Gettin' Grown – "Protect the Sacred" (Feat. Allie Redhorse Young)

Podcast: Gettin’ Grown
Hosts: Jade and Kia – Loud Speakers Network
Guest: Allie Redhorse Young, Founder of Protect the Sacred
Date: October 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode, released near Indigenous Peoples Day and ahead of Native Heritage Month, focuses on Indigenous visibility, allyship, cultural preservation, and inter-community solidarity. Jade and Kia welcome Allie Redhorse Young, a Diné (Navajo) organizer, storyteller, and founder of Protect the Sacred—a movement empowering Native youth and connecting them with elders, language, and ancestral knowledge. The conversation covers respectful terminology, meaningful allyship, real-life cultural challenges, and practical ways to honor Native peoples beyond the performative.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Respectful Terminology for Native Peoples

Timestamp: 20:20–22:36

• Allie emphasizes using tribal names and, when possible, their true names in their own language (e.g., Diné rather than "Navajo").
• "Native" is preferred over generic or outdated terms.
• Performative respect versus actual honoring is a recurring theme.

Quote:
"We prefer the names of our tribe, and not the names that were given to us by colonizers... Native is also OK."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 20:51

2. Allie’s Story & The Origin of Protect the Sacred

Timestamp: 23:49–30:33

• Allie grew up deeply rooted in Diné traditions, with strong ties to both medicine and cowboy cultures.
• Protect the Sacred emerged during COVID-19 to urge Native youth to protect elders—the vital bearers of ancestral knowledge.
• The movement leveraged internal community solidarity and external allies (celebrities, organizers) to mobilize resources and amplify Native voices.

Quote:
"I started using the hashtag Protect the Sacred because I was trying to tell our young people, step up as leaders right now, because our elders are in danger, and they hold that ancestral knowledge..."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 27:11

3. Cultural Preservation Amid National Challenges

Timestamp: 31:37–34:31

• The panel discusses defunding of museums (e.g., Smithsonian’s Native branch), threats to education (like attacks on critical race theory), and the necessity of grassroots organizing.
• Protect the Sacred and similar initiatives fill the gaps when federal systems fail, focusing especially on keeping tradition, language, and stories alive across generations.

Quote:
"When those federal dollars are frozen, it impacts our communities... when those services aren’t there, they are turning to organizations, community mutual relief efforts. And that’s how we’ve always survived."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 32:11

4. Meaningful Allyship: What Does It Look Like?

Timestamp: 34:31–38:21

• Visibility is baseline; authentic allyship includes building true relationships and sharing platforms, not centering oneself.
• Celebrities like Mark Ruffalo are cited as examples of purposeful allies who show up, listen, and amplify Native leaders.

Quote:
"True allyship with the Native community looks like acknowledging our existence. That’s all we’ve ever asked..."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 35:14

Quote:
"They actually come to the community, they walk with us, they march with us, they make valuable relationships...and they're here for the long haul."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 36:33

5. Land Acknowledgments – Doing It Right

Timestamp: 38:21–40:27

• Land acknowledgments should not be empty gestures or for optics. They must be educational, accurate, and can be performed by non-Native people who do the research.

Quote:
"It should not be performative. It should be educational...Do your research and offer that land acknowledgment at your events or even a small group gathering..."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 39:35

6. How to Be a Good Ally and Honor Native Heritage

Timestamp: 42:20–44:56

• Uplift Native voices, especially youth, by sharing stories, following Native social media leaders, and buying directly from Native businesses (not fast-fashion imitations or exploitative sources).
• Examples of Native-owned brands/resources: B. Yellowtail, Urban Native Era, Eighth Generation, Jamie Okuma.

Quote:
"Invite us to your podcast is a great example...uplifting and amplifying their voices...support and uplift them, share about them, buy Native-designed clothing..."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 43:27

7. Connecting Generations: The "Connecting the Rainbow" Initiative

Timestamp: 48:51–52:43

• Protect the Sacred's new initiative connects elders and youth, pairing them for intergenerational learning and storytelling through sacred site visits, workshops (podcasting, filmmaking, writing), and supporting dissemination to both Native and non-Native audiences.

Quote:
"It's an intergenerational program that creates space for Native youth and Native elders to build relationship together...we’ll host sacred site visits...and storytelling workshops..."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 49:10

8. Everyday Words and Phrases from Native Languages

Timestamp: 55:20–58:35

• Many U.S. state names (Michigan, Massachusetts, Connecticut, etc.), cities, and words like "bayou," "skunk," "squash," have Native origins.
• Some "mainstream" phrases are inappropriate/degrading (e.g., "powwow," "off the reservation," "Indian giver," "peace pipe," "spirit animal"), and should be avoided.

Quote:
"There are phrases that people often use that you should think about...let’s have a powwow...off the reservation...‘Indian giver’...those are harmful."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 58:35

9. On Overused Spirituality: Using Sage and Cultural Appropriation

Timestamp: 63:14–65:01

• Discussion about proper use of sage and cedar (medicine/prayer in Native traditions). Mistreatment and commodification (using sage for "positive vibes" without proper context or intention) are discouraged.
• True use should be learned from the culture it belongs to, and not commercialized.

Quote:
"Sage, things like sage and cedar, is medicine to our people...don’t use it in the hippie yoga type of way."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 63:22

10. Final Reflections: Honoring Indigenous Peoples Day & Ongoing Support

Timestamp: 67:14–68:27

• Indigenous Peoples Day is a call to action, not a one-off hashtag. Support for Native organizations year-round is vital.

Quote:
"Just remembering that Indigenous Peoples Day is not a hashtag, it’s a call to action...honoring Indigenous peoples and our contribution to this country, to democracy—every day."
– Allie Redhorse Young, 67:14

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you are marginalized and you got recipes, they’re in danger, girl." (Jade, 12:36)
  A humorous but pointed reminder on cultural preservation.

• "We are in it together, and we gonna be all right." (Kia, 77:24)
  Closing words of solidarity during hard times.

• On Mark Ruffalo as an ally:
  "He always says, Allie, I don't want to be the center of this event. This is—you’re the leader, you’re from this community...I want you to be ahead of me."
  (Ali Redhorse Young, 41:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Respectful Terminology & Identity: 20:20–22:36
• Allie’s Background & Protect the Sacred’s Origins: 23:49–30:33
• Preserving Culture in a Hostile Climate: 31:37–34:31
• Defining Allyship & Avoiding Performative Actions: 34:31–40:27
• Promoting Native Brands & Youth-Led Efforts: 43:27–46:19
• Connecting the Rainbow—Elders & Youth: 48:51–52:43
• Everyday Words with Native Roots / Harmful Phrases: 55:20–60:55
• Sage, Appropriation, and Spiritual Practices: 63:14–65:01
• Final Reflections on Indigenous Peoples Day: 67:14–68:27

Style and Tone

The episode is conversational, honest, at times humorous, and always grounded in respect. Both hosts bring warmth, authenticity, and a clear-eyed perspective on cultural struggles and joys, and Allie’s insights are educational but never condescending. There’s frequent gentle joking and a welcoming “Kitchen Table” feel—accessible for all.

Practical Suggestions for Listeners

• Educate Yourself: Seek out true histories, tribal names in their correct language, and amplify Native perspectives.
• Support Indigenous-Owned Brands (Not Knockoffs): B. Yellowtail, Urban Native Era, Eighth Generation, etc.
• Be an Ongoing Ally: Share platforms, repost Native organizers and youth, and contribute to Native organizations (Protect the Sacred, NARF, Indian Collective, UNI, CNAY).
• Avoid Harmful/Appropriative Language and spirituality fads.
• Lean into Cross-Community Solidarity: Recognize parallels in struggles and advocacy.

Useful Links (Mentioned Organizations/Brands)

• Protect the Sacred
• B. Yellowtail
• Urban Native Era
• Eighth Generation
• Native American Rights Fund (NARF)

For anyone seeking to honor, support, and learn alongside Native communities, this episode offers both perspective and a roadmap—rooted in respect, real connection, and action.