Matriarchy Out Loud: Celebrating Global Indigenous Women’s Day

Join us for this special screening of three short documentaries directed by Indigenous women, and talks by Christina C. Bell Andrews, Azul Navarrete-Valera and Kii’yaa’nii Ross. Food and art from local Indigenous groups will be available at the screening.

POWERLANDS

In Powerlands, Ivey Camille Manybeads Tso, a young Navajo filmmaker, investigates the displacement of Indigenous people and the devastation of the environment caused by the same chemical companies that have exploited the land where she was born. She travels to the La Guajira region in rural Colombia, the Tampakan region of the Philippines, the Tehuantepec Isthmus of Mexico, and the protests at Standing Rock. In each case, she meets Indigenous women leading the struggle against the same corporations that are causing displacement and environmental catastrophe in her own home. Inspired by these women, Ivey Camille brings home the lessons from these struggles to the Navajo Nation. (Dir. By Camille Manybeads Tso, 2022, 75 mins., USA, Not Rated)

UNIFYING MOVEMENTS WITHOUT BORDERS

Regardless of distance, language, culture, and borders, we come together to remember our missing and murdered Indigenous relatives of the Americas. We walk, we heal, we never forget, and we will always remember together. (Dir. by Saray Argumedo, 2023, 3 mins., USA, Not Rated)

VOICES OF THE GRAND CANYON

Before the Grand Canyon was a national park, it was the ancestral homeland of Native peoples. Hear voices of the Grand Canyon speak. Experience the Grand Canyon alongside Jim Enote (Zuni), Nikki Cooley (Diné), Leigh Kuwanwisiwma (Hopi), Coleen Kaska, (Havasupai), and Loretta Jackson-Kelly (Hualapai) as they share what the Grand Canyon means to them and what they know in their hearts to be true. Featuring Nikki Cooley, Jim Enote, Loretta Jackson-Kelly, Coleen Kaska, and Leigh Kuwanwisiwma. (Dir. By Deidra Peaches, 2022, 12 mins., USA, Not Rated)

This event was organized by The Loft Cinema’s Indigenous Film Committee, who mission is to uplift global Indigenous peoples by celebrating out films and filmmakers at The Loft Cinema while serving local Indigenous communities.

SPEAKER BIOS

My name is Azul Navarrete-Valera and I am a First generation Mexican indigenous woman. I am currently a junior at the University of Arizona majoring in Bachelors of Arts in Law with a minor in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion as I aspire to be an Immigration Lawyer. I am the current Ward 1 appointee for Tucson Parks & Recreation Commission. I am currently leading movement to change the name Christopher Columbus Park to Danny Lopez Park, and I was involved with A Call To Men educating about topics such as mental health, racism, self identity and have also participated in community led workshops such as the W.O.R.T.H.Y workshops where I would educate on topics such as the Kingian Principles of nonviolence, 6 steps to Kingian Nonviolence, how to manage conflict, how to organize communities, and so forth.

Kii’yaa’nii Ross is Navajo, Yaqui and Purépecha. “I just turned 8 years old and am in third grade. I am a Seed in EcoTruths for Indigenous Youths and am a Danzante. I dance for the people, our human rights, protection of Mother Earth, MMIR, Indigenous People’s Day, border actions, and any Indigenous events. This year I danced at the MMIP Run/Walk and Tzonteyōtl Na’ach’aah in Flagstaff AZ. My influences are my Parents, my Uncle who is my best friend, my Navajo Grandparents, HONOR matriarchs, my Danza family, Eco Truths mentors/elders, and many others who support me and what I do.”

Christina C. Bell Andrews was appointed to Executive Director of the Wassaja Carlos Montezuma Center for Native American Health, under the College of Medicine, at the University of Arizona, on June 1, 2023. Andrews is Hia-Ced O’odham (‘Sand People’) and a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation (‘Desert People’). Her professional experience has been in government, health and human services, and education at the Tribal, state, federal, and international levels. Andrews was a former tribal leader for the Tohono O’odham Nation, whose reservation consists of 2.8 million acres and whose 75-miles borders Mexico.

Andrews is a Participant Ambassador for the All of Us Research Program under the National Institute of Health (NIH). The All of Us Research Program’s mission is to accelerate health and medical breakthroughs, enabling individualized prevention, treatment and care. The project aims to collect genetic and health data from one million volunteers across the United States. Additionally, Andrews serves on the University of Arizona Community Action Council Committee of the American Indian Research Center for Health, where she serves to ensure that Tribal and urban AI/AN (American Indian/Alaskan Native) people have meaningful participation in the development of relevant programs and priorities. This does not supplant the government-to-government consultation that the University of Arizona undertakes. Additionally, Andrews was a Site Manager for the Child Welfare and Juvenile Law Tribal-State Justice Partnerships program to build on the exceptional 85-year history of improving courts and systems’ practice and promoting national policies that improve the lives of our nation’s children and families, at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ). In this role, she worked primarily with tribes/tribal courts but also with other types of courts (e.g., dependency, delinquency, juvenile drug courts, dual status).

Andrews is knowledgeable about tribal sovereignty and humble cultural engagement. She is a graduate from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where she received her J.D. and her certificate in federal Indian law. Andrews attended the University of Arizona, where she received a B.A. in Spanish and Portuguese, an M.A. in English, and an M.P.H. in policy and management. She also holds an M.B.A. in international business.