Speaker 0 00:00 KPI <inaudible> tell me what is that?
Speaker 1 00:57 Wake up, wake up, wake up. This is intentionally the rising heard only on KPI, fresh air radio. We are 42 years of radio without boundaries heard locally at 90.3 FM HD in Minneapolis and st. Paul screaming on the web at <inaudible> dot org. And yes, you can join us on the kpi.org website because we are also broadcasting on Facebook live. All right. Uh, just want to remind you that we are broadcasting live here across the nation, across turtle Island from mountains to desert to see. And as I always say to all of those native canoes on lakes, rivers, and out to sea I'm Roy Taylor pony, they shouldn't your host for news analysis, commentary conversation and inspiration about identity, reality, and experience. And this is the episode for Wednesday, June 24th, 2020. It's actually the last Wednesday in June. We are now past that we're getting along and I am in studio is stronghold.
Speaker 1 02:09 Yes, my home here on the banks of the beautiful Minnehaha Creek in South Minneapolis, Minnesota turtle Island. We're going to send our signal out into the universe and we're making our ancestors proud this afternoon. When I was always, that was Kelly Jackson with wake up. She was also joined by Theo Yancey there, and that's where I'm her 2017 CV and album songs. Kelly is locked up lumbo from our band of Ojibwe Indians from whisk. Well, I wanted to hurry up and get through the introduction there and I will provide some announcements later in the hour as we close out. But I wanted to try and get to my two guests here because I've got an exciting program to share with you this afternoon. I'm so glad that I was able to secure the time, the conversation with these two ladies, the first one is going to be a Rita Davern.
Speaker 1 03:06 Bria is Irish American. Multi-generational from Saint Paul, Minnesota, and we have a long time friend and acquaintance Romano, Ramona kiddos, Staley, stately. And I think she's joining us here so I can hear you. Oh, okay. Good. Alright. Yeah. And lovely. We've got Rita as well. So we're just going to be talking about a particular event that took place about a month ago, and we didn't get a chance to really highlight it. Typically we do a film review episode, and so we were trying to highlight films that were currently screaming and available for the community and around the country around turtle Island. And this was something that we weren't able to, uh, provide a little attention to partially because the Minneapolis international film festival was doing a live, um, or was doing a remote don't festival this year. So not a live one in person. And so we're going to be talking about the title or the act, this movie bet it's a short film, the low burn hour, it's called a stories.
Speaker 1 04:10 I didn't know. And it's, co-directed by Rita Denver and Melodie Gilbert and featuring Ramona kiddo stately, she and her son Rubin, who is a performer as well. Ruben and I got to show the stage of the Guthrie one time about two years ago. So he's prominently featured in that as well as Rita's family, her extended family. And so, uh, I just want to welcome the two of them. I know this is the first time for Rita and, uh, we just want to welcome her as a first time guest to indigeneity rising. And it won't be the last time, but Ramona, I believe has been on first person radio in the past. And I was trying to search through the archives to see if you'd bet on my program here. I was telling Rita it's kind of bounced around on the, uh, on the schedule over the years.
Speaker 1 04:59 So I wasn't able to find that. So welcome anyway, Ramon, and I know you'll be back here and you're very active in the community, so, all right. Let me start by just giving you both the chance to introduce yourselves. I'll let each of you decide which one wants to go first. Just tell us a little about yourself and tell us how you've been fairing under the COVID, uh, 19, the coronavirus restrictions, your families, and, uh, you know, this most recent event with the, uh, brutal killing of George Floyd here in South Minneapolis as well. So that's a lot to ask of you just write off, but go ahead. Which one of you wants to start Rita or Ramona
Speaker 2 05:42 Your call Ramona? I had Rita. Okay, great. I'm Rita Davern. And, um, I guess I could say DIA glitch, which is a greeting in my, um, native language, um, long wasps, but there go. Um, and, uh, I really am pleased to be here. It's a thrill to have your own story out in the world and hopefully making a difference. And that's the motivation behind this is, um, finding my own story and claiming it the good and the bad, and then, um, figuring out what to do with it. Um, bring it out in a way that other people can learn from. So I'm, I'm very pleased to be here. And as far as the pandemic, it's, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm following my governor's lead on how to behave and that seems to be working. Um, and I, except for the, um, the one time I didn't do that, um, I had to go to 38th in Chicago, um, for the Memorial and it, it really, um, it changed my whole understanding of things to be there with that community and, um, will continue to, so I'm, I'm sending everybody I can think of there because, um, there's, you know, just a lot of work ahead and there's a lot to learn.
Speaker 2 07:08 And As you know, anyone who sees our film, you know, that I've, I've had a lot to learn and I'm part way through it
Speaker 4 07:21 Over to you, Ramona <inaudible> Hito stately and Maki RPA DAMA, COTA de Dakota, <inaudible> <inaudible> hello, my relatives, I greet you with a standard, the COTA language, grieving and hope that, um, many of you can become more familiar with the language of Minnesota. Uh, that is the language that has been spoken in Minnesota for over 10,000 years. Although today it still remains to be somewhat unknown and invisible. Um, so I greet you with a good hand and a good heart and a handshake. And, um, I am a member of the Santee Dakota, uh, nation. We currently live in exile, although Minnesota, my coachee is our Homeland. Uh, we were exiled 160 years ago from our beloved, uh, Minnesota <inaudible> and still live in exile. Um, so, uh, currently I just, uh, took a leave of absence as an educator, and I assumed the role of project director for, uh, we are still here in Minnesota and this is an amazing, uh, group, uh, and it's initiative and a new initiative, um, under the native governance center that combines a network of people together and organizations, uh, philanthropy, pop culture, media, um, K-12 education and, uh, governance and policy to change a narrative.
Speaker 4 09:23 So I want to thank you for inviting me here today. Um, this stories, I didn't know is an amazing example of changing a narrative changing people's perceptions. Um, so I'm excited to be able to talk about that. Um, I am hoping that, um, this pandemic has kind of slowed us all down. I know for me, it's me and Rubin here in the house. Uh, I'm hoping that this time of contemplation and slowing down and not being stuck in traffic jams allows us to open our hearts and minds to a new narrative, uh, especially with the murder of George Floyd and understanding that there are so many things in Minnesota under Minnesota. Nice. That is not so nice for people of color. And so I think about that every day, and I hope that we can make some sweeping changes across the state because I think we're in the spotlight and we have our stories can be amplified today and we can make amazing changes. So thank you for having me today.
Speaker 1 10:37 I appreciate that. So well said, and you know, that's part of the, my motivation for wanting to have the, both of you on, um, I'm glad that Ramona was able to join us because I originally contacted Rita. We were talking about, um, because of the circumstances that you just described, Ramona, that a lot of times these conversations get put on the, on the back burner on the shelf and we never get back around to them. And now history is forcing us to address them. And it's more than just a police brutality. It, you know, it's the role of policing and security in our society, but I think it also raises many of these questions about how we address race and those of us who are native as well. We're more than just a racial group on the census form. We are also citizens of native nations that preexisted.
Speaker 1 11:29 So that's kind of a, an entry point, I think, for this conversation and the highlight of, of this film that, uh, Rita Davern being, uh, uh, having been here, born and raised here in Minnesota and coming from, uh, Irish roots or heritage of them, finding out about some land that her, uh, and let her describe the number of generations that went back that was purchased by a real extended relative and how that was actually a Dakota land. And then we'll leave it up to you to Ramona to provide the perspective for anyone who's not seen the film yet. And, uh, you know, there's just a lovely seem to get started where the two of you are overlooking of the land that, uh, uh, Rita's relative had actually purchased. So why don't we just start by saying, uh, I asking you, uh, Rita to tell us a little bit about the motivation and Ramona feel free to just jump right in about your motivation for wanting to be involved at, you had been contacted by Rita, uh, about this particular idea of hers. So go ahead, read a start, tell us your motivation for pursuing this idea.
Speaker 2 12:44 <inaudible>, uh, as far as I can tell it has to do with my childhood and I was raised with a lot of strong values and a lot of right and wrong, uh, commitment to do what's right. And as I grew older, I started picking up, okay. Bits of information about the world I was living in that didn't gel it didn't, it just didn't fit with what I thought my parents told me though, shalt not kill, for example, you know, like, wait a minute, how do you explain Wars? You know, so I think I was from an early age aware that there was a, um, there was, um, there was something not right in the narrative I was being told and what my eyes were seeing. And so I think that just carried me through my life. And I, as soon as I started learning more about this land that, um, I've occupied for 71 years now and knew so little about, um, I, it was very exciting to get to the bottom of things like, Oh, this is what happened.
Speaker 2 14:07 And this is why my parents, my ancestors came here and I had to learn more about Ireland, of course. And then I started, um, understanding things here and seeing that I think was a real, um, change for me as when I understood the parallels. It's like taking a helicopter ride when you've been on the ground all the time. And all of a sudden you can see a bigger picture. And I could see that the colonization that happened in Ireland, uh, was there was a parallel to what happened here, not equivalent, but parallel. And once I got that, I could somehow understand the native view of what happened here in a way that I didn't have any framework for understanding before that. So once that happened, then I just, you know,
Speaker 2 15:05 Talking and listening and reading. And when I finally told the, began telling the Irish story, my family in a film five years ago, um, I was able to get a grant, uh, in 2018. And with that grant, I brought on melody Gilbert. And she's the one who said, Rita, this is not a film about your Irish dead ancestors. This is a film about you. And we're going to follow you around to find out what's motivating you. Why are you so interested in this family story? And so she started doing that and that led, led us to Ramona and our, um, joint conversations about this land. And, um, what happened here from your family's perspective and mine.
Speaker 1 16:00 Yeah. Ramona, you come on early on into the, uh, to the film. So why don't you take it from there and tell us, you know, again, what your motivation is and what you had hoped, because you're a speaker, you do this, I think, uh, in the past. And so what was it that you hope to, to provide to this ongoing narrative that Rita was looking into?
Speaker 4 16:20 Well, um, really my, uh, I guess the foundation of me doing this was I work with a lot of teachers and we have legislation that says, teachers must include a Minnesota Indian history. I call it history, um, into the curriculum, but we have a group of amazing teachers that really don't know how to do that. And so I provided along with it, the Minnesota humanity center in Eton, near Dales, Mona Smith, a day of experiencing the land and understanding a narrative that Minnesotans don't know. And, um, it really was for teachers, um, because we don't limit ourselves as indigenous peoples to five senses. We, um, have a sense of intuitiveness and energy that teachers can gain from standing on the land and listening to a new narrative. And so that was really important to us. And Rita was a part of that. And I think that was one of the things that impacted her and made her think to ask me to be a part of it.
Speaker 4 17:34 Mmm. I get a lot of requests for information, and sometimes I never even hear a response and we're busy. So when Reba asked me, I could tell that it was a part of her heart and soul that she wanted to tell this story and she wanted to, uh, tell it in a good way. And so I was very willing to work with her. Um, I think also for Lee, uh, Rita to stand as, uh, a white woman in Minnesota, even to her family for beginners, but nonetheless for the larger audience to say, I didn't know this story. And I want to tell this story, and I don't know if I can quote it was it. I don't give a damn you know, about guilt or shame, something like that. But it's true because we can't take it all on as a personal effort, but we have to tell the story. That's the beginning of healing, a relationship of genocide and land theft in our state. We have to say what it was. So thank you for your courage, read it. And I tell her that all the time. And so I was standing next to her while she embraces and shows that courage to other people who maybe aren't as courageous yet.
Speaker 1 18:56 Oh, wow. Okay. Well that was, uh, that was very touching. And I'm sorry, we're going to have to take a little break here. So I hate to cut you off there, Ramona, but I just we'll be right back. I want to remind everybody who's listening that you are tuned into KPI fresh cause you don't see radio broadcasting at 90.3 FMH D in Minneapolis, st. Paul. We were at 40 years of radio without 42 years of radio without boundaries. You can also check us out on Facebook, live on the
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Speaker 7 21:03 <inaudible> <inaudible>
Speaker 8 21:27 Andrew back at KVI, push air community radio, obviously it's indigeneity rising. I'm your host, Roy Taylor. And we've just begun a conversation this afternoon with, uh, Rita dapper and Ramona, Ramona kiddo.
Speaker 1 21:42 We're talking state leaders. We're talking about this film that Rita has been involved with, along with melody Gilbert, it's a story about her family, but also then the intersection of Dakota peoples and their history here in the Minnesota. What was the Minnesota territory now that what's referred to as the state of Minnesota, but before we get back, because I just people sometimes ask me, why are you wearing a neck tie? And this was a father's day gift. So I thought I'd wear that. So my family could see that. And then just to remind you, as I always do every week, mascot, keep your mask available. So there's no need to wear it right here in my living room when you go out, be sure and take care of that. As Rita was saying, you're try and follow those guidelines by the state of Minnesota, the governor, around the centers for disease control.
Speaker 1 22:32 So let's all stay healthy out there. Well, we just started this great conversation talking with Rita Davern and Ramona stately of kiddo stately about this film and Rita, you know, it starts with you meeting with some of your family members and sort of raising this, posing the question to them, and then it kind of ends there. And then I think we bring a Ramona up and she describes her background, her family, their experience, their reality, but there's a wonderful scene where the two of you meet at the prominent Tory over the confluence of the Minnesota, the Mississippi rivers. So I'll let the two of you just describe that and how that, how that came about, because that's really where Ramona begins to tell you the story of Dakota peoples, particularly her family. And you say new respond, read it by saying you had never heard of this before. And yet here you are a lifelong citizen, uh, here in Minnesota. So, uh, either one of you, just whoever wants to start about that particular scene, Minnesota
Speaker 4 23:46 Doesn't really, uh, tell their history. And, uh, we have very little information about, uh, the U S Dakota war. We do talk about the 38, uh, that were hung the largest mass hanging, uh, ever in the history of the United States. Um, what we don't talk about is what happened to the women and children of those men, uh, what happened in 1862, uh, how did governor Ramsey realize his dream of, uh, the Sioux Indians shall be exterminated forever beyond the borders of the state? And they were, we don't tell that. So it didn't surprise me that Rita didn't know that. And, um, Rita was very proud that her, uh, relative owned pike Island, um, to us a place of power we call, we taught Tonka. And so it was really right there that we shared what we both knew and how different our understandings of that place, where and how we felt about those places.
Speaker 9 24:57 And, uh, you know, for those who have never been there and those who are listening in other parts of sort of Island, uh, we're talking about something that is at the, actually at the bottom of that prominent Tory underneath the, the Fort there as the Fort Snelling, which, uh, Zelan pike had actually come into what was then referred to as the Minnesota territory and established this Fort there. But it was also the scene of what you described, which I think is accurate as the concentration camp because of the conflict that took place there. But it had a history before that, uh, as it's been identified as a birthing place for Dakota women as well. So as you say, a very sacred place and yet Rita, your grandfather was born, uh, very close. There is that that's correct. Right. And it was your right, your great grandfather or great, great grandfather who had actually made the purchase.
Speaker 2 25:58 My great grandfather settled. And then my grandfather grew up, he grew up in the winters, you know, going across the ice to Fort Snelling. I mean to pike Island to, um, harvest wood firewood. That's, that's a story that we heard and yeah, and there's, um, there's a trail on that Island that, um, is lined with Cottonwood trees and they're all about 150 years old. And we were always told that my great grandfather planted Cottonwood trees anywhere he could all along Montreal Avenue in st. Paul. And I wonder, I wonder if he planted those trees, I don't know, but they're in a lie in a role and they're all about that age. So there's a few of the really old ones left. So I think about that, you know, it's like just being that deeply connected to a piece of land, but then to find out that it's all built on a fraud in a theft, you know, it's a mindblowing experience.
Speaker 9 27:00 Can you tell us, uh, maybe what was not included in the film, that reaction to the question that you pose to your relatives? There, you talk about an instance where you had an opportunity to sit down with your older brother. I believe it was bill and he, you know, he did not have maybe the reaction you were hoping for, but it took him some time to come around to maybe meeting you at least half way, I guess there weren't any outright, uh, uh, uh,
Speaker 2 27:30 There was, I mean there, yeah, I don't think he'll mind if I tell this, but he's a lawyer. Right. And so he is very good at arguing and very precise about information and facts. And so he didn't like the fact that I said our great-grandfather, um, he, he, what he heard was that my great grandfather stole that land from Dakota. People said it wasn't even, it was, it was part of the 18. Now I think it's 1805 treaty, you know, wasn't, it wa he didn't steal it. You know, like he was really, he was protecting our family name. Right. So I, I understood that. I understood that he's a good person, and he's not trying to deny this whole history, even though he knew very little of it. Um, so I, I just,
Speaker 2 28:24 I wanted to keep them with me, but I tried an experiment and it worked, um, something I hadn't tried. And I learned this from Ramona and I learned it from other people that what happens if, when somebody expresses their opinion, you just listen and not try to argue. And so I zipped my lips and I didn't argue, and I let him have it out. About three times, he called me up really angry and he got to express it all. And then when it was done, then I went back to him. I think I waited a couple of weeks. I went back to him and said, can we talk more? And he said, yes. So he really stayed with me. And we worked through it over a number of weeks. And, um, to the point where I could understand where he was coming from, and I quit using language that actually wasn't quite as accurate around treaties and things. And I had to do some of my own research. And he actually got to the point where he could say, I understand horrible things happened to Dakota people, and that was not right.
Speaker 9 29:27 Yeah. I'm glad you gave us that, uh, the context there, because he did say at the end of that first conversation, and I don't feel bad about it. So it tends to make sense there that, well, this was all done legally, it was a legal, and it was part of a, a policy by the government. And so he couldn't move beyond that, to, uh, the moral and, uh, uh, you know, the cultural perspective. I think that many of us as natives and particularly Dakota people might have on that. And that kind of gets us to this idea of right now, what we're experiencing. Uh, both of you, I'd be interested to hear if you're, uh, would agree with this, you know, we have multiple narratives going on in this country. Certainly one of them were prominent is America was great. At one time, it's fallen into decline.
Speaker 9 30:14 Let's make it all great again. And basically it's a return to some of what we're describing here. Ignorance, a lack of knowledge. And then those of us who are native have a different perspective that, well, yes, it was great at one time, but maybe before the period that you thought it was so great. And so if you want to return to greatness, maybe you want to do something like Rita Davern is doing, which is to return some of the land. And however, it was acquired, whether it was illegally or stolen, or even through a legal transaction like that. So we're having trouble with these type of conversations. And that was the point I was trying to make earlier. Um, I know either one of you, you know, through this movie Rita, or maybe a Ramona through a lot of the education and the consulting that you do, if you're still continuing to find this and how are you dealing with it too, to help bring people along, maybe to at least a share a perspective, if not a different one, similar to yours?
Speaker 4 31:15 Well, I really feel like, uh, we are not engaging in, um, a really good solid education for all, all people in Minnesota, all Americans, we are, uh, teaching kids, uh, to memorize test questions. And what we're not doing is growing good, critical thinkers. And even the adults in our state today in our country today, aren't as good, critical thinkers as they could be. If they, uh, understood that critical thinking is, is understanding the entire, uh, issue all of the issues and coming to an understanding and a decision based on that. So what we don't know about what happened in the U S Dakota Wars treaties were signed by one person. We didn't have one leader who actually were able to do that. They were, they were signed, they were written in English when we didn't have a writing system or reading English. I mean, so there were some really, uh, pretty hefty thing, parts of the story that were not even told also across the country, 27 States do not talk about indigenous or native American history after 1900. Imagine if we didn't talk about history after 1900 across America for other subjects, what would we be missing there? And so we really owe it to revamp the education system to make sure that all people are seen and heard, we, we seem perfectly satisfied to allow, and this is in the state of Minnesota, this is the truth. This may shock you. We can accurately predict the failure of students by the third grade,
Speaker 4 33:09 Based on their skin color, black, Brown, and indigenous students are predictably going to fail. Now that is systemic racism. And really K-12 education has a huge part in that We have to do better. We have to change some ways of thinking and ways of doing some ways of caring for our beautiful young children.
Speaker 9 33:37 Yes, I agree. I agree. And, uh, you know, one of the ways I think we can approach this, particularly with, uh, you know, I agree with you in particularly the, uh, the preschool and then the, the K through 12, and even our, uh, higher education institutions as well. But, uh, uh, Rita, you know, we were talking about the, this a motivation of yours to pursue some kind of remedy. And, uh, I'm just, I want to hold off right, for a moment and to remind our listeners, uh, as we're talking about this, uh, bringing together the two of you from very different backgrounds, and then talking about this on the year, we are going to have an opportunity to see the film again for listeners out there. I, all I was able to find was the Minneapolis international st. Paul's film site, the best of the Fest.
Speaker 9 34:32 And I think you can go to that. It says a MSP film.org, uh, festivals. I don't know if they have a separate page. Do you have any more information on that Rita about how people can, can access this? And it is a very nominal fee. Yes, it's. I think on radio, the best we can do is just say to go to Minneapolis st. Paul international film Fest, best of Fest. And the name of the film is stories. I didn't know, stories, I didn't know, it'll start showing Thursday night and then it will be available. You can see it at your own time, in your own home through Sunday. Yes. So just a few days here, even though it played earlier, and it's wonderful that it had been identified through some of that viewership as being one of the top films for the virtual film festival. So I'm glad it's being brought back as, uh, as the best of the Fest. Now, are you anticipating that it might be available for separate screenings or private screenings or something that you and melody can be available for?
Speaker 2 35:39 Yes, it is. Um, available. Um,
Speaker 3 35:44 I can,
Speaker 2 35:46 Yeah. How can people find out about that or how do they contact you? I'll address is Rita Davern. All right.
Speaker 3 35:53 T a D a V
Speaker 2 35:55 E R
[email protected] is to get this out into the world as much as possible.
Speaker 9 36:05 Right. Right. So I want to ask both of you Dell. It wasn't shown, but, uh, Ramona, did you ever have a chance to spend some time with Rita's family and maybe talk with them or answer any questions that any of them might've had? I know that there were scenes where the reader you were talking with, or I believe it was melody was talking with some of the younger generation in the Davern family, and certainly your conversations Ramona with, uh, with Rubin and letting him speak for himself. But any of that kind of cross cultural communication that took place, uh, that wasn't shown in the film,
Speaker 4 36:42 Not yet, but I fully, um, and I'm still waiting for an invitation to go to Redis house and have someone know, and Rita did come to my house and she has, uh, uh, met my family. So, um, I imagine that's going to happen. We have really created a good, strong friendship, and I think it would be wonderful. Uh, I'm still waiting for an invitation to Ireland as well.
Speaker 9 37:10 Yes. I sort of glossed over that at the beginning where Rita was able to take a trip to, and may have been in a succession of trips maybe that she's taken, but to go to see the roots, what was the motivation for her, uh, ancestors to come to this country? And, uh, so that, that was wonderful to see that as well.
Speaker 2 37:31 I, I should say that, um, I'm working on a second film that actually shows that part of our story, that the Ireland, the 1200 year history in Ireland, and that will be finished this, um, this fall. And it's called Burren girl, B U R related, referring to the place in Ireland where they're from.
Speaker 9 37:53 Yeah. And I love that. There's a scene where you show a, I think it's near the thermostat in the room, the 1200 year history of your family all the way back to, uh, to, uh, to Ireland there, or however, they may have referred to it in the Gaelic language. So, uh, you know what, ladies, we're going to take another break here. And so bear with me. We'll, we'll be right back with you to finish up this conversation. It's just, it's been really great to, to hear from you. Uh, I just want to remind our listeners that you're listening to indigeneity rising. I'm your host, VOI Taylor. And I'm talking with Ramona kiddo, stately and Rita Davern. We're talking about a Rita's latest film called stories. I never knew. And featuring Ramona stately, this is KPI fresh air community radio. Uh, we are heard locally at 90.3 FM HD in Minneapolis, st. Paul and streaming live on the web at <inaudible> dot org. We're also on Facebook live, so you can check us out. We'll be right back with you in just a few seconds.
Speaker 0 38:58 In 1987, a multiracial group of Minneapolis youth decided to take on white power, skinhead, your Dawn, this is tough. This is over. And that was the beginning of a protracted violent struggle in the streets of the twin cities. They launched a network that grew to take on the KU Klux Klan Christian, right, and the police. And we would go downtown and confront the cops. When we were doing our show, one of the times they brought me into an interrogation room and there were seven or eight male cops pushing me and asking me who started anti-racist action. Who was the leader? Fighting back the rise of anti-racist action in Minneapolis. That's coming up on Monday 29th at 1:00 PM.
Speaker 2 39:54 Okay,
Speaker 9 40:11 Well, you're back at KCI, fresh air community radio. It's 42 years of radio without boundaries. I'm your host, Roy Taylor, this, this indigeneity rising. We're heard every Wednesday afternoon at a one to 2:00 PM central daylight time. And I'm talking with, uh, almost sit on the phone with, uh, Rita Davern and Ramona kiddos stately. And, uh, this afternoon we've been discussing their experience and, uh, producing, filming and producing a documentary short call stories. I did know, and it's really a reflection on the part of, uh, Rita dapper for Irish American roots, her family, and its history here in the state of Minnesota and how it intersected with Dakota peoples history and as, uh, as described and exemplified by Ramona stately as well. So, uh, it's just a wonderful conversation between these two, uh, women and some of the reaction of their, their families as well. And I was just asking them if there's anything else that maybe I didn't pick up in the film that they wanted to share with me, or maybe, um, something else that, uh, that, that has happened since the film been produced and available that they'd like to, uh, tell us about,
Speaker 4 41:39 I think of, um, the film in the film, Ramona, you tell the story of your great grandma and it would be great. I think for people to know that you also wrote a book about her life and that that might be of interest to people. Uh, yes. Thank you, Rita. Um, when I talk about, uh, we taught Tonka and that area, I talk about my great, great grandmother. <inaudible> actually birthing my dad's grandpa there in that Island. And, uh, it's a beautiful story of, um, nurturing and loving our children and establishing an environment, uh, for the birth of that child in a beautiful way, surrounded by medicines for mother to heal, surrounded by water, which is our first medicine as Dakota people and, uh, creating this beautiful surrounding. But I think what is very, um, surprising is that he, she is birthing my dad's grandpa and all of us probably know something about our parents, grandmother, or grandfather.
Speaker 4 42:55 And I think the master narrative says, Oh, it was a long time ago. Uh, leave, leave that alone. I have a very best friend that I grew up with who told me to leave that alone because it was a long time ago, but it wasn't a long time ago and I won't leave it alone, but I think that has an impact on people when they say, wow, I know I have a picture in my living room of my dad's grandpa. I know what his job was. And so this was an opportunity writing this book for fourth to sixth grade, and also using some real clear terminology, such as concentration camp, such as genocide, which really isn't something that we've always done. But I know I read the diary of Anne Frank and no one had a problem with those terms there. And so it was my opportunity, not willing to tell my story and shine a light on Dakota people here in the Minnesota river Valley, but also to create some good, clear terminology that, uh, helps us know the truth.
Speaker 9 44:04 Well, I'm, I'm really looking forward to an opportunity, uh, again, even if it's virtual and remotely done of seeing the film. And then, uh, I did get a chance to see the actual question and answer session that took place during the film festival, but it'd be wonderful to see the two of you again, uh, available to talk about this that, you know, afterwards, I mean, that's, that's very typical for not only film, but also theater. So, uh, I'm assuming that will take place whenever these screenings are going to be made available through, uh, through Rita and her partner there, uh, melody Gilbert. So what, um, what's up next for the, both of you. I know you've talked about this new project, uh, as well, Ramona and then Rita you're, you're finishing up this movie, uh, the original, I think idea, the burn girl, um, either one of you want to elaborate more on those or is something else that you can give us a little, pull the curtain back and tell us about,
Speaker 2 45:07 Well, I can say just one thing, Roy, I appreciate this program so much and I listened to another weekend. There was something you said that really struck me and you asked what side of history do you want to be on? And it just struck me that that really is a really important question. And what I can say from my journey for the last six years is that once you choose, um, it changes your life in some really big, good ways. And, um, we talk about healing a lot in this is this is it. So I it's been an honor and a pleasure to be part of this conversation and I won't stop.
Speaker 4 45:52 Thank you, Rita. So, um, I'm going to just say as well, it, um, what side of history do you want to be on? I think that with all of the pressures of social media and things like that, I think it's easy to make up your mind and stand on a side and not be open to choosing anymore. When we stop exercising our ability to reason it goes away. It's like a muscle. So I pray that during this time that we have a little more time to sit, um, and, and think about what's happening in Minnesota, um, that we can decide that, uh, we have the choice to stand on one side or another and arm ourselves with understanding and knowledge. That doesn't mean we have to post it on our Facebook, but it means that we have to be open to that idea. And I know that, uh, sometimes we, uh, believe instead of thinking and knows are two very different things. And so give ourselves the opportunity to think and reason and understand all things for a better, uh, you know, to make America native again. He,
Speaker 9 47:10 Well, thank you for that. And yes, thank you, Rita for that as well. You know, my answer to that always is if you will a stand with Andy and on the side of indigenous and native peoples in this land, you will be on the right side of history. I have no doubt about that. So, uh, I would encourage people to consider that, uh, Rita Davern is an example of that as well, with the best of intentions and her actions and this reaching out to a Ramona kiddo stately and the, uh, the friendship and the relationship that they have created. And it's not over with yet, and there's still more work to be done. Uh, but, uh, take that chance, take that risk, that, that leap of faith. That's all we can do. I think at this point, we've got a lot of challenges in this country ahead then, as we look to the rest of this year, I think that kind of advice, and this kind of example, that the two of you have said, uh, will serve everyone well, whether we're talking about individuals or communities, or even, uh, families as well.
Speaker 9 48:13 So I appreciate so much both of you being on, uh, sorry about the, uh, last minute notice there, Ramona and Rita. I appreciate you, uh, reaching out to me even though you were out of town and getting this organized here, say hello to your partner, uh, melody, I'm sorry. We weren't able to get her on and Ramona, uh, say hello to Ruben and, uh, your daughter as well. So I'll look forward to seeing them, uh, either performing or their artistry, uh, uh, presented to us. So thank you again so much for being on with us, uh, today, right? I'll see you soon.
Speaker 9 48:51 Well, I was just talking with my guests to Rita Davern and Ramona kiddos stately. We were talking about this new film that you can find out more
[email protected]. Uh, this is the best of the Fest. So look for that page and it's pretty easy to get in a very minimal cost to view it. And they have many different ways that you can view, view it on devices at your home. Uh, even on the big screen, I know I was able to see a couple of films from when that, uh, uh, premier back in, uh, in may, I believe it was so, uh, it's, it's very accessible there. We like supporting the MSP international film festival and, uh, that reminds me, uh, we will have our, sometime this summer, we'll have our, uh, episode, our quarterly episode on films related to indigenous and native peoples as well, but next week, for sure, uh, be back in tuned in, at one o'clock, I'm going to have Sam Jackson who is a white earth Ojibwe, and he's going to be talking about his reaction to the recent, uh, so-called unrest here in Minneapolis.
Speaker 9 49:59 He's an architect. He has his own indigenous planning firm, but he's also a member of a very, uh, major significant architectural firm here in the twin cities. And he's worked on, uh, several different projects. He's currently the president of the board at the Minneapolis American Indian center. And then he has also, uh, uh, was the principal architect for the McGee C uh, organization, which burns down, unfortunately in the recent, uh, rioting and protesting on Lake street here in South Minneapolis. So he's written a letter about that to the architectural newspaper. And he's going to talk about that, uh, our relationship as native Americans to, uh, to the African American community here and our, uh, re reference for the different cultural institutions that we support as well. So that's next Wednesday at 1:00 PM. All right. Well, I think we're ready to get on our little steel pony while I used to say that when I was in, uh, uh, a studio for directions, but I'm kind of landlocked here at home, but, uh, as I say, be sure to check out the indigeneity rising Facebook page and like it to get updates on future episodes. Well, that's all for now. And I want to thank my guest again, Rita Davern and Ramona kiddos stately. I'll be back here next Wednesday at 1:00 PM. If you missed any of this up, so you can hear it again for up to two weeks in the KPI archives, just look for the on demand, but remember indigeneity now, indigeneity forever, Andy ditch and 80 rising.
Speaker 11 51:37 See you later. 49. Here he comes. Brother Keith with Indian cars.
Speaker 7 51:43 <inaudible>
Speaker 0 51:57 No man, my, my dash and dusty <inaudible> please. Mr. Rob, just sir, I got to make it to <inaudible> riding in Miami.
