#50 Carma Corcoran, Ph.D.

Dr. Carma Corcoran is an Elder and enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Nation. She lives in Portland, Oregon where she’s a longstanding public leader in response to social justice concerns. Professionally, she directs the Indian Law Program at Lewis & Clark College Law School. She also serves as an adjunct professor of Indigenous Nations studies at Portland State University and of Native American studies at Salish Kootenai College. She’s holds membership on several boards of directors for organizations focused on the interests and concerns of Native American people.

Carma’s devotion to indigenous people and community led her to pursue her PhD with Pacifica University where she studied Gentle Action Theory with Dr. David Peet and applied this set of understandings in working directly with incarcerated Native American women. Her book The Incarceration of Native American Women: Creating Pathways to Wellness and Recovery through Gentle Action Theory is a summary of her original research and was recently published by University of Nebraska Press.

In this episode, Carma shares implications of Gentle Action Theory for climate repair. She speaks specifically of the application of traditional ways for coming into right relationship with ourselves, each other and the natural world.

To learn more about Dr. Corcoran, read the article featuring her in Underscore Native News. Watch Carma’s facebook and instagram pages for where in the country Carma is speaking next and the chance to listen in on more about her work and insights. Finally, as we step into this New Year, bring along Carma’s suggestion that, to be of service in this weary world, we must start by going within - daily - to know and grow ourselves.

MUSIC ~

This episode includes music by Gary Ferguson and these other fine artists.

Flute/Guitar Classical Instrumental Oqu by Creative Freedom from Pixabay

Tabla Flute 102. Music by Johnson Cherian from Pixabay

 Flute Drums 106. Music by Johnson Cherian from Pixabay