Cultivating Indigenous Voices

In Indian Country, teasing is a love language and humor is survival. In this episode I catch up over the phone with Tesera Choyguha (Tohono O’odham), a multi-talented Native comedian, cultural educator, utilitarian potter, and retired Toka player. Tee and I go way back to around 2013, when I first joined their Toka team called Gewkdag, in Sells, Arizona. For those unfamiliar, Toka is a traditional O’odham women’s game similar to field hockey. We have stayed connected ever since, and it is always a joy to run into each other and catch up. Photo of Teresa (left) and Tina (Right) during the Mul-Chu-Tha Toka Tournament in March 2014 Teresa (right) and her daughter Summer (left) Hard Work, Humbling Times, and Healing Laughter Teresa brings a deeply grounding and human story, sharing her family’s profound migration journey from the traditional O’odham homelands in Mexico across the border into southern Arizona. Growing up alongside her family working in the grueling farm fields, Teresa’s upbringing was shaped by relentless hard work and intensely humbling circumstances. Amidst the sweat, exhaustion, and financial struggles of laboring under the desert sun, humor became their ultimate survival mechanism. Rather than letting poverty dim their spirits, her family used laughter, teasing, and sharp wit as daily medicine to ease the physical toll of farm work. This beautiful blend of tireless labor, cultural resilience, and deep-seated familial joy laid the entire foundation for Teresa’s comedy career, showing audiences that the truest comedy is often forged in life’s most humbling and raw moments. Photo of Teresa C. 3 Sisters Comedy Teresa is a founding member of 3 Sisters Comedy, a powerhouse, all-female Indigenous stand-up group. A proud citizen of the Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona, Choyguha (often known by her stage name “Sh-Girl”) performs alongside fellow Native comedians Adrianne Chalepah (Kiowa/Apache) and Deanna MAD (Tonawanda Seneca). Originally founded in 2014 as “The Ladies of Native Comedy,” the group officially rebranded to 3 Sisters Comedy in 2020 to reflect their tight-knit bond and the traditional agricultural concept of the “three sisters” (corn, beans, and squash) growing together to sustain life. As part of this episode we also explore why laughter is considered vital medicine in Indigenous communities. For general inquiries they can be reached at 3sisterscomedy@gmail.com Photo of the 3 Sisters comedians from left to right, Adrianne Chalepah, Deanna MAD, and Teresa Choyguha. Picture courtesy of T. Choyguha. Left to right, Adrianne Chalepah, Deanna MAD, and Teresa Choyguha. Picture courtesy of T. Choyguha. Indigenous Comedy Live Hosted outdoors at the historic Hotel Congress Plaza, Indigenous Comedy Live made history as a first-of-its-kind benefit show showcasing the vibrant power of Native storytelling and humor. Popular Tucson native and Reservation Dogs actor Jon Proudstar served as the Master of Ceremonies, guiding an electric evening under the stars. Teresa delivered a standout performance alongside fellow Native comics Bobby Dues, Gilarious Wolf Brown, and Jameson D. Lopez. This show was produced in partnership with the Southwestern Foundation for Education and Historical Preservation, all event ticket proceeds directly benefited the Arizona State Museum’s Public Programs Fund. Teresa C. was a part of this amazing indigenous comedy event in April 2026 alongside many other talented Native acts. Here is the flyer that was put out for the event earlier this year. Living Life to the Fullest Even as Teresa navigates a difficult battle with cancer and other health challenges, her unbreakable spirit shines through as she continues to live her absolute best life. Tee em...

In this episode I feature Jasmine Lopez (Tohono O’odham), who is a young aspiring filmmaker and community advocate. Jasmine was raised on the Southside of Tucson by her Grandmother Roselene, oringinally from the village of Gu-Oidag (Big Fields) on the Tohono O’odham Nation. She is currently a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Management in Information Systems with a minor in American Indian studies, while working for the program A Students Journey. Photo of Jasmine (right) and Her grandmother , Roselene (Lewis) Smith, (left) at her graduation from Tohono O’odham Community College. I first discovered Jasmine when she held the title as Miss Native American University of Arizona 2024-2025. We recently met in person and it was then I learned more about the work she does as a student and aspiring filmmaker. Her early introductory to recording videos started as a young girl creating short films on her cell phone using the app iMovie. To her the idea of creating videos on the most accessible resource, an app for most digital devices like a cell phone, iPad, computer etc., was fun making playful cinematic shots and stories. Portrait photo of Jasmine in her traditional clothing and regalia. Photo of Jasmine giving a speech during her reign as Miss Native American University of Arizona 2024-2025 In 2023 during her time as an undergraduate student at the Tohono O’odham Community College she was awarded the opportunity to intern with the Student’s Journey program at the UofA, to work on a film project of a topic of her choice. Jasmine’s subject matter was environmental justice where she highlighted the issue of the history of TCE water contamination in South Tucson that was largely caused by and centered around industrial activities and defense-related facilities. Below is the short-film titled, “O’odham Su:dag – The People’s Water – A Tohono O’odham Jewed (Land) Story.” Today, Jasmine is currently working on a grant funded short-film about indigenous love! She was awarded a grant from the American Indian College Fund – Student Professional Development Grant Program. In the interview she goes more in-depth about her plans as her role as the director and pre-production that includes script development, casting, location(s), etc. Aside from being a filmmaker, she is also interested in developing her own business as a managing consulting firm. I hope you enjoy listening to Jasmine’s story and if you wish to support her work she can be reached on Instagram @ripyoungjas and on Linkedin as Jasmine Lopez. Thank you for tuning in! Jasmine filming in a wash standing behind the camera. Ep. 42 Indigenous Cinema. Graphic created by T. Andrew. Here is a brief version of the interview that offers key highlights and insights from the full conversation. https://kxci.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/06-19-25-to-07-03-25-CultivatingIV-Jasmine-Lopez-Indigenous-Cinema.mp3

In this episode I feature Alisha Vasquez, who is a 5th generation Tucsonan and is the Co-Director of the Mexican American Heritage and History Museum and the Accessibility and Communications Manager with Southwest Folklife Alliance. She recalls her time spent at Skrappy’s as a teenager stepping into what would become the most transformative space of her teenage years. Skrappy’s was a popular teen hang out, a DIY music venue run by youth for youth, and a place for after school activities that gave young people a chance to create, connect, and lead. Listening to punk rock lyrics opened the door to critical thinking and broadened political awareness for Alisha. From that she built a sense of solidarity as a young person on into her adult life. Photo by Stephanie L. from Skrappy’s tumblr webpage. At an early age Alisha enjoyed listening to family stories told by her grandparents about their memories in Tucson. These stories included important details that Alisha would later discover as a teacher, teaching Chicano Studies at Pima Community College, that history isn’t just in the textbooks—it’s in the barrios, in the stories passed down, and in the fight to be seen and heard. Louis Vasquez and Theodora Petras (Alisha’s yaya and papu) walking hand and hand, down Congress St., early 1950 Alisha in a bucket of water on North Fontana Street, circa 1986 Alisha also goes in depth about a project she and other community organizers are doing called “Survival and Resistance: Southside’s Environmental Justice Movement“, that is telling the story of the trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in Tucson water from the late 1940s to the 1970s. The contamination occurred on the southside of Tucson where residents were affected by contaminated drinking water. The nearby company Hughes Aircraft Co. used TCE extensively as a degreasing agent in aircraft manufacturing and routinely dumped chemical waste without proper containment. As early as 1957 neighboring tribe officials from the Tohono O’odham Nation wrote a letter to Hughes Aircraft Co.; the letter described alarming signs of livestock dying and natural ecosystems visibly deteriorating. This improper disposal of trichloroethylene (TCE) led to the contamination of the local groundwater supply. Thus, South Tucson residents unknowingly consumed the tainted water for years, and many began experiencing health issues such as liver and kidney damage, immune system dysfunction, and increased rates of certain cancers. Prolonged exposure to TCE, particularly through ingestion and inhalation of vapors in indoor air, raised concerns among public health officials, prompting an environmental investigation and the eventual classification of the area as a hazardous waste site under the EPA’s Superfund program. Louis Vasquez water his backyard, circa 1970s Alisha’s family discovered that their grandfather Louis Vasquez was a part of one of many TCE lawsuits filed by South Tucson residents whose serious health conditions were likely caused due to prolonged exposure to harmful levels of TCE, leading to serious health consequences. For five generations her family has called Tucson home, and over the decades, they’ve watched Tucson transform from a quiet desert town into a vibrant, sprawling city. Each generation witnessing change – some gradual, others abrupt – from the revitalization of downtown to the pressures of gentrification that followed. Tune in to hear more details about Alisha’s personal and community experiences as she continues to explore the layers of history of place, identity, and heritage. Herbert Street House–Vasquez family residence in Barrio Santa Rita. Photo from 2024 Louie Vasquez pointing at the bulldozed site of the house that his father was born in once stood. The city was...

In this episode I feature student and musician Emilio Vavages (Tohono/Akimel O’odham). I wanted the share the story and experiences of a young person’s perspective about being a student musician, so I decided why not bring in my nephew Emilio. Emilio is thirteen year’s old and a student at Apollo Middle School in the Sunnyside School District. He started taking orchestra in the 4th grade playing the violin and has since then progressed as a musician and is now playing alongside his own father Eligio V. in his family’s band. Emilio also enjoys subjects such as English, Language, and Social Studies, is a participant in a program that teaches students carpentry work, and a part of the Leadership program at his school. With the support of his family Emilio continues to thrive in class getting student of the month in the past several months. Emilio says his musical influence is inspired from his family, but I say it’s naturally in him as it runs in his blood. His great-grandfather Lester V. Vavages played the violin for decades, as well as the guitar, vihuela, bass, etc. He was a member of the Gu-Achi Fiddlers, who’s music is still alive today by many folks in the fiddle world. Lester passed the music down to his boys, who are Emilio’s grandfather’s, and known are as Thee Express waila band from the Tohono O’odham Nation. Sherman Institute, CA yearbook 1952. Emilio’s great-grandfather Lester Vavages is pictured holding the guitar. Picture of Lester V. Vavages, Emilio’s great-grandfather holding his violin while playing. Photo courtesy of T. Vavages-Andrew. During Emilio’s musical journey playing his primary instrument the violin, he is a part of the Sunnyside School District Honors Orchestra Program. He is also a part of his family’s band called the Vavages Family Band playing the violin, percussion, and cowbell and has performed live on-air at KXCI Community Radio during the 2024 Sonic Solstice event. With all his success there is still plenty more things he wants to do in life, one thing being a powerlifter. Tune in to this short interview to hear more details! Photo by Kathleen Dreier Photography Ep. 38 Student Musician graphic created T. Andrew

Diné singer/songwriter Hataałii (pronounced: hah – toth – lee) visited Tucson in October 2024 as the opener for the Katie Pruit show at Club Congress. Born Hataałiinez Wheeler, he grew up on the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Arizona and began experimenting with music during his teenage years. Now Hataalii is an artist signed to Dangerbird records and just released his second album titled, “Waiting for a Sign.” Since 2019 Hataałii has self-released projects, so technically this would be his sixth album released. During the live in-studio session on The Home Stretch show, we invited Hataałii and band mate Jacob ,who plays the steel guitar, to perform a short set and interview live over the airwaves. The following day he and Jacob arrived to our Armory Park studio for an interview on Cultivating Indigenous Voices. Hataałii shared what his musical journey has been like, and that some of his current work includes lyrics, songs, stories, that he wrote when he was a teenager. As I reflect on our conversation one thing that stood out to me was his enigmatic personality and subtle hints of laughter which you can hear in the interview. Hataalii and band mate Jacob performing a live in-studio session at KXCI’s Congress Studio in down town Tucson, AZ. Photo by T. Andrew. Hataalii standing in the CD vault at KXCI Armory Park Studios in Tucson, AZ. Photo by T. Andrew. Episode graphic created by T. Andrew

Over the past months I had the opportunity to interview and see two live performances by Jaime De Anda here in Tucson, AZ. As a kid growing up in the nineties I remember hearing Jaime’s music and his popularity amongst the O’odham community on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Over the year’s many waila bands have been inspired by his musical talent as an accordionist and have covered some of his most popular songs. In this episode I feature conjunto icon Jaime De Anda, known for his expansive accordion skills, and hype performances. During this in-depth conversation Jaime shares how at the age of 4 he was already showing his curiosity and interest to play music. He first began playing around in his dads mechanic shop drumming to the beat of music playing on the radio. He talked about how when traveling with his father who played the bajo sexto and performed gigs on the weekends, he began growing an attraction to the sounds and rhythms of conjunto music. By age 7 with the support and encouragement of his parents, Jaime was the drummer for his father’s band and by age 9 Jaime had developed into a full blown musician. Passionate about learning the accordion, he turned to his dad’s compadre Chema Sanchez. Jaime’s first polka he learned on accordion was Tony De La Rosa’s “Atotonilco.” As a fast learner and truly natural musician he quickly advanced in playing the accordion fluctuating between the dynamics of polkas, rancheras, cumbias, and boleros. By the time Jaime was a teenager he was in a family band called Las Estrellas de Houston with mostly male relatives, that included his Father Raul De Anda. By age 15 during their first recording Raul decided to change the band name to Los Chamacos de Raul De Anda. Tune in to hear the full conversation and hear Jaime’s musical journey as he traversed through the his own growth as a musician, while learning to overcome some of life’s unexpected challenges. Jaime De Anda performing live at the AVA Amphitheater in South Tucson AZ. Photo by T. Andrew Jaime De Anda on accordion performing live at the AVA Amphitheater in Tucson AZ. Photo by T. Andrew Stevie Ray Vavages playing Bajo Sexto. Photo by T. Andrew Pictured right Tina Andrew and left Jaime De Anda back stage holding accordions belonged to Jaime. Pictured left Jaime De Anda and right Tina Andrew holding mic during an interview with Jaime backstage. Graphic created by T. Andrew. Episode 34 Conjunto Icon.

In April 2024 I had the opportunity alongside my colleague Elva, to attend the annual Native Broadcast Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. The Summit is Native Public Media’s largest gathering of Tribal and Indigenous broadcasters and media professionals serving Indian Country. The theme “Globalizing Indigenous Storytelling” acknowledges that Native broadcast stations play an essential role in promoting the safety, sovereignty, and stability of Native communities, providing a platform for media creation, community news, civic engagement, and emergency services for predominately rural and remote tribal lands. This has been my third time attending the summit in the past few years and every time I’ve attended its a great experience meeting new people and catching up with past attendees. During the summit I was excited to meet Shawn Spruce (Laguna Pueblo) who is the host of Native America Calling, which is a nationally syndicated show that focuses on national conversations about topics and issues specific to Native communities. Shawn was a speaker on a panel titled, “Koahnic Broadcast Corporation | Cultural Crossroads: Expanding Audiences Through Inclusive Storytelling,” which also featured Antonia Gonzales, Managing Editor & Host and Producer of National Native News, and Alexis Sallee, Indigefi Filmmaker & Radio Host of Indigefi. He also shared another perspective as a presenter on the topic of financial literacy, which is also a part of his professional career. I also got to spend some one on one time with Clarice Chiago-Jones (Akimel O’odham) who is a board member of Native Public Media and who is the Executive Director of the Gila River Broadcast Corporation (GRBC). The mission of GRBC is to be the source to which community members and tribal departments can turn to for information and entertainment through programs that will educate the public, enhance awareness and share the history, culture, and realities of Gila River and other Native Americans. Here is a short form version of the interview: https://kxci.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/06-05-24-to-06-19-24-CultivatingIV-NBS.mp3 A fun photo of Elva (left) and Tina (right) during the Native Broadcast Summit Cultivating Indigenous Voices, Ep. 32 Tribal Soundscapes featuring Shawn Spruce and Clarice Chiago-Jones

Photo of Lourdes Escalante standing by KXCI Community Radio sign in front of the radio station Lourdes Escalante (Yoeme) was born and raised in Tucson and is the Executive Director of the Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, Indigenous Alliance Without Borders (AISF). At a young age Lourdes pushed herself, with the support of her dad, to take opportunities for growth, which also meant a greater chance for success while also finding it in unfamiliar places. South Tucson was always home, and still is; it’s a place that is rooted in the work she does today working for a community that focuses on protecting indigenous rights, educating, and promoting action when those rights are threated and/or violated. Lourdes’ community work helps bring people of all walks of life together to learn from one another, provide space for individuals and groups that supports their work, and being a resource for Native/Indigenous folks. Her work is also shaped and defined by a great team of people, volunteers, community, and partnerships. A term I learned from Lourdes during our interview was, “Rematriation,” which is a word used to describe how indigenous women are restoring balance to the world by intertwining traditional and cultural knowledge back in accord with the land. This leads towards steps of healing ourselves and the natural world. Created by Tina Andrew