Ep. 41 Finding My Ground with Wynnette Bell

May 14, 2025 00:17:27
Ep. 41 Finding My Ground with Wynnette Bell
Cultivating Indigenous Voices
Ep. 41 Finding My Ground with Wynnette Bell

May 14 2025 | 00:17:27

/

Show Notes

In this episode, I sat down with a Wynnette Bell (Eastern Shoshone/Northern Arapaho), who is a Crew Lead for the Arizona Conservation Corps and originally from Wyoming which is home to the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. She started doing conservation work at the age of 16 and now in her early twenties, she’s found refuge in the work she does. Tune in as she shares her journey of finding purpose, resilience, and identity through hands-on service in the wild landscapes. From early mornings with a shovel in hand to long hikes under the desert sun, Wynnette opens up about adapting to the various landscapes and the challenges of working on public lands — and the unexpected rewards that come with it.

We explore what it means to “serve the land” as a young adult, how living and working in remote areas shaped her perspective on the environment, teamwork, and why conservation work is about much more than trail maintenance. Some of the work involves fencing, invasive vegetation removal, environmental education, restoration preservation, tree planting etc. It’s about finding direction, confidence, and connection — even in the dust and sweat of the backcountry.

A photo of Wynnette surround by the sonoran desert landscape.

Here is a brief version of the interview that offers key highlights and insights from the full conversation.

https://kxci.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/08-18-25-to-09-01-25-Wynnette-AZCC-RERUN-Edited.mp3

Other Episodes

Episode

May 05, 2017
Episode Cover

Ep. 2-Shooting Columbus: An Indigenous Perspective

During this interview I sat with Matthew Saraficio who is a recent graduate from Arizona State University earning a Bachlor’s degree in Acting. He ...

Listen

Episode 0

December 30, 2023 00:28:01
Episode Cover

Ep. 25: Max Baca

In this interview I had the opportunity to set up an interview with Max Baca through a close connection of mine, via my cousin...

Listen

Episode

January 06, 2019 00:24:54
Episode Cover

Ep. 12: Representing Who We Are

TNYC Offical Logo In this episode I sit with three young Native youth; Lourdes, Maddy, and Steven, who grew up in the Chukson (Tucson)...

Listen