On November 13, Cal Shakes held an Indigenous Theatermakers Roundable as part of our Direct Address Allyship + Anti-Racism series. We are full of gratitude to Rhiana Yazzie, Ty Defoe, Jeanette Harrison, and Shannon R. Davis for this conversation about centering Native stories, storytelling, and story-tellers. We are working on making the recording of the event available to share.
As Cal Shakes works to be in reciprocal relationship with our Native community, we recognize the gift of resources this panel provided. Jeanette offered a reminder that part of being in reciprocal relationship is that, “instead of coming to take, you come to give.” With that in mind, we share this abundance of resources, as well as opportunities to act in solidarity with Native artists and movements.
A Few Actions:
- Work to know the true history of the land you are on and how you came to be on it; learn who the original caretakers of that land were and are.
- If you live or work on Ohlone land, pay your Shuumi Land Tax and support the rematriation work of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.
- Support native-led campaigns to protect sacred sites, like the Save the West Berkeley Shellmound coalition.
- Sign and share the petition created by the panelists inviting Cal Shakes to produce a season of Native plays.
- Support these fundraising efforts by and for Native artists:
- GoFundMe for William S. Yellow Robe
- Alter Learning Project for Native Youth (shared by Jeanette Harrison)
- Fundraiser for BRAIDED: A Native Noh Play (shared by Shannon R. Davis)
Native Playwrights & Plays
- William S. “Bill” Yellow Robe
- Buffalo Soldier
- Raising Ma’zaska
- Hanay Geiogamah
- Foghorn
- James Lujan
- Lynn Riggs
- Ty Defoe
- Vickie Ramirez
- Pure Native
- Rhiana Yazzie
- Queen Cleopatre & Princess Pocahontas
- Ady
- DeLanna Studi
- Beth Piatote
- Mary Kathryn Nagle
- Pipe for February
- Carolyn Dunn
- Marisa Carr
- Sturgeon Play
- Kiki Rivera
- Faʻalavelave: The Interruption
- Vera Starbard
- Native Pride and Prejudice
- Devilfish
- Our Voices Will Be Heard
- Larissa Fasthorse
- Native Nations
- Alexandra Hesbrook Ramier
- June Field
- Eric Gansworth
- Tara Moses
- Blossom Johnson
- Montana Cyprus
- Dillon Chitto
- Laura Shamas
- Randy Reinholz
- Ramón Real
- Madeline Sayet
- Frank Katasse
- Sharon Day
- Jay B. Muskett
- Kim Gleason
- Terry Gomez
- Bruce King
- Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl
- Diane Glancy
- William S. “Bill” Yellow Robe
And check out this American Theatre article with more Native playwrights!
More Native Artists
- Lux Haac, costume designer
- Asa Benally, costume designer
- Luis Garcia, lighting & video designer
- Valerie St. Pierre, costume designer
- Kimberly D. Fain, lighting/video/FX designer
- Matt Kizer, trained opera singer and actor
Native Theaters
- AlterTheater (Bay Area)… check out AlterLab Native writers!
- New Native Theatre (Twin Cities)
- Spiderwoman Theater Collective (NYC).. check out Misdemeanor Dream!
- Native Voices at the Autry (LA)
- First Nations Theater Guild
- Eagle Project Arts (NYC)
- Safe Harbors Collective (NYC)
- Turtle Theater Collective (Twin Cities)
- Red Eagle Soaring (Seattle)
- Oklahoma Indigenous Theatre Company
- Two Worlds Native Theatre (Albuquerque),
- American Theatre article with more Native theaters
Native Consultants, Organizations, and Educators to Follow & Support
- Indigenous Direction, a consulting firm co-founded by Ty Defoe and Larissa Fasthorse
- Kanyon Konsulting, a consulting firm led by Kanyon CoyoteWoman and Gregg Castro (@kanyonconsulting)
- NDN Collective
- Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland
- American Indian Community House in New York
- BAAITS (Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits)
- American Indian Film Festival (Jeanette specifically lifted up the short film “SACHEEN,” about Sacheen Littlefeather)
- Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program
- American Indian Marketplace
- Café Ohlone
- Corrina Gould, Co-founder and Co-Director of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, Co-founder and Lead Organizer of Indian People Organizing for Change
- Corinne Rice (@misscorinne86)
- Eve Tuck (@tuckeve)
- If you are a member of The Great Unlearn, watch Eve’s recent interview with Rachel Cargle about Land Rematriation
Books, Videos, & Podcasts
- Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villenueva (the website is also full of great resources)
- Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- There, There by Tommy Orange
- Decolonization 101 Zine by Molly Swain and Lindsay Nixon
- Interview with Jodi Voice Yellowfish on the Crawlspace podcast about MMIW (Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women)
- Lecture by Corrina Gould about the Native history of Contra Costa (part of the DVC Diversity Speakers series)
- The Henceforward, a podcast considering relationships between Indigenous Peoples and Black Peoples on Turtle Island (from Indian & Cowboy Podcast)
*This list is not exhaustive and will be updated.
Featured music during the Roundtable: Raye Zaragoza (“The It Girl” and “He Calls Me River”) & Buffy Sainte-Marie (“The Circle Game”)
Last update: November 20, 2020
