a Full Professor at the University of Washington’s Schools of Social Work and Public Health. As co-Executive Director of IWRI, she leads groundbreaking research in land-based healing, Indigenous health frameworks, and culturally relevant interventions. Her work spans continents and empowers communities through storytelling and holistic health practices.
Andrea Gonzalez is a proud Mexican-American with Indigenous ancestry who is passionate about ancestral connection, spirituality, and well-being. She is the Program Coordinator at University of Washington’s Indigenous Wellness Research Institute. Andrea has a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Sciences, and spent her undergrad in a microbiology lab researching bacteria that play an important role in chronic periodontis. She is multilingual and passionate about expanding her consciousness as a citizen of the world.
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Producers: Andrea Gonzalez, Dr.Michelle Johnson-Jennings, and Felipe Contreras.
Mixed By: Felipe Contreras
Special thanks to Brad Joe for the support and contribution to the music of the show.
This podcast is made possible through collaboration with IWRI, the University of Washington’s School of Social Work, and HOLLO’s initiatives. At HOLLO we integrate storytelling and land-based healing to address chronic health issues, preserve cultural heritage, and promote community-led wellness.