Imagining Indigenous Futures

The photographs

All Photos credit: Paul Rho/MoMA

I can’t believe it’s been two weeks, but two weeks ago Leanne Simpson, Candice Hopkins, and I had an incredible book launch extravaganza—Imagining Indigenous Futures—at MoMA.

I’m only sending this to say thank you to everyone who was there, who has been reading these books, and saying so. It’s crazy how a book travels—I’ve seen pictures of it in Norway, even! A book travels and the life of the book emerges in how people take the ideas and complete them, complete the gesture, the extended hand, and run with them. I hope so, at least.

About the event, I’m still processing (and have been under the weather a bit).

I won’t say it was amazing, because it wasn’t just amazing. To be there, to be with them, and the rest of the people that brought their warmth and generosity, was life affirming, life giving. I am grateful and humbled.

Leanne reminded us that we are all together in water. As water.

Candice reminded us that water never forgets.

I told the Cherokee creation story and talked about land being impossible, until it wasn’t.

And in the telling of these stories, these relations, we continue to imagine the possible.

I’m hoping for more time to get back to this stack in the coming weeks. I have a new idea about a weekly, or bi-weekly speculation post. (would you like that?) I’m trying to figure out the framework still, but I have some ideas.

For now, with care, thank you.

J

PS there is a recording, so if you really do want to see it, let me know and I can share a link.

PPS Leanne’s book, theory of water is available here; my book, speculative relations, here, and Candice’s new reader, Native Visual Sovereignty, here.