Chemehuevi NuWu Elder and Leader. Environmental Whistleblower and Protector of the Colorado River.

Matthew Leivas Sr. Chemehuevi Hereditary Chief Part 1 Hostile Territory

Matthew Leivas Sr. Chemehuevi Hereditary Chief Part 2 Rocket Fuel

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla), Making the Connection

Sean Milanovich is a former Chairman of the Agua Caliente Tribe of Cahuilla Indians, and current Vice President of the Native American Land Conservancy. He recently participated in the Indigenous led Bioneers convention in Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs on the Rights of Nature.

What Are the Rights of Nature in Indian Country? 

Rights of Nature is a global movement spreading across Indian Country to protect our lands and natural resources for generations to come by recognizing nature’s legal rights. At its core, Rights of Nature law codifies Indigenous values for caring for Mother Earth. For the last 4 years, the Bioneers Indigeneity team has been exploring how Rights of Nature can be implemented by Tribes in the United States. We ran our strategy across a working group of Tribal leaders, attorneys, and organizers. We meticulously researched intersections of the law to anticipate ways to bring about Rights of Nature in Indian Country. We developed a guide for Tribal organizers to build capacity to present and pass a Rights of Nature law to protect lands, waters, and key species. And, we have begun to share information with Tribes interested in exploring Rights of Nature through regional workshops in the Southwest and Northeast.

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla) Part 1 Making the Connection

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla), Gathering Fire

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla), Sacred Sites and Lithium Extraction
Sean Milanovich is a former Chairman of the Agua Caliente Tribe of Cahuilla Indians, and current Vice President of the Native American Land Conservancy. He recently participated in the Indigenous led Bioneers convention in Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs on the Rights of Nature.

What Are the Rights of Nature in Indian Country? 

Rights of Nature is a global movement spreading across Indian Country to protect our lands and natural resources for generations to come by recognizing nature’s legal rights. At its core, Rights of Nature law codifies Indigenous values for caring for Mother Earth. For the last 4 years, the Bioneers Indigeneity team has been exploring how Rights of Nature can be implemented by Tribes in the United States. We ran our strategy across a working group of Tribal leaders, attorneys, and organizers. We meticulously researched intersections of the law to anticipate ways to bring about Rights of Nature in Indian Country. We developed a guide for Tribal organizers to build capacity to present and pass a Rights of Nature law to protect lands, waters, and key species. And, we have begun to share information with Tribes interested in exploring Rights of Nature through regional workshops in the Southwest and Northeast.

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla) Part 2 Gathering Fire

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla), Sacred Sites and Lithium Extraction

Sean Milanovich is a former Chairman of the Agua Caliente Tribe of Cahuilla Indians, and current Vice President of the Native American Land Conservancy. He recently participated in the Indigenous led Bioneers convention in Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs on the Rights of Nature.

What Are the Rights of Nature in Indian Country? 

Rights of Nature is a global movement spreading across Indian Country to protect our lands and natural resources for generations to come by recognizing nature’s legal rights. At its core, Rights of Nature law codifies Indigenous values for caring for Mother Earth. For the last 4 years, the Bioneers Indigeneity team has been exploring how Rights of Nature can be implemented by Tribes in the United States. We ran our strategy across a working group of Tribal leaders, attorneys, and organizers. We meticulously researched intersections of the law to anticipate ways to bring about Rights of Nature in Indian Country. We developed a guide for Tribal organizers to build capacity to present and pass a Rights of Nature law to protect lands, waters, and key species. And, we have begun to share information with Tribes interested in exploring Rights of Nature through regional workshops in the Southwest and Northeast.

Sean Milanovich (Cahuilla) Part 3 Sacred Sites and Lithium Extraction

Pat Flanagan is a longtime compadre and friend and informal co-writer. She's a scientist, a botanist, biologist, naturalist and educator.

Pat tells the story,  the only story, the big story of humans and the environment, how people first got here, what they found and why it matters today.

It was my home for so many years as a kid, 3500 California Blvd in Pasadena. a lush environment in the shade of sparkling mountains gradually eclipsed by the dreaded smog. My family would escape for spring break to the desert, where similar post war 50s/60s families congregated.
In light of global heating, I made a Documentary Feature Film about it, the desert , and it's ecological and cultural vulnerabilities. It's called Who Are My People?

(Clip)

In postwar America there were kids everywhere and they congregated too. One such family, the Johansings, who owned a refuge for the traveler, called  The 29 Palms Inn, fate had chosen to be the custodians and stewards of a 9000 (THOUSAND) year old refuge, at that time long ago, a rapidly changing landscape inhabited by early Indigenous peoples to the Americas, following the last ice age.

It is here, our story begins.

The 9000 Year History Of The Oasis Of Mara

Pupfish. Little blue creatures endemic to pools upwelling amid rock strata at Ash Meadows.
Here on Creative FRONTLINE, we’ve done several shows on water in the West. Only not the same water from your tap exactly but the waters in springs, aquifers, and rivers, and now, Death Valley and it’s mysterious partially underground Amargosa River. 
Water moves good things and bad in the desert including radioactive materials from nuclear testing years ago.
We’re here with Amargosa Conservancy’s Mason Voehl, discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Pupfish are good.

Amargosa

The Cry: Traditional Grief and its Meaning Today.

Amid the boulders and the Junipers, artist Max Carmichael shares notes on a ceremony, memorializing a dear friend, guided by place, its similarities with ancient practices, the Cry, a testimony of time and death. The Gift of a Rattle.

The Gift Of A Rattle with Artist, Max Carmichael

We have an episode coming up from the farm as we help tell the story of Chemehuevi Sweet Corn, visiting with Chemehuevi Elder Matt Leivas about regenerative practices on the land, revitalizing vegetative landscapes, and purifying water along the Colorado River.

Tune in for this positive ecological, and regenerative, vision.

Chemehuevi Sweet Corn

Creative FRONTLINE has focused on Ash Meadows as a biodiversity hot spot in the desert, and after learning of the Chemehuevi Peoples' history in the area we asked Hereditary Chief Matt Leivas to explain the meaning and importance to his people. We'll continue the series with commentary in upcoming episodes.

Puha

Emmy® Award winning Filmmaker, Producer, and Radio Show Host, Robert Lundahl, broadcasting weekly Primetime on KPFK 90.7 Los Angeles.

New tracks tagged #Chemehuevi