On May 28th, Telus Storyhive YouTube Channel released all remaining episodes of this year’s collection of podcasts. With our continued thanks to Wes Fineday and Charlene Bonnar for creating this series, and to Telus for their support, it’s a pleasure to now present all 10 episodes in a single YouTube play list. Individual episode summaries are presented below to help identify content.
Click here for the 10-episode YouTube Playlist of
Âsokan: Building Bridges
YouTube’s series summary: Discover the powerful impact of Indigenous wisdom in modern education! This series captures a decade of learning from Sweetgrass First Nation’s Wes Fineday, shared through heartfelt conversations with Charlene Bonnar. Each episode offers unique insights into traditional teachings, their modern applications, and their role in building cross-cultural understanding. Essential viewing for educators, students and anyone interested in Indigenous knowledge and reconciliation. #IndigenousEducation #Reconciliation #wisdom
* NOTE: Some topics are difficult: Viewer discretion is advised.
There’s more good news, too: the series was renewed for a second season, so we can expect the conversation between Wes and Charlene to continue with even more of what Wes likes to call (with a wink), “Ancient Indian Secrets and Other Matters of Consequence” content next spring!
The following individual episode descriptions are provided via YouTube. Listeners can select individual episodes from the playlist link, above.
Episode 1: Meet my Mentor – Traditional Knowledge Keeper Wes Fine Day: In this first episode, podcast host Charlene Bonnar visits Sweetgrass First Nation to offer protocol to her mentor in order to begin this series “”in a good way.”” They return to where they first met at Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alberta, for introductions. They discuss what it means to be a traditional knowledge keeper and the power of medicines, medicine people, ceremony, and faith.
Episode 2: Pulling the Cart – A White Horse and a Brown Horse: Continuing their visit in Lloydminster, Alberta, Charlene Bonnar and her guest Wes Fine Day discuss prayer, ceremony, and the power of sound as they work at building cultural bridges.
Episode 3: Ten Years in the Making – From Darkness to Light: Lloydminster resident Charlene Bonnar and her mentor Wes Fine Day touch on life and death, caring for the earth, and what it means to be a child of creator.
Episode 4: Key Lessons – Going Full Circle: In this episode, Lloydminster resident Charlene Bonnar revisits key teachings from her mentor Wes Fine Day, including honoring the land and its creatures, the power of story, the importance of listening, avoiding distractions, and believing we are worthy.
Episode 5: Education – Walking in Two Worlds: Lloydminster resident Charlene Bonnar and her mentor Wes Fine Day discuss the value of traditional knowledge and a “western” education. Mr. Fine Day shares memories from his residential school experiences.
Episode 6: Moving Mountains – Making it “Right”: Lloydminster resident Charlene Bonnar and her mentor Wes Fine Day talk about the obstacles he has faced throughout his life, but we hope that sharing these stories will help to “make things right.”
Episode 7: Fine Day – Looking Back and Looking Ahead: In this episode, hosted by Lloydminster resident Charlene Bonnar, traditional knowledge keeper Wes Fine Day talks about one of his ancestors, as well as the role of museums in working towards reconciliation.
Episode 8: Ancient Indian Secrets and Other Matters of Consequence, Part One – Meeting in Lloydminster, traditional knowledge keeper Wes Fine Day shares historical stories with host Charlene Bonnar as they discuss the ever-unfolding story of Badger Call, the prophecies, and the origins of Cree syllabics. They also talk about historical place names, family connections, and traditional understandings of treaties.
Episode 9: Ancient Indian Secrets and Other Matters of Consequence, Part Two – The personal and historical stories continue as Charlene Bonnar hosts her mentor Wes Fine Day at Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alberta. Wes shares a fasting experience and an ancient story about the original berry picking woman.
Episode 10: The Stories Never Stop – Bonus Extended Episode: Lloydminster resident Charlene Bonnar and traditional knowledge keeper Wes Fine Day revisit topics that have come up throughout this series such as spirits, animals, dreams, and the little people. Wes hopes that these stories will “awaken the dreams of young children.”
