Nestled just outside the heart of downtown Phoenix, the Labriola American Indian Data Center tabled at Puente Human Rights Movement for Indigenous People’s Day this past Monday, October 10th. Puente Human Rights Movement is a grassroots organization that established itself in 2007 to combat extreme anti-migrant policies occurring in Maricopa County, Arizona under the then leadership of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Since then, Puente has transformed into an intersectional and multigenerational center for human rights where they continue to provide services for immigration, criminal justice, policing, women’s rights, children’s & youth rights, workers’ rights, and more. To celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, Puente hosted their 8th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day Arizona Gathering at their center. From 4pm-8pm, poets and musicians performed on stage and shared work related to our pride in being Indigenous peoples, despite all odds in genocide, historical trauma, police brutality, and boarding schools.
Through music, poems, and dance, we celebrated our existence exuberantly within a welcoming grassroots community that strives to eradicate intolerance. Some of the poets featured at the event were Amber McCrary with Abalone Mountain Press and Taté Walker, an award winning two-spirit storyteller. Abalone Mountain Press tabled beside Labriola featuring original Indigenous zines made at Palabras Bookstore. There were jewelry artists, such as Aq’Aqiwo (@lostdeadstar) selling their wares at their table. Aq’Aqiwo had copper earrings incorporated with bone and gemstones. Aq’Aqiwo informed me that they learned to make jewelry from their grandmother and they have recently begun making more traditional pieces. Aq’Aqiwo traveled from California with a group called “Sisquoc Goat Packers.” They support land stewardship through hiking practices and travel the woods with trained goats carrying their camping gear. They are currently working on creating a library of backcountry gear so that Indigenous people and marginalized groups can borrow the gear so that they too can access and experience the great outdoors.
Along with the live performances, there was also live art. Averian Chee (Diné) is a painter and muralist who created a piece on a large tri standing piece of wood using black and white spray paint. I got the chance to watch him work, and it was incredible to witness the image he orchestrated come to life before my eyes. He painted legs wearing moccasins, one set showing the “female” pair with buckskin wrapped up the calves, the other set sporting cuffed pants and a black arrowhead wrapped in a cord entangled beside the second figure’s legs. The end result was a powerful contemporary piece that displayed the vast richness in our identity as Urban Indians and Diné culture. There were traditional dances and drumming, with a flurry of headdresses made with towering feathers coloring the sky yellow, red, and white. There were delicious free tacos made with corn tortillas, cilantro, and hot sauces. Something I really enjoyed about attending this event was the sharing and community centered atmosphere: everyone there was giving, living, laughing, and thriving. From that day, I carried with me a steadfast reminder: that every day is a good day to be Indigenous. Every day is a good day to be a kind relative to each other and in our community.
Written by Yitazba Largo-Anderson.
