Spend the Most Time Where the Representation Is

Saige Purser, Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness

A week or so ago on a ‘Two for Tuesday’ mini-sode, I mentioned the Diversify Whitewater Community River Float happening up in Veazie, Maine this Saturday, July 8th - so it makes sense that today, we’re hearing more from a true force of nature behind this event, Saige Purser.

Saige is a citizen of the Yakama Nation, a whitewater guide and the Director of Future Generations program for Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, a community-driven, culturally centered public health and social services agency supporting all Wabanaki communities and people while honoring Wabanaki cultural knowledge, cultivating innovation, and fostering collaboration.

Saige is a tireless advocate for indigenous representation in outdoor spaces - literally tireless, she’s been on the road non-stop for the past two months, which we’re going to talk about today. Her summer itinerary so far sounds exhausting, but so, so amazing!

Saige has landed back in Maine for now, and she’ll be one of the leaders for this weekend’s Diversify Whitewater event - and guess what, it might actually be nice out for a change! So I hope a bunch of you are planning to attend! And it’s not too late to volunteer to help out at the event, link here to sign up.

Quick warning, the audio for this episode is a little rough here and there, because Saige was sitting in the middle of a gallery at the Smithsonian when we were recording this - literally! I resurrected it the best I could (given my minimum viable editing skills).. don’t worry, you will still come away with plenty to think about and be inspired by.

Follow Saige on Instagram @saigelinsay and prepare to get a face-full!

All the links:
Get more information about the Diversify Whitewater Community River Float here: Bit.ly/DWMaine

Or email - acstrong @ packraft . me or saige . purser @ maine . edu - for more information.

Learn more about Diversify Whitewater here: https://diversifywhitewater.org/

• Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness

• Yakama Nation

• What was the ‘Scoop Era’?

• Read a little bit about Saige’s Greenland trip and the upcoming “A Taste of Two Worlds” cookbook development

• National Unity Conference

• Penobscot Nation Youth Council

• The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

• Packraft Maine

• West Forks River Fest

• Read more about Nyle Sockbeson’s AT thru-hike

• What is a flip line?

• Canyonlands Field Institute (Moab, UT)

• Native Teen Guide in Training Program