Dr. Lyla June: Turning Pain into Power

In this conversation, Shayla Ouellette Stonechild interviews Dr. Lyla June Johnston, an Indigenous musician, scholar, and community organizer. Dr. Johnston shares her journey of overcoming trauma and addiction, emphasizing the importance of prayer and connection to Creator in her healing process. She discusses the significance of service to the community and how education can be a powerful tool for Indigenous empowerment. Lyla advocates for building alternative systems that honor Indigenous values and knowledge, highlighting the need for regenerative practices to heal both people and the earth. Shayla and Lyla explore the significance of matriarchy, the importance of healing within Indigenous communities, and the role of future generations in the fight for justice and equality. More Info about Lyla and Her Work: Dr. Lyla June Johnston (aka Lyla June) is a poet, singer-songwriter, hip-hop artist, human ecologist, public speaker and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences across the globe towards personal, collective and ecological healing. Her messages focus on Indigenous issues and solutions, supporting youth, inter-cultural healing, historical trauma, and traditional land stewardship practices. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford, graduate work in Indigenous Pedagogy, and the traditional worldview she grew up with to inform her music, perspectives and solutions. Her doctoral research focused on the ways in which pre-colonial Indigenous Nations shaped large regions of Turtle Island (aka the Americas) to produce abundant food systems for humans and non-humans. Her internationally acclaimed live performances are conveyed through the medium of speech, hip-hop, poetry, and acoustic music. Her personal goal is to grow closer to Creator by learning how to love deeper. Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! If you enjoyed the conversation, please leave a comment and thumbs-up on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app! Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram: ⁠⁠ Find more about Matriarch Movement at ⁠⁠ ⁠ This podcast is produced by Women in Media Network ⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Dr. Lyla June: Turning Pain into Power is an episode from Matriarch Movement by Shayla Oulette Stonechild.

This episode is 40:55 long.

This episode was published on Jun 2, 2025.

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