Our Land, Community and Culture Part 4

On May 24, 2014 more than a dozen Indigenous poets, storytellers, musicians and spoken word artists performed at an event entitled Our Land, Culture, Community: Story, Poetry, Song, Music, Rap for Liberation. The event was a benefit for the Indigenous Alliance Without Borders whose mission is to affirm the rights of indigenous peoples, their right to self determination, their collective human and civil rights, the rights of sovereignty and the protection of sacred sites, and the free unrestricted movement across international borders.

Today’s 30 Minutes continues with part 4 of a multi part series featuring host and organizer Simon J. Ortiz, an Indigenous poet and writer of Acoma Pueblo heritage who specializes in Indigenous Literature. He is a Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University and convened many of the artists and introduced the speakers. He will read 3 pieces during the second portion of the program.

The program begins with members of Tucson Youth Poetry Slam: Eva Sierra, Gabby Gonzales and Jose Martinez. TYPS is a project of Spoken Futures, Inc., whose codirector Sarah Gonzales weighed in on TYPS.

Up next, Spoken Futures Codirector Sarah Gonzales discusses the Tucson Youth Poetry Slam; followed by poet and activist Leilani Clark. This is part 4 of a multi part series recorded and produced by Amanda Shauger.