Feature 1: Marilyn James’s reading of “The Contemporary Origins of Smum’iem Matriarchy in Sinixt Təmxʷúlaʔxʷ”
In “The Contemporary Origins of Smum’iem Matriarchy in Sinixt Təmxʷúlaʔxʷ“, Sarah Beauchamp transcribed Sinixt Matriarch Marilyn James’s discussion of Smum’iem, the matriarchal governing body of the Sinixt Peoples. Marilyn James has been a spokesperson for the Sinixt Nation in Canada since the 1990s. James discusses the upholding of traditions in Sinixt Təmxʷúlaʔxʷ. She spoke of the responsibility of being a Matriarch, preserving traditional practices, navigating this position in a patriarchal world, and her hope for the resurgence of matriarchy. Here, James reads this transcription, and through this speech, we can better understand the passion and care of the matriarchy. Listening to this recording additionally embodies Sinxit traditions of storytelling and oral history.
Feature 2: “The ‘Grandmother’ of Indigenous Filmmaking in New Zealand: Merata Mita—Film Is Her Patu”
In “The ‘Grandmother’ of Indigenous Filmmaking in New Zealand: Merata Mita—Film Is Her Patu,” Denise Schallenkammer highlights the importance of Indigenous cinema, exploring Merata Mita’s works as a Māori filmmaker during the 1970s and 1980s and their contribution to Indigenous cinema and filmmaking. Schallenkammer discusses the film “Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen” (2019), which described Mita’s personal life, career, and activism through the eyes of her son. This film provides great insight into her work and struggles as a Māori filmmaker, granting watchers more insight into the topics Schallenkammer discussed in her work, specifically surrounding visual storytelling as a continuation of non-literary heritage, the creation of Patu! (1983), and advocacy related to the inclusiveness of indigenous filmmakers.
Feature 3: Yael Valencia Aldana reads poem, “Open Your Mouth”
In this video, poet, writer, and artist, Yael Valencia Aldana reads her poem, “Open Your Mouth.” The reading is accompanied by the showcasing of an original painting by Aldana also titled “Open Your Mouth.” This painting is the cover art for Aldana’s forthcoming book Black Mestiza (UPK 2025), now available for pre-sale.