Stories of Indigenous Immigrants: The Sun, the Moon and What We Carry!

Hear stories about Indigenous immigrants’ political relationship to Indigeneity and Latinidad within the United States and more broadly within settler colonial nation states, featuring  Manuel Vasquez (Native Mexican / Zapotec Heritage), Miguel Sage (Taino/Cuban), and Mabel Negrete (CNS) (Native Chilean / Picunche-Inca Heritage). Following the presentations, the speakers will lead an interactive activity to deconstruct perceptions of Indigenous immigrant narratives.

The first hour of presentations will be streamed live on PAFA’s YouTube channel. In-person seats for the full workshop are limited.

Scholarships are available to attend in-person. For first-round consideration, please apply by May 1, 2023.

A Journey: Indigenizing the Rising Sun is a series of three workshops with panel presentations and interactive activities co-sponsored and led by IPDPhilly.org (Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly Inc) and partners. The series is in conversation with the artwork Delegate, by Rising Sun artist, Rose B. Simpson, and will provide participants the opportunity to learn about the Lenape (Delaware Nation) presence, stories of survival on Navajo Reservation and of Indigenous Immigrants in Philadelphia. Through this journey of distinct stories and histories, participants will begin to envision concrete plans of action to challenge settler-colonial legacies, and to center and celebrate Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Peoples’ Day in their educational or professional practices from Lenapehoking –the ancestral land of the Lenni-Lenape.

Workshop registration includes admission to PAFA’s museum on the day of the workshop.

This event is co-sponsored by Indigenous People’s Day Philly, Inc.

Date

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Time

11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Venue

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Price

$58 General Public / $40 PAFA & AAMP Members (with advanced registration) / Scholarships Available

Mabel Negrete (CNS) (Native Chilean), serves as the Executive Director and Interim Chair of the Board Directors of IPD Philly. CNS is also an artist, activists, educator and entrepreneur. CNS is originally from Ngulumapu (Chile) and self-identifies as a Chola-Andina-Picunche-Chileche who migrated to Turtle Island over 32 years ago. As an artist she is known as the Counter Narrative Society (CNS) | Studio CNS which is a transdisciplinary artist-activist unit that focuses on decolonization, building community and the abolition of the Invisible Punishing Machine. CNS has founded SPARKmakers LLC, and co-founded the Indigenous 215 Collective, Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly, The Mobile Futures Institute and other social initiatives. CNS holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the San Francisco Art Institute and a Master of Science in Art, Culture and Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Miguel Sague is an artist, musician, and spiritual guide for the Caney Indigenous Spiritual Circle. He was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, in a region associated with the historic Indigenous town of El Caney, one of the most important centers of Indigenous tradition in the country. He grew up immersed in the culture, art and music for which his native region is famous. When he was 10, Miguel immigrated to the United States with his family, first living in Erie, PA and later moving to Pittsburgh. There, he built his life as a schoolteacher, father, and working musician. In 1981, Miguel founded the Caney Indigenous Spiritual Circle, a community to support people Indigenous to the Caribbean in reclaiming their Indigenous spirituality. He serves as a behike, or spiritual leader, and is responsible for composing the sacred music used in ceremonial traditions worldwide. In 1988, Miguel founded Sagué Presents Entertainment Agency, featuring his flagship ensemble, Guaracha Latin Dance Band. Miguel sits on the board of directors of the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center and is active in the arts and Indigenous culture scene both in the Pittsburgh region and globally. Since 2021, he also serves an advisor and consultant for IPD Philly.

Manuel Alejandro Vasquez (Native Mexican / Zapotec Heritage) is a first generation Mexican-American that was born and raised in Inglewood, California. Manuel graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A in English Education and currently works as a housing advocate for the Utility Emergency Services Fund. He also serves as a Member of community art project el Proyecto Grandote for Puentes De Salud. Manuel uses photography, traditional Aztec dance, and writing to connect with his family’s indigenous ancestry.

Images courtesy of photographer Manuel Vasquez. Featured photos “Hora de Chocolate” and self-portait of the artist.