A Needed Pause this Black Friday (Issue #80)
Indigenous creators you’ll want to support today + year-round!
Hi friends!
Your crowded inbox probably isn’t letting you forget that today is Black Friday. BUT, did you know that it’s also Native American Heritage Day? More broadly, November is Native American Heritage Month, and I wanted today’s issue to intentionally focus on Indigenous creators, businesses, and changemakers!
To start, I thought it would be cool for this community to rally around a specific fundraiser, and I landed on this campaign in support of Red Media. The full scope of their work is hard to capture, but here’s how they describe themselves:
Red Media is a press and media project run entirely for and by Indigenous people. We produce writing and work according to our own intellectual traditions, not those imposed upon us by settler culture.
We believe in Indigenous abundance and aim to inspire, caretake, and hold space for Indigenous writers by providing them a platform they may not otherwise have.
Red Media’s work spans everything from poetry, photography, and memoirs to Indigenous botany, history, language resources, children’s books, and political manifestos. They also lead powerful programs like Freedom to Read, which supplies free books to teachers, libraries, incarcerated people, and organizers. Another great program, The Red Nation Podcast, came up multiple times when I was searching Reddit for highly recommended shows from Indigenous creators! It’s unlike any other I’ve found, featuring “discussions on Indigenous history, politics, and culture from a left perspective.”
Red Media is doing vital, game-changing work, and now they are hoping to raise $30,000 to maintain the production of their podcasts, pour into their Freedom To Read program, and begin laying the groundwork for their ultimate goal of establishing an independent press for Indigenous published works. You can donate to their GoFundMe campaign here, and follow their work on Instagram here. Now, on to the rest of today’s recommendations!
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
Hulu: Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae
Hulu reached out and gave me the chance to watch this new docuseries early, and I’m so excited to share it with you now that it’s out! This series explores the life and legacy of Annie Mae Aquash, an American Indian Movement (AIM) activist whose murder remained unsolved for nearly 30 years, and raises profound questions about who is truly responsible for her untimely death. For a preview, check out this TikTok I made to help Hulu get the word out about the doc. Side note: Promoting this sort of true crime story is valuable to me, and I’m always thankful for opportunities like this one. It would be a huuuge help if you could interact (like, comment, share, etc.) to send the message to media companies that these stories matter, and that you value their continued investment in nuanced, ethical narratives.
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Podcast: This Land
In the newest season, Indigenous writer and activist Rebecca Nagle examines a recent Texas court case threatening the very legal framework defending Native American rights. Per the description, “the second season of This Land is a timely exposé about how the far right is using Native children to quietly dismantle American Indian tribes and advance a conservative agenda.”
TIME: 22 Essential Works of Indigenous Cinema by Olivia B. Waxman
Covering films from 1961 to 2024, this curated list is a great way to hone your indigenous film knowledge.
Things to try + share in the group chat.
Note: Links preceded by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links that allow me to collect a small commission when you purchase something I’ve recommended. That said, I can promise I’ll only ever share items I love. Buying through these links is one way to support me and my small biz. ❤️
Louise Erdrich is a brilliant and prolific Native American author based in the Twin Cities. Her book *The Round House won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2012 and is highly recommended by my friend’s mom! The story is set in an Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota and tells the story “of a boy on the cusp of manhood who seeks justice and understanding in the wake of a terrible crime that upends and forever transforms his family.”
If you have any kids in your life, *Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story is the perfect book to walk them through a fresh telling of the first Thanksgiving. Written and beautifully illustrated by four Indigenous creators, Keepunumuk reclaims the Thanksgiving narrative by sharing the perspective and traditions of the Wampanoag tribe.
Founded by Indigenous makeup artist Cece Meadows, Prados Beauty offers an incredible range of skincare and makeup products that would be a great addition to any collection.
Quick! Before you go! Last week, I wrote a little ode to the city I love, complete with my top recs for the area. Check it out here.
Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday for P.S.!
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