Cultivating Wellness Through Native Culture

Donell Barlow is a prolific author, having published a memoir called "Medicine Tracks,” two children’s books called “Bigfoot and Lightening Bug” and “Creature Teacher Yoga,” and a poetry book titled “Words Have No Meaning.” She is Yurok and an enrolled member of the Ottawa Tribe, Otter Clan. She works with Native communities as a Research and Training Coordinator and Certified Holistic Health Coach. In our interview, Donell talks about all the dynamics present in diet and nutrition; the benefits of embracing different forms of medicine in life, including food, Native practices, dreams, and animal encounters; how suffering and grief are their own important lessons; and the ways in which Native communities are embracing and rebuilding their cultural identities and practices.