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.…