Native Circles
This podcast features Native American and Indigenous voices, stories, and experiences for everyone to learn, not only in North America but also throughout the world. The founders of Native Circles are Dr. Farina King (Diné) and Sarah Newcomb (Tsimshian), who were inspired to start this podcast to educate wider publics about the interconnections and significance of Native American, Alaska Native, and Indigenous experiences and matters. The primary co-hosts of the podcast are Dr. King, Dr. Davina Two Bears, and Eva Bighorse. Dr. King is the Horizon Chair of Native American Ecology and Culture and an associate professor of Native American Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Newcomb works as a freelance editor, writer, and blogger with degrees in English and a focus in Non-Fiction Creative Writing. Dr. Two Bears (Diné) is a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow in the School for Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University. Bighorse (Cayuga and Diné) is an Indigenous human development advocate with expertise in tribal healthcare relations. Brian D. King is an assistant editor for the podcast with experiences in journalism and writing. Learn more about the podcast and episodes on the official website of "Native Circles" at https://nativecirclespodcast.com/.
Native Circles
Amoneeta Beckstein and Tapati Dutta Discuss Reziliency of Native College Students During COVID-19
In this episode of Native Circles, Dr. Farina King, co-editor of COVID-19 in Indian Country, talks with co-authors Dr. Amoneeta Beckstein and Dr. Tapati Dutta about their chapter, exploring the lived experiences of eight Native American college students during the pandemic. Drawing from semi-structured interviews, the chapter centers the students' voices as they navigate the challenges of COVID-19—illuminating themes of historical trauma, mental health struggles, and educational disruptions rooted in colonial legacies. Yet, amid these hardships, stories of resilience or "reziliency," cultural strength, and community support arise. In this conversation, the authors reflect on their perspectives as researchers and underscore the students’ expressions of survivance, collectivistic coping, and cultural healing.
Dr. Beckstein is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Fort Lewis College whose work focuses on multicultural counseling, mindfulness, and decolonizing psychology to promote healing for BIPOC and Indigenous communities. He previously directed the Counseling Center at Webster University Thailand and brings a creative approach to mental health, including poetry and advocacy. Dr. Dutta is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Fort Lewis College with over 25 years of experience in global health, focusing on health disparities and community-based interventions for marginalized populations. She is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist and a TEDx speaker recognized for her work in HIV prevention and compassionate public health education.
Resources:
Amoneeta Beckstein and Tapati Dutta, "Lived Experiences of Native American College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic," in COVID-19 in Indian Country: Native American Memories and Experiences of the Pandemic, eds. Farina King and Wade Davies (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024), 121-143.
Amoneeta Beckstein professional profile website; and Amoneeta's Researchgate
TEDx Talk "Life Lessons via Cannibals, Sex Workers & Marginalized People," TEDx Indianapolis Women.
Undergraduate Research Talk "The Radical Potential of Community Research by Tapati Dutta."
Spotlight on COVID-19: An Interview with Dr. Tapati Dutta, MCHES®, by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing
Evolution of storytelling pedagogy in global health course at a U.S. Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution from Fall 2019 to Spring 2023
