Native Bidaské: A Hidden History, A Living Truth: Forced Sterilization in Indian Country Part 1
A hidden history. A living truth.
In this episode of Native Bidaské, host Levi Rickert is joined by journalists Suzette Brewer and Elyse Wild to examine one of the most underreported injustices in modern U.S. history: the forced sterilization of Native women.
Between 1907 and the late 20th century, tens of thousands of Native women were sterilized—many without their full, informed consent. What is often treated as a distant chapter of history is, in reality, a living truth that continues to shape Native communities today.
This powerful conversation goes beyond what happened. It explores why it happened, how it was allowed to continue for decades, and why so many Americans still don’t know this story.
Drawing on nearly a decade of investigative reporting, Brewer uncovers how federal policies, medical institutions, and funding systems intersected to enable these practices. Wild connects these past abuses to present-day realities, including maternal health disparities and ongoing mistrust in healthcare systems like the Indian Health Service (IHS).
This is not just history—it’s context.
And it raises urgent questions about accountability, awareness, and truth.
▶️ Watch “A Hidden History, A Living Truth: Forced Sterilization in Indian Country (Part 1)”
📅 Premieres Friday, March 27 at 12 PM ET
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