Cultivating Indigenous Voices

Photo of Lourdes Escalante standing by KXCI Community Radio sign in front of the radio station Lourdes Escalante (Yoeme) was born and raised in Tucson and is the Executive Director of the Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, Indigenous Alliance Without Borders (AISF). At a young age Lourdes pushed herself, with the support of her dad, to take opportunities for growth, which also meant a greater chance...

Photo of Annamarie Stevens, Career Readiness & Employment Program Coordinator, American Indian College Fund In episode 29, I feature special guest  Annamarie Stevens who is a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation. She is from the community of Tecolote located in the Chukut-kuk District. She is the current Career Readiness and Employment Program Administrator for the American Indian College Fund...

Maegan Lopez (Tohono O’odham) is from the village of Wecij Oidag (New Fields) on the Tohono O’odham Nation near the southern border. She is a gardener and Cultural Outreach Liaison for Mission Garden located at the base of “A” mountain along the Santa Cruz wash. Maegan shares memories of her childhood, as early as four years old helping water the plants with her grandfather Albert Lopez (bat) who...

¡Los Indios! “Born Again Savage” EP Album Cover Episode 27 features Tucson based rap duo ¡Los Indios! , who released their EP album titled “Born Again Savage” in December 2023. Tayamni aka PUMA CHILD and Chetan aka AKII WENSII are two brothers who come from the Ojibwe and Oglala Lakota communities. Their energy is fresh, inspiring, and stands out of the crowd. Listening to their music and lyrics i...

Photo of Gabriela Maya Bernadett, Author of “Stories My Grandmother Told Me.” This episode features local book author Gabriela Maya Bernadett (Tohono O’odham/African American). In 2023 Maya published her first book titled, “Stories My Grandmother Told Me.” It is a recollection of stories told to Maya and her younger sister by their grandmother Esther Small-Poncho. Esther grew up in Harlem, New Yor...

In this interview I had the opportunity to set up an interview with Max Baca through a close connection of mine, via my cousin Stevie Ray Vavages. Max was in town in September 2023 with his band the Los Texmaniacs for the Tejano Conjunto Showcase at the AVA Amphitheater. It was an exciting experience for me to have access back stage and on-stage during their performance. I also spent time in their...

In episode 24, I had the opportunity to interview and get to know Chicano artist Ruben Urrea Moreno. Born and raised in South Tucson, Ruben embraces storytelling that focus on his cultural roots, social issues, and migrant stories. His artistic skills go beyond a paint brush and pencil, Ruben currently works as the Senior Exhibit Preparator at the Arizona State Museum. He tells the story of how he...

In this episode I invited Kateri Harris (Tohono O’odham) to the studio to talk about the work she does in the community as the Domestic Violence Advocate for the Domestic Violence Prevention Program at the Tucson Indian Center located in downtown Tucson. Her work surrounds providing support for individuals dealing with domestic violence situations, while helping assist clients who are in need of s...

Episode 22 explores the topic of what it takes to be a Park Ranger within the National Park Service. Tucson is the only place in the states that has two National Parks situated on the west and east sides; there is a Saguaro Nat’l Park East and West. Special guest Raeshaun Ramon (Tohono O’odham, San Carlos Apache, Hopi-Tewa), who is currently working at Saguaro National Park, shares his experiences...

Environmental identity is defined as, “one part of the way in which people form their self-concept: a sense of connection to some part of the nonhuman natural environment, based on history, emotional attachment, and/or similarity, that affects the ways in which we perceive and act toward the world; a belief that the environment is important to us and an important part of who we are.” -Clayton, S....

I’m excited to announce that after two years of being on hiatus I am finally ready to get back on track with bringing back the podcast show! I’m excited to announce the newest episode featuring Melissa Brown and Mel Dominguez, Co-Owners of Galeria Mitotera , based in the city of South Tucson. South Tucson has many small businesses that thrive around community and Galeria Mitotera is a great exampl...

Tucson Indian Center-MMIWG Awareness Virtual Run logo This episode is in collaboration with Tucson Indian Center (TIC). Staff member Drew Harris, Community Cultural Specialist, is the organizer of the TIC Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Awareness Virtual Run. In honor of Indigenous People’s Day we are highlighting this topic to hear what local officials and grassroots people are...

In this episode I feature staff from the Tucson Indian Center (TIC), Veronica Boone, Drew Harris, and Dearlynn Crank. With the current COVID-19 virus running rampant, many are finding ways to stay safe and healthy while continuing to provide services to their communities. Tucson Indian Center is no different and in this interview staff share their experiences dealing with the changes this global p...

Photo of Stephanie Motzkin (Homewytewa) Stephanie (Homewytewa) Motzkin is a native Tucsonan and has served as the Voter Outreach Coordinator to the Tohono O’odham Nation and a certified Election Officer at the Pima County Recorder’s Office since 2019. At the Recorder’s Office Stephanie has helped build the Outreach program to serve not only the Tohono O’odham Nation, but all of Pima County. Her du...

This is the first Episode of 2020 with Salina Barajas, owner and curator of the Mi Reina Mobile Boutique . Selina share’s her journey and the experiences that helped her fulfill a dream that has brought a unique vibe to South Chukson (Tucson).  While raising her two daughters, Sofia Luna and Mia Sol, she has dedicated time to building, creating, and supporting her community. With the help of famil...

In this episode we reveal the truths about Missing and  Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). This issue has become an epidemic within indigenous communities throughout the United States and Canada over the past decades. When indigenous women and members of native communities began to question and look for available data on their loved ones who had gone missing/murdered, they immediately di...

Native SOAR & Ha:san Leadership and Preparatory School students In this episode I have guests Amanda Cheromiah and Felise Tagaban, the dynamic duo of Native SOAR (Success Outreach, Access, and Resiliency), to share their experiences and expertise working with young tribal students. Native SOAR is an established mentor ship program that provides enriching guidance to native youth partnered with...

Photo by: Lower Arizona In this episode I have Miguel in the studio discussing the work he does in the local community and what stereotypes look like in the Mexican culture  #SmashingStereotypes. Together we talk about experiences involving our two cultures and it’s similarities.  Within’ the Native American and Mexican culture, the two tend to blend, especially for Southern tribes who’s lands ext...

TNYC Offical Logo In this episode I sit with three young Native youth; Lourdes, Maddy, and Steven, who grew up in the Chukson (Tucson) area and are currently members of the Tucson Native Youth Council . One of the main topics we discussed was the recent issue about how Tucson Unified School District has handled past and recent situations regarding allowing Native students to wear their cultural, t...

Photo by: Lupe Sutelo In this episode I interview special guest Lupe Sotelo, lead of the Tucson chapter of Latino Outdoors (LO). This nationwide movement began as an opportunity to connect and engage more Latino communities to the outdoors. The founder, José González , discovered that there was little to no information about American-Latino organizations in conservation during his search. At that...

Melodie Lopez In this episode we meet with Melodie Lopez, founder of Indigenous Strategies LLC , whose goal is to bridge the gap between misconceptions and understanding of working with native students/groups within the Tucson area. Her life’s work has revolved around advocating and providing opportunity for natives and non-natives to embrace and learn the mechanisms within Indian Country. Melodie...

In this episode you will hear from Gertrude Lopez also known as Gertie, share her story growing up beside her dad Augustine Lopez Sr., listening, learning, and carrying traditional waila music. The music once known as chicken scratch has been around about 100 years. It represents styles of polka, mazurka, cumbia, etc. It has been recorded that back in the 1800’s during the missionary times, O’odha...

Photo credit: DJ Jahmar International This episode features DJ Jahmar International, a local here in Tucson who’s career as a professional DJ has given him the opportunity to expand into Native communities throughout the states. Not only does he spread happiness and cheer through music for any occasion, he and his team are committed to spreading awareness about homelessness and hunger. Jahmar is a...

                   Art created by Gabriel Ayala In this interview we welcome local classical musician Gabriel Ayala of the Yoeme/Pascua Yaqui Tribe to the studio. I also introduce another special guest Carmen, who is the new intern for Cultivating Indigenous Voices. Here all three of us engage in great conversation getting to know Gabriel a little better, while sharing a few laughs. Hear the inter...

In this podcast episode we share the background story of the success of two young O’odham (people) who are recent business owners of a health and fitness club. Their journey has been a long one and even through the struggles they never let their dream of owning their own Herbalife Nutrition club go. Growing up on the south side of Tucson, these two have had their share of challenges to overcome as...