Rogers State University Radio partnered with the Osage Nation Language and Culture Task Force to plan, produce and distribute Wahzhazhe, a podcast celebrating Osage culture and language.
“RSU Radio is honored to play a role in such an important cultural program,” RSU Radio General Manager Tip Crowley said. “Native American languages are part of each tribe’s sovereignty, in addition to the immense cultural and historical significance associated with them. Our hope is that this programming can serve alongside the many initiatives to preserve the Osage language and cultural identity.”
Hosts Tom Ashmore and Abby Mashunkashey talk with cultural leaders, language teachers, and Osage elders to discuss what it means to be Osage. The first season contains three episodes covering Osage culture, food sovereignty and language preservation.
“We are grateful to RSU for making this process so easy,” Osage Nation Language and Culture Task Force Representative Celena Noear said. “Our history and traditions are oral, so having a state-of-the-art audio room with recording equipment is incredibly beneficial. It also opens new ways to reach Osages who don’t live on the Osage Reservation, as well as anyone who may be interested in learning more about Osage Nation. As a bonus, an RSU student who is Osage was able to contribute to the podcast introduction, which made our partnership even more special.”
The RSU Radio Podcast Network launched in August of 2020. Podcasts are produced by students, staff, volunteers, and community partners. The podcasts cover a wide variety of topics, from local music to one of Tulsa’s favorite hiking spots. RSU Radio podcasts can be found at rsuradio.com/podcasts, and on many major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
The RSU Department of Communications will introduce a class on podcast production in Spring of 2022. Podcast Production will give students the knowledge and experience needed to produce a variety of podcast styles. The course is taught by Crowley and will give students the chance to have their work published on the RSU Radio Podcast Network.
Wahzhazhe is written and recorded at the Osage Nation Audio Room in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and RSURadio.com.