By CHELSEA NAPPER
The University of New Mexico’s Kiva Club hosted a benefit concert to support Diné-Pueblo Youth Solidarity Group on Nov. 19. This 14th annual event was free and open to the general public.
The themes were “Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women” & “Protect Chaco.”
Participating Artists
Details of the concert were posted by the UNM Kiva Club on their Facebook page.
The performers at this year’s UNM Native Beats were some regional big-names: Antro, Corey Allison Music, McRhetoric, Nizhoni Girls, Voice of Honey, Wakeself, and Walatowa Massive.
Message
Part of the performances by the visiting artists were geared toward speaking out about protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. A large banner decorating the stage read, “Water is life.”
Another reads, “What happens to the land happens to our women.”
“Any violence to our mother earth is direct violence to our women because this is a reproductive justice movement,” said Julia Bernal, a member of the Dine-Pueblo Solidarity Group.
Fundraising Proceeds
Along the walls near the stage were several tables set up where attendees could purchase souvenirs, art, apparel, and raffle tickets.
All of the proceeds from the event were donated to two groups, the Diné-Pueblo Youth Solidarity Group, and the StrongHearts Native Hotline.
The mission of the Dine-Pueblo Youth Solidarity Group is “to establish that the youth of our tribal communities stand united in protecting the longevity of our natural and cultural resources in the Greater Chaco landscape,” according to their mission statement.
The StrongHearts Native Hotline’s goal is to provide “anonymous, confidential service dedicated to serving Native American survivors of domestic violence and concerned family members and friends,” according to their mission statement.
The Hotline can be reached by “dialing 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST,” according to information provided by the Kiva Club on Facebook.
The live-streamed videos of the event can be found on the UNM Kiva Club’s Facebook page.
(Featured Photo from UNM Kiva Club)