Bringing in the New Year waila style! Here's to O'odham near and far, to everyone missing those live dances and celebrations. I'm feeling grateful to have made it through this year of unknowns, but also thinking of those who are going through unfortunate losses of a loved one due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dedicating this quarantine playlist to everyone out there missing waila music!

In this episode I feature special guest Lourdes Pereira, who is Hia-Ced O'odham and a student attending Arizona State University. Lourdes shares her experiences being a young O'odham representing her people the Hia-Ced O'odham (sand people) during a time when development of a border wall is and has caused permanent damaged to sacred areas and A'al Wappia (quitobaquito springs). A'al Wappia is a sacred and unique spring that has flourished for many years and is traditional territory to the Hia-Ced O'odham. This area is located within' the boundaries of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Southern Arizona.

The history of the Hia-Ced O'odham has been almost none existent to the outside world. The Hia-Ced O'odham leadership have been working on becoming a federally recognized tribe. Their fight to seek recognition is almost constant when sharing information, getting a seat at the table, inclusion of their history and story, etc.

Date recorded: October 19, 2020

This interview features the Famous Ones band who share with listeners the origins of the group and how they have grown individually. Creating their own style of music, they have no problem producing their own sound while still incorporating the traditional waila music. As you tune in you'll get to hear from band members how the group came to be, what projects are out now, and even a short sample of one of their songs off the album Versatile Music 2.

This is a music playlist featuring music from tribal communities throughout Southern Arizona that mainly consist of the four sister tribes known as the Tohono O'odham, Akimel O'odham, Onk Akimel O'odham, and Ak-Chin Indian Community. This social type dance music has been around since the 1800's, first introduced by the Jesuit missionaries who came into contact with the tribes. To learn more please refer to past episodes titled "The Culture of Waila, part 1 & 2."

I wanted to put together this playlist as my tribute to all those O'odham out there missing the dances. This is probably the first time in history that all dance celebrations on O'odham lands have been cancelled due to the current health scare of COVID-19. So I dedicate this episode to anyone in need of a good Waila dance session!

Recorded: April 08, 2020

This is the last part to the borderlands episode featuring Tohono O'odham Hemajkam Rights Network (TOHRN). Two members of the group, Amy Juan, and Nellie Jo David, had the opportunity to travel to Palestine with the World Without Walls delegation in 2017. Their purpose to making the journey was to listen and learn about how Palestinians are impacted by the Israeli Apartheid Wall. The simliar connections to a border wall and living in a militarized community can be easily linked to what border communities in Southern Arizona are dealing with. These two O'odham women also had the opportunity to share about how Tohono O'odham and our lands have been affected by border issues. Tune in to more about what the experience was like and how it inspired them to continue doing the work they do in regards to community and border issues on the Tohono O'odham Nation.

Dated Recorded: March 2018

In this episode, on two separate interviews I feature Josh Garcia, Tohono O'odham tribal member and journalists Todd Miller. During the interview with Josh we discuss the the fifteen integrated fixed towers proposed to be permanently placed along the border within' the boundary of the Tohono O'odham Nation. Josh's' work consists of sharing information on these surveillance towers to tribal members who've never heard of this proposal or have little understanding of it.

As I sat with Todd Miller we first discuss his relation to the Tohono O'odham community and how his work relates to whats happening on the Tohono O'odham Nation in regards to the border. We also discuss his current book titled "Storming the Wall: Climate Change, Migration, & Homeland Security." In his first book titled "Border Patrol Nation: Dispatches from the frontlines of Homeland Security", Todd dedicated an entire chapter to O'odham tribal members. Tune in to hear more about these two perspectives on the southern border.

Date Recorded: January 2018

Date Recorded: September 2017

In this episode I sit with Damon Enriquez and discuss the history of how waila music came to be within' the culture of the Tohono O'odham. Tune in as we exchange stories on how waila music was started within' our own families.

Date recorded: February 2017