Our Land, Culture and Community Part 1

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 includes opening remarks by Yaqui ceremonial leader and director of the Indigenous Alliance, Jose Matus; followed by 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.

In the 2^nd portion of 30 Minutes today, we’ll hear from author Leslie Marmon Silko of Laguna heritage. Her latest book Howling for Justice New Perspectives on Leslie Marmon Silko’s Almanac of the Dead will be published later this year by The University of Arizona Press. In her talk, she reflected on revelations by Edward Snowden and Glenn Greenwald and how these issues affect her work and affect us all. This is part one of a multi part story.

Recorded and produced by Amanda Shauger.