Ancestral Lands, Living Responsibilities: Repatriation & Preservation with Krystal C’Bearing and Donald Littleshield

In the latest episode of the Indian Relay Podcast, hosts Ivan Posey and Al Hubbard sit down with Krystal C’Bearing, Director of the Northern Arapaho Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO), and Donald Littleshield, NAGPRA Coordinator, for an in-depth conversation about reclaiming the past and protecting the future.

Krystal and Donald walk listeners through the complex and often emotional work of cultural preservation — from consulting on federal and private land projects across 17 states, to navigating Section 106, to repatriating ancestral remains and sacred items under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

Through their stories, Krystal and Donald remind us that cultural preservation isn’t about relics of the past — it’s about living identity, ongoing ceremony, and a responsibility to future generations.