Part Two expands the conversation with a dynamic Indian Country roundtable featuring leaders from the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, the Native American Agriculture Fund, and Groundswell. Together, the panel explores what it actually takes to build trust, move beyond transactional partnerships, and support Indigenous-led solutions in energy, food systems, and community resilience.

From redefining resilience as remembrance, to centering sovereignty and seven-generation decision-making, this episode surfaces hard-earned wisdom about collaboration, accountability, and showing up in right relation. The discussion challenges institutions and partners to slow down, listen deeply, and meet communities where they are—not where systems expect them to be. This is a candid, necessary conversation about power, partnership, and the future of Indigenous self-determination.

What does it really mean to build resilience in the face of climate change, water scarcity, and centuries of underinvestment?

In this powerful episode of The Groundswell Way, host Matthew Wesley Williams sits down with Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community—a visionary leader stewarding bold solutions rooted in ancestral wisdom and sovereign innovation.From solar-covered irrigation canals to one of the most impactful tribal water settlements in U.S. history, Governor Lewis shares how his community is leveraging traditional ecological knowledge to create a climate-resilient, self-sufficient future. With clarity and conviction, he reminds us: resilience isn't about returning to normal—it's about reclaiming our power to shape what comes next.

This is Part One of a two-part series exploring "Moving at the Speed of Trust" in Indian Country. You don't want to miss it.

Listen now to learn how Indigenous leadership is lighting the path forward—for all of us.
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Are you passionate about rural innovation and community impact? The latest episode of The Groundswell Way podcast is a must-listen!

In this episode, Tony Pipa of the Brookings Institution leads a dynamic conversation with Al Puchala (CapZone), Kyle Bridgeforth (Bridgeforth Farms), and Chéri Smith (Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy). This group presented a keynote panel at the 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow in November 2025, setting the stage for this podcast episode, where they share expert perspectives on economic development, agriculture, and clean energy—all with a focus on empowering rural communities.

Whether you're a rural leader, policymaker, or just eager to learn from forward-thinking changemakers, this episode is packed with actionable insights and fresh ideas.