Excerpt of: Hot Water Over Raised Fists (tech run)

Connections Dance Theater

As an artist whose goal is to further amplify the current issues of Black and Indigenous people, I strive to use narratives directly from people impacted in the production of my works. The first piece performed on this video is a comment on the destruction of capitalism focused on the Huni Kuin Tribe's testimony about the fires in the Amazon that are affecting their way of life. The voices you hear are from tribal members and below are the translations. The second piece is inspired by the power and lure of water. It flows through all of us, nurtures all of us, connects us, has the power to protect us and the ability to destroy us if we are not careful about the maintaining the natural balance of people and the earth.

Translations extracted from: https://youtu.be/4-IJieq5NOw

1.) “Without the forest, we have nothing. We are nothing. The forest Is our mother, our house, our home. Without the forest, there’s nothing. There won’t be any Indigenous people left.”- Txana Sia, Huni Kuin Tribe
2.) “ The global climate, the sun’s temperature, unpredictable rain… all that happens because they are destroying nature, [and it is nature] that regulates all. Nature does everything for us.”- Txana Sia, Huni Kuin Tribe
3.) "It is very important for us to preserve traditions because we have our knowledge in our tradition, our culture. It is a beautiful thing, and I feel very proud to be Indigenous and to keep my tradition."- Txana Sia, Huni Kuin Tribe
4.) "If you don't get to know it, who is going to keep this?"- Isaka, Spiritual Leader/Clan Elder, Huni Kuin Tribe
5.) “We were scared because we couldn’t put out the flames. We used all of the water we had but it was impossible.” -Buni, Huni Kuin Tribe

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Category: Dance