Cultivating Indigenous Voices

In this episode I feature student and musician Emilio Vavages (Tohono/Akimel O'odham). I wanted the share the story and experiences of a young person's perspective about being a student musician, so I decided why not bring in my nephew Emilio. Emilio is thirteen year's old and a student at Apollo Middle School in the Sunnyside School District. He started taking orchestra in the 4th grade playing t...

In this episode I feature Native Tucsonan, Veteran Actor, and Comic Creator Jon Proudstar (Yoeme, Mexican, Jewish). Growing up in Tucson, Jon spent his childhood drawn to television and comic books as a source of entertainment. While in high school he got a small taste of what it feels like to be in the entertainment industry. Jon and a buddy of his both loved a lot of the same things, and one thi...

Diné singer/songwriter Hataałii  (pronounced: hah – toth – lee)  visited Tucson in October 2024 as the opener for the Katie Pruit show at Club Congress. Born Hataałiinez Wheeler, he grew up on the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Arizona and began experimenting with music during his teenage years. Now Hataalii is an artist signed to Dangerbird records and just released his second album titled, "Waiti...

In this episode I sat down with KXCI's very own Nenny G of the Latin Connection show which broadcasts Wednesday nights 8pm-10pm. Off air Nenny G is known as Gwen Hernandez; as you tune in you will hear stories of her child hood and all the musical influences that surrounded her in various stages of her life. But, what laid the foundation of musical interests and expression was the memories she spe...

Over the past months I had the opportunity to interview and see two live performances by Jaime De Anda here in Tucson, AZ. As a kid growing up in the nineties I remember hearing Jaime's music and his popularity amongst the O'odham community on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Over the year's many waila bands have been inspired by his musical talent as an accordionist and have covered some of his most po...

Culturally based recovery programs render a space to reconnect with traditional ways and cultural roots by rebuilding cultural identity and spiritual support systems . In t his episode I feature staff from the The Haven’s Native Ways Program . It was developed by, and is staffed with, professionals with backgrounds in the local Indigenous cultures and includes the teachings of White Bison Wellbrie...

In April 2024 I had the opportunity alongside my colleague Elva, to attend the annual Native Broadcast Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. The Summit is Native Public Media's largest gathering of Tribal and Indigenous broadcasters and media professionals serving Indian Country. The theme “Globalizing Indigenous Storytelling” acknowledges that Native broadcast stations play an essential role in promoting t...

On April 11th and 12th, 2024, I had the opportunity to attend the first national conference called, The U.S. Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance Summi t hosted at the Casino Del Sol - Conference Area. I learned that Indigenous Data Sovereignty is, "To recognize Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights to access, use, and steward data critical for effective governance, and to govern those data ac...

[caption id="attachment_77145" align="alignright" width="348"] Photo of Lourdes Escalante standing by KXCI Community Radio sign in front of the radio station[/caption] 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...

[caption id="attachment_76935" align="alignright" width="403"] Photo of Annamarie Stevens, Career Readiness & Employment Program Coordinator, American Indian College Fund[/caption] 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 a...

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...

[caption id="attachment_76438" align="alignright" width="500"] ¡Los Indios! "Born Again Savage" EP Album Cover[/caption] 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, insp...

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 York with her family and it was the year 1949 when Esther saw a flyer posted at t...

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...