From Standing Rock to Taos Pueblo: Indigenous Women in Advocacy

The Harwood’s current exhibition, Raven Chacon: Three Songs, amplifies stories of Indigenous resistance and pays tribute to Indigenous women through sound, video, and visual work. Join us for a dynamic conversation featuring local Indigenous women working at the intersection of activism and the arts. Moderated by Christina M. Castro, PhD, the panel will share stories from their recent projects and engage in a dialogue about the power of art to disrupt inequitable systems and imagine a future grounded in Indigenous liberation.

This event is free. Donations welcome.

Panelists

Autumn D. Gomez

Emileah Lujan

Midnite Lujan

Christina M. Castro, PhD (moderator)

About the Moderator

Dr. Christina M. Castro (Taos Pueblo/Jemez Pueblo/Xicana) is a mother, writer, scholar, educator, community organizer, multidimensional artist, public speaker and aspiring farmer. She currently resides in O’ga P’ogeh, Santa Fe, NM within her traditional homelands. In 2017, Dr. Castro co-founded Three Sisters Collective (3SC), a Pueblo-women centered grassroots organization devoted to art, advocacy, education and community building. She received her Doctorate from the Pueblo PhD Program at Arizona State University’s School of Social Transformation and Justice Studies in 2018 and is an independent consultant with Castro Consulting, LLC.  

About the Panelists

Midnite Lujan (Taos Pueblo/Swedish) is a woman, born and raised in Taos, New Mexico. Lujan is an emerging talent committed to lifelong sobriety and is a full-time student at The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) pursuing a BFA in Creative Writing. Lujan is committed to embodying the creative processes and disciplines of decolonization through behavioral health and wellness, grass-roots organizing, literature, advocacy, creative direction and production. christinamcastro.com

Autumn Dawn Gomez (Taos Pueblo/Comanche) is a multidisciplinary artist, specializing in community and public murals, graphic design, printing, and workshops. Born and raised in O’ga P’Ogeh Owingeh (Santa Fe), Autumn is also a co-founder of Three Sisters Collective, a community based grassroots organization creating space for Indigenous women, femmes and their families in so-called Santa Fe. Autumn is often found organizing with community, creating, learning about birthwork and herbalism, and spending time with her family and cat. Autumn is an On Being Social Healing Fellow for 2023-24. You can find more of their work at pimikwusii.com 

Emileah Lujan was born and raised traditionally in Taos Pueblo, “Home of the Red Willow People.” Inspired by the movement at Standing Rock in 2016, Emileah discovered her voice as an Indigenous youth. Her journey reflects personal transformation and resilience. As a recovering addict, she has found purpose in the recovery field, grassroots organizations, advocacy, and creative arts. Emileah is a third generation hoop dancer and fancy shawl dancer, currently blending traditional dance with resistance performance arts to promote cultural preservation and social change.