Voices to Hear
Voices to Hear (V2H) is a project that uses the oral tradition of storytelling to empower Native American students (middle, high school and college) to engage in environmental decision-making and scientific communication, while building a stronger sense of their ethnic identity. Through the development and sharing of stories via podcasts, V2H facilitates understanding of how indigenous tribes in Northern Idaho merge different knowledge systems to make decisions about environmental issues in their communities. As students reflect on environmental decision-making processes in their communities they will develop the ability to weave indigenous traditional knowledge with Eurocentric mainstream science to address environmental problems, while advancing this practice to help make sustainable decisions in their everyday lives. While podcasts resonate strongly with the oral storytelling traditions of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, they also provide a mechanism for conducting scientific inquiry. The production of a high-quality audio documentary is a multilayered, labor-intensive process that emphasizes inquiry, patience and perseverance and requires observation, data collection and analysis being crafted into a story in such a way that enables the audience to gain understanding of the issues being narrated.
Voices to Hear Podcasts
The following podcasts have been approved by the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Cultural Committee, Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Education.
Introduction Podcast
What do stories teach us: This podcast gives a brief overview of the Voices to Hear project and explains how stories told by Coeur D’Alene tribal elders can help us understand scientific phenomena in current times.
Listen to: Building New Perspectives
Year 1 – Podcasts
Listen to: The Effects of Northern Pike on Cutthroat Trout: Alex, Speencer, and Ann
Listen to: Hangman Creek Restoration: Jake, Lily, Brutis, and Valdena
Listen to: The Impact of Silver Mining: Gayton, Lucky, and Mekah
Listen to: The Cause of Tundra Swan Deaths: Kyra, Kiona, Issaiah, and Dahyiitihi
Year 2 – Podcasts
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we moved our program entirely online, which was not without its challenges! We chose an overarching topic where students learned about Post Falls dam and its impact on Lake Coeur d’Alene and the surrounding ecosystem. We also spent time thinking about the Five Core Values and how they guide the Tribe’s decision-making in finding ethical solutions to environmental problems.
Listen to: The schitsu’umsh Perspective on the Restoration of Native Fish Species: Kyra, Valdena, Ann, Chief Jr., and Amanda
Listen to: Three Native Voices in Conversation: Deviney, Sophia, and Kyra
Year 3 – Podcasts
Year 3 podcasts were created under the theme, “Since Time Immemorial” and document the importance of salmon to the schitsu’umsh people. Using a timeframe of past, present and future, Native youth address the impact of climate change on the existence of salmon and the wider ecosystem.
Listen to: The Importance of Salmon of the schitsu’umsh people – Alex, Amanda, Amaris, JuJu, Tylah and Tykissiya
Listen to: Impact of Climate Change on Salmon Restoration – Deviney, Marcus, John, Kyleigh, Mercedes
Listen to: Future Challenges to Salmon Sustainability – Sophia, Heaven, Anderson, Isabelle, Samantha, Kyra
Voices to Hear Photos Summer 2019
V2H Team after presenting their work to Tribal Council. 
V2H Tea in Heyburn State Park. 
V2H Team getting prepared to go on a mining tour. 
V2H Team preparing to go rafting on the Clark Fork River in Montana. 
V2H Mentors by Flathead Lake in Polson, Montana.