I Know How You Feel: I Grew Up In the Navajo Nation

Val grew up in the heart of the Navajo Nation—where childhood meant long, early rides to school, deep family roots, and the quiet heartbreak of not being fully immersed in her own language. In this episode, she shares the layered story of leaving home, facing ignorance and racism, and the emotional work of keeping her culture alive for her children. From misconceptions about Native identity to the beauty and burden of preserving tradition, this conversation is a powerful reflection on resilience, belonging, and what it means to carry your heritage forward in a world that often misunderstands it. 

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Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) - Native Hope

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