INJURY RESERVE X INDIGENOUS ENTERPRISE

There’s nothing better than going to see a live performance, and being surprised by an unannounced guest in the middle of it. That’s what went down at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom last month, when Indigenous Enterprise, a group based in Massachusetts made up of 20-something Native American dancers from several tribes, took the stage as part of an Injury Reserve hip hop show. The audience responded in a big way, with organizer Kenneth Shirley describing it as “a rock star moment”, with his friend Jorge Gonzales-Zuniga Jr. even crowd-surfing from the stage. Kenneth, Jorge and their fellow dancers’ style combines hip hop and traditional Native American dance, and the group has performed on WORLD OF DANCE, in the virtual inauguration parade for President Biden, and during the N.B.A. finals. I recommend reading more about Indigenous Enterprise in this New York Times piece, and be sure to check out the photos! And, if you’re in New York City, you can check out the troupe in person at one of their live shows next week at the Joyce Theater. 

In this week’s climate crisis conference in Glasgow, the world’s leaders came together to end deforestation, and pledged to give back at least $1.7 billion in funding directly to Indigenous peoples and local communities “in recognition of their key role in protecting the planet’s lands and forests.” This comes after multiple studies came out strongly suggesting a link between supporting Indengeous rights and land tenure and protecting the environment, with a recent 2021 UN review of more than 300 studies finding that “deforestation rates in South America were up to 50% lower within areas under indigenous control than elsewhere.” Up until now, less than 1% of this type of funding has been given to these groups. While critics are cautious to celebrate preemptively, one attendee of the convention, Paul Redman, who founded a non-profit that works with Indigenous communities, said “I think it’s the first time in all the climate conferences I’ve been to since 2013 that leaders really seem to be genuinely engaged and wanting Indigenous peoples to be at the table.” 

—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist