Indigenous Arts—Weaving Together

Our Communities Past, Present, and Future

Dear Cultural Survival Community,

Art carries power: the power to make people feel, to transcend boundaries, and to contribute to narrative shifts. Art can also reflect the creator’s times, surroundings, and cultural values, while connecting us to the past, present, and future. Artists hold important roles in our societies by keeping, making, and transforming meaning. They help to shape our communities and societies through their imaginations and selfdetermined expressions.

This issue of the CSQ is dedicated to Indigenous artists who are using art as a medium to combat the ongoing challenges of racist and colonialist erasure, cultural appropriation, and exploitation. Through their work, Indigenous artists are striving to break down barriers and debunk racist stereotypes while showcasing Indigenous brilliance. For centuries, colonization, globalization, and capitalism have interrupted Indigenous Peoples’ cultural continuity as well as the intergenerational transmission of knowledge and cultural practice of the arts. Through storytelling and performing arts, Indigenous artists are reclaiming narratives and creating a resurgence of Indigenous knowledge.

In line with our mission and vision, Cultural Survival has long engaged in support of Indigenous artistic expression through folk art, music, dance, craftsmanship, and theater. When we gathered to reassess our organizational strategy in 2020, we renewed our commitment to Indigenous artistic expression through culture, identifying it as one of the major themes of our work in our Strategic Framework.

We share stories of Indigenous artists who are breaking down stale colonial narratives around what art is—who holds the power to define it, who gives it value, and what role it can play in our society. For too long, Indigenous art has been relegated in the mainstream eye to tourist souvenirs, downgraded as folk art, craft, utilitarian, or worse, seen as authentic only in its historical form.

We are inspired by the artists that form the Shipibo Conibo Center in Harlem, NY, who are merging Indigenous traditions with contemporary art and rejecting the false siloing of art from purpose. Instead, these Shipibo artists—including women like Sara Flores, featured on our cover, who lead in the matrilineal tradition of women as artists—are adamant that the “work of art and the work of environmental activism . . . towards Indigenous sovereignty cannot be separated; they must move forward on the same path.”

With this issue we are also excited to announce the long anticipated return of our Cultural Survival Bazaars, a beloved tradition in the New England area since 1975, for the first time since the pandemic. We invite you to join us at the Prudential Center in Boston December 14–17, 2023.

The Bazaars are a series of cultural festivals providing Indigenous artists, cooperatives, and their representatives from around the world the opportunity to sell their work directly to the public in the Northeast U.S. while allowing the general public to learn about and provide direct financial support to Indigenous art and artists.

In addition to the opportunity to purchase art directly from Indigenous makers, our Bazaars offer cultural performances and presentations including live music, storytelling, artmaking demonstrations, and the chance to talk directly with artists and community advocates. We invite you to celebrate the resilience of the Indigenous artists through the pandemic by supporting their work.

Everything we do is made possible with your support. Thank you for investing in Indigenous-led solutions and leadership.

With gratitude,

Galina Angarova (Buryat) Executive Director

Cultural Survival Staff

Galina Angarova (Buryat), Executive Director

Mark Camp, Deputy Executive Director

Avexnim Cojtí (Maya K’iche’), Director of Programs

Verónica Aguilar (Mixtec), Program Assistant, Keepers of the Earth Fund

Bryan Bixcul (Maya Tz’utujil), Executive Coordinator

Cliver Ccahuanihancco Arque (Quechua), Keepers of the Earth Program Assistant

Miguel Cuc Bixcul (Maya Kaqchikel), Accounting Associate

Jess Cherofsky, Advocacy Program Manager

Michelle de León, Executive Assistant

Roberto De La Cruz Martínez (Binnizá), Information Technology Associate

Danielle DeLuca, Senior Development Manager

Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan), Indigenous Radio Program Coordinator

Sofia Flynn, Accounting & Office Manager

Nati Garcia (Maya Mam), Capacity Building Manager

Adriana Hernández (Maya K'iche'), Emerging Strategies Coordinator

Natalia Jones, Advocacy Associate

Mariana Kiimi (Na Ñuu Sàvi/Mixtec), Advocacy Assistant

Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Koĩts-Sunuwar), Community Media Program Coordinator

Rosy Sul González (Kaqchikel), Indigenous Rights Radio Program Manager

Bia’ni Madsa’ Juárez López, (Mixe/Ayuuk ja’ay & Zapotec/Binnizá), Keepers of the Earth Fund Program Manager

Marco Lara, Social and Digital Media Coordinator

Kevin Alexander Larrea, Information Technology Associate

Carlos Madrigal (Mazahua/Jñatjo), Capacity Building Program Assistant

Jamie Malcolm-Brown, Communications & Information Technology Manager

Amparo Monzón (Maya K’iche’), Program Assistant, Community Media & Indigenous Rights Radio Programs

Cesar Gomez Moscut (Pocomam), Community Media Program Coordinator

Edson Krenak Naknanuk (Krenak), Lead on Brazil

Diana Pastor (Maya K’iche’), Media Coordinator

Guadalupe Pastrana (Nahua), Indigenous Rights Radio Producer

Agnes Portalewska, Senior Communications Manager

Sócrates Vásquez (Ayuujk), Program Manager, Community Media

Miranda Vitello, Development Coordinator

Candy Williams, Human Resources Manager

Raquel Xiloj (Maya K’iche’), Community Media Grants Coordinator

Pablo Xol (Maya Qʼeqchiʼ), Design and Marketing Associate

Interns

Katrina Arriola, Camilla Lindschouw, Yolis López Martínez, Charlie Malcolm-McKay, Alyson Odar, Alma Xochitl Zamora

Australia | Eastern Marr Peoples Secure Land Rights

(MARCH)

The Federal Court of Australia has returned the Eastern Marr Peoples’ native title over Crown lands and national parks after a 10-year-long legal battle for recognition. The decision covers over 8,500 square kilometers along the Great Ocean Road in the state of Victoria.

U.S. | Tribes Consult on Dam Removal Project

(MARCH)

The Karuk and the Yurok Tribes, in collaboration with the states of California and Oregon, decided the terms of the Klamath River Restoration, which is the largest dam removal project to date. All dams included in the project are expected to be removed before 2025.

Holy See | Vatican Repudiates the Doctrine of Discovery

(MARCH)

At the behest of Indigenous Peoples, the Vatican has formally rejected the Doctrine of Discovery that warranted Native land dispossession in the colonial era, and which to this day still informs some property laws, including in the United States and Canada.

Canada | Indigenous Names Accepted on Birth Certificates

(MARCH)

Indigenous parents won a year-long legal battle challenging the Vital Statistic policy of only accepting names composed of Latin alphabetic characters on official birth certificates. The court decision allows all Indigenous individuals to claim Indigenous names, regardless of their current age.

U.S. | Wabanaki Nations Push for Federal Recognition

(MARCH)

Wabanaki Nations made a case for Tribal self-determination to the Maine state legislature for the first time in state history. The new legislation aims to revise the Settlement Act, which excludes Wabanaki Nations from federally recognized rights and protections.

Australia | Referendum on Indigenous Advisory Body Introduced

(MARCH)

A referendum to the Australian Constitution has been introduced to Parliament that would formally recognize the voices of First Peoples of Australia by establishing an advisory body called Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Peru | Voluntarily Isolated Peoples under Threat

(MARCH)

A proposed alteration to the Protection of Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact Situations (PIACI) would give regional governments the power to uphold or scrap already demarcated reserves for isolated Peoples and suspend proceedings declaring new Indigenous reserves.

U.S. | Swinomish Tribe Wins Trespassing Lawsuit

(MARCH)

Burlington Northern Santa Fe has been ordered to pay damages to the Swinomish Tribe after knowingly violating a treaty by increasing train traffic on the reservation without the consent of the Tribe. In March, a BNSF train carrying crude oil derailed, spilling approximately 3,100 gallons of oil on Swinomish territory.

Pacific | Indigenous Peoples Deny Consent for Deep Sea Mining

(MARCH)

Fifty-six Indigenous groups are challenging governments and the International Seabed Authority to put an immediate ban on deep sea mining. At the 28th session of the ISA meeting, March 20, Indigenous leaders directly addressed ISA delegates, making it clear that they have never given consent to deep sea mining and urging the ISA to pause all new mining license applications.

Mexico | New University of Indigenous Languages Created

(FEBRUARY)

On International Mother Language Day, February 21, the Mexican National Institute of Indigenous Peoples announced the creation of the University of Indigenous Languages of México (ULIM), a national university specializing in Indigenous languages.

Norway | Sámi Youth Occupy Government Ministries

(MARCH)

After more than 500 days since the Norwegian Supreme Court’s ruling that the Fosen windmill farms violate Sámi reindeer herders’ right to cultural practice, Sámi youth occupied government ministries demanding the government respect and comply with the ruling. This is the biggest rebellion since the 1980s.

Ecuador | Rights of Nature Upheld in Historic Court Decision

(APRIL)

An Ecuadorian court sided with the Intag Valley communities in a monumental ruling regarding the Llurimagua Copper Mining Project. The court revoked all mining licenses for the project, preserving the natural integrity of the area and reinforcing the communities’ right to consultation, setting a legal precedent for the fight against extractivism.