11/02/2024
04/04/2024
04/03/2024
Columbia College will host a Native Voices showcase featuring a lecture and performances from leading artists in the Indigenous Hip Hop movement from noon to 4 pm Saturday, April 9. The outdoor event at Carkeet Park will explore the emergence of hip hop among young Native American artists and features a guest lecturer and three performances by influential artists.
“The purpose of Columbia College’s Native Voices events has been to create space in our educational institution for sharing the histories and experiences of Native Americans from Native people themselves. It is truly meaningful to bring our community together to learn and create space for healing,” said event organizer and Columbia College Counselor Stephanie Beaver-Guzman (Hupa/Yurok).
“These artists express challenging and impactful messages, and they deliver them in hip hop’s fast-paced, sometimes raw musical style that is relevant to today’s Native American youth.
“These are voices that are rarely heard on campus or in our broader community, and we are excited to bring them to our campus.”
Beaver-Guzman, a Ph.D. candidate and specialist for Native American students, has organized the college’s Native Voices educational events for the last several years. Past events featured Native American writers, storytellers, academic specialists, and local tribal cultural leaders.
The April 9 event will begin with a talk by Dr. Melissa Leal, professor of Native American Studies at Sierra College.
“Hip Hop tells the story of people who have faced trauma, poverty, marginalization, genocide, slavery and colonization and have survived it with eminence and pride,” Dr. Leal stated. “Indigenous Hip Hop is a means to re-claim history and to remember the resilience of our people through art, dance, storytelling and lyricism.”
The event begins at noon with information booths and traditional native dance and crafts. The formal program begins at 1pm with Dr. Leal’s educational talk followed by three musical performances. Featured presenters:
• Dr. Melissa Leal (Ohlone/Costanoan Esselen), professor of Native American Studies at Sierra College, will give an educational lecture on the relationship of Hip Hop Culture and Indigenous communities, with a focus on performance, activism and helping young people find their voice in the community
• Frank Waln (Sicangu Lakota), a nationally known and award-winning artist based in South Dakota.
• Richie Ledreagle (Miwok/Nisenan), a Colusa-based musician, artist and entrepreneur who performs around the state through his Indigenous Warrior Enterprise.
• Cisko Gower (Lenne Lenape) and H.G.S. Savage Fam. Gower and Savage Fam are based in the Central Sierra now, and have been performing around the West Coast and producing music and music videos for more than a decade. Gower has been working as a youth empowerment advocate in native communities for more than 20 years.
Organizers have included a parent advisory for explicit content in some lyrics.
The event is co-hosted by the Columbia College Cultural Enrichment Committee and the college’s Education Opportunity Program and Services (EOP&S), with support from the Columbia College Foundation and community partners, including the Black Oak Casino Resort and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me Wuk Indians and Davis-King & Associates.
Space is limited with first-come, first-served. Please help us prepare by registering for attendance: register here. For the safety of our community, if you feel sick please stay home and consider testing for COVID.
Parking will be free. Shuttle service and elder seating will be available on request by calling (209) 588-5065. For event information, call (209) 588-5065 or beavers@yosemite.edu.