Buying Local Podcast · Episode 57 · December 30, 2025 · 42 min
Wilderness Survival and Indigenous Education with James Bruchac | Buying Local S3E57
In this episode, host Mike Nelson sits down with James Bruchac at the Ndakinna Education Center to explore his rich background in indigenous storytelling, animal tracking, and wilderness survival skills. James shares thrilling stories from tracking grizzlies in Yellowstone, his family's Abenaki heritage, and practical tips for upcoming winter courses on fire making, tracking, and navigation. Find out more about James Bruchac's classes, programs, and the Ndakinna Education Center at ndakinnacenter.org or follow them on social media by searching Ndakinna. 0:00 Intro and welcome at Ndakinna Education Center 2:00 Overview of Ndakinna programs: survival, martial arts, storytelling 4:00 James Bruchac's family background and West Africa ties 7:30 Teenage influences: John Stokes, tracking, primitive skills 10:00 Teaching survival, storytelling, and Dr. James Halfpenny connection 11:30 Yellowstone grizzly tracking and taking daughter Ava 15:00 Camera trapping and adventures with Zach Clothier 18:00 Bear safety: black bears vs. grizzlies 21:00 How survival skills change everyday nature perspective 23:00 Jiu-jitsu program growth and new Alliance Center 26:00 Return of Sunday Survival Series classes 27:30 Upcoming Fire Making class details (January 25th) 30:00 Importance of navigation skills and getting lost 32:00 Tracking class details (February 22nd) and plaster casts 35:00 Class format: classroom + field work in winter 37:30 Jiu-jitsu competitions and student Kyle shoutout 40:00 Where to sign up and learn more 41:30 Wrap-up and thanks