November is Native American Heritage Month and in recognition of that, Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds is hosting Contemporary Indigenous Voices of California's South Coast Range, a series of short films that focus on individual Indigenous tribal leaders from the South Coast Range, which includes the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Monterey Bay and the Salinas Valley. KAZU's Dylan Music recently spoke with Kirti Bassendine, the artist and photographer behind the exhibit.
"This is not just an art project," Bassendine says, "it's definitely public awareness of California's history, and it's the first time that a large group of tribal communities have come together and shared their story. They are beautiful stories. Not, 'We are victims and please feel sorry for us,' but the opposite—uplifting stories and something to be proud of and respect. That's my hope—that as people see the exhibition, they come out feeling really educated and have respect."
Click the audio player at the top of this story to listen to the interview or see the highlights below.
Interview Highlights
On how the project began
This project began back in 2018 through a conversation with chairwoman Anne-Marie Sayers at Indian Canyon in Hollister, one of the only lands continuously held by the Ohlone people. It's one of their family allotments. She fought for many years to get that land that was her ancestral land, and she opened it up to other Indigenous groups to do ceremonies and to hold storytellings. So that's really where it began. Sayers put me on the task. She said, 'With the work you do and the way you highlight and uplift different communities, it would be really wonderful if you were able to tell our story.' It was in 2021 that I finally got some funding and through that this project began. And it's been in the works for the last five years.
On the short films and Indigenous leaders featured in them.
One of the Indigenous leaders featured in these short films, Tom Little Bear Nason, works very closely with prescribed fire, land stewardship, and the managing of land. The conversation with Tom [featured in one of the films] was just amazing. His short film is really powerful.
Tom Little Bear Nason (from the film): We are guardians and stewards. We as original red people are the ones that will teach the other people about caretakership of the Earth, how to live with the Earth as one, how to steward the land.
KB: It was a wonderful opportunity to hear him talk about their tribal efforts, the impact of climate change and his urgent message. So he's a really valuable participant in this project, and his wisdom and knowledge are really important to hear, and to be shared.
The reason for the exhibit
There's really not many teachings and acknowledgment about the Ohlone, the South Coast Range—those peoples here in California, and it is so important, not just for children, but us as the general public to at least give acknowledgment and respect [regarding] whose land we're living on. Every one of us has a responsibility to at least understand the tribal history. Healing and repair cannot be done unless we understand and educate ourselves about who were the people here and what happened. And this is a group of people that went through so much. Because of the genocide, there's hardly any representation. All they want is to be recognized. They've always been here. They're not invisible.
Artist and filmmaker Kirti Bassendine's short film exhibit, Contemporary Indigenous Voices of California's South Coast Range, will be screened at the Asilomar Conference Grounds Nov. 16th at 4 p.m.., followed by a discussion with Bassendine and local Indigenous leaders.