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Big Oil, Gas and mining companies are in the backyards of many Americans — but did you know that some of the same extractive corporations are also operating around the world? Colombia, the Philippines, Mexico, and the Standing Rock Reservation — ”resource colonization”, as today’s guest puts it, is a worldwide issue. But how often do we get the global picture? In the documentary “Powerlands”, director Ivey-Camille Manybeads Tso meets Indigenous communities across three continents and speaking seven languages, to explore the global resistance against corporations such as Peabody Coal and BHP Petroleum. In the film, she discovers that their struggles are connected; is what she’s tracing a trans-local and trans-generational Indigenous movement that is building? Our guests say Indigenous resistance across national borders can beat back corporate assaults on nature, people and our climate. Joining Laura for this Indigenous Peoples’ Day special are Ivey-Camille Manybeads Tso and Kim Smith, both from the Diné (Navajo) Nation. Manybeads Tso is a self-described queer director and Smith is a community organizer who appears in the film. Plus a commentary from Laura on the Amazon monopoly — it takes one individual to hoard power, and many people to topple them down.
“Standing Rock showed us what is to come, especially when you look at the police state, the military force and imperialism in this country . . . You’re seeing it all over the world, have all of this heavy machinery to take and kill what they see is in their path.” – Kim Smith
“We’re seeing this huge transcontinental movement that is forming in Oaxaca with wind power . . . The win that happened last October in Colombia, requiring mining corporations to clean up after themselves, that’s huge for every place on the planet who is currently affected by mining . . .” Ivey-Camille Manybeads Tso
Guests:
- Ivey-Camille Manybeads Tso (Diné): Director, Powerlands; Award-Winning Filmmaker
- Kim Smith (Diné): Community Organizer, Nihi Ké Baa (For Our Relatives) Mutual Aid; Co-Founder, Indigenous Goddess Gang Publication
Portions of this interview are featured in our episode, “Powerlands”: Indigenous Youth Fight Big Oil & Gas Worldwide”.
