Contemporary Indigenous Voices
Currently showing: Film Screenings for Native American Heritage Month (Watch the Trailer)
Our Mission
Contemporary Indigenous Voices is bringing forward the voices of the indigenous peoples of California's South Coast Range in stunning photography and film, with inspiring exhibits and events throughout the region and around the world.
This revolutionary project is showcasing portrait photography, storyboards and short films of elders and culture-bearers from tribal nations, councils, and communities along California's Southern Coast Range: the San Francisco peninsula, East and South Bay through the Santa Cruz mountains, Monterey Bay, Gavilan and Santa Lucia Mountains, and lower Salinan Valley.
Striking portrait photographs are accompanied by powerful personal statements from Native community members calling attention to cultural connections to the land; rematriation: restoring the relationship between Indigenous people and their ancestral land; and ecological and climate breakdown.
The exhibition includes photographic portraits, personal statements and short films, to be shown at multiple venues around Central California and the Bay Area. At some venues, the exhibit will be opened by a reception where project participants will share their stories, demonstrate and hold a Q&A panel discussion around issues raised by the exhibit.
Watch the trailer for the short films, three of which were shown at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival on April 15th 2024, entitled "Contemporary Indigenous Voices: Land of Popeloutchom"
Current Events
Film Screenings for Native American Heritage Month
Join us for our moving and inspiring short films at three upcoming film screenings this Native American Heritage Month. The films feature never-before-seen conversations with local tribal leaders, and are free and open for anyone to attend
- Saturday 16th November 4-6pm at Asilomar Conference Center near Pacific Grove - with honored guest Linda Yamane, Rumsen Ohlone Tribal Community Leader - Details & Seat Reservations
- Monday 18th November 7-8:15pm at Los Altos Library - Details
- Tuesday 26th November 6-7:15pm at Morgan Hill Library - Details
If you miss these, join us in the New Year:
- Monday 13th January 2025 6:30-9:30pm at Cineplex Morgan Hill
Upcoming Exhibitions
March to April 2025 at Luna Gallery, San Juan Bautista
Previous Exhibitions
Art on Market Street Poster Series, San Francisco, from June to September 2024
A compelling new poster series was displayed on 15 bus shelters along San Francisco’s high-profile Market Street from July to September 2024, funded by San Francisco Arts Commission.
The posters highlight the continued presence of the region’s indigenous communities and their unique perspectives, creatively combining Kirti’s striking portraits with indigenous leaders’ personal statements. The “street gallery” caught the attention and interest of passers-by, reaching a much wider audience.
ABC7 News said “A new exhibit here in the Bay Area is helping to transport powerful messages from the Native American community to people simply passing by on the street” - Watch the ABC7 news segment
San Francisco's de Young Museum, October 2023 to January 2024
- Shown at de Young Museum's Kimball Gallery from October 2023 to January 2024
- Open days on October 7th and November 4th featured crafting demonstrations, short film screenings and a Q&A discussion
- Closing day on January 7th featured a dance performance by Linda Yamane and members of the Rumsien Ohlone Tribal Community
- About the exhibit: https://www.famsf.org/exhibitions/contemporary-indigenous-voices
- Press: ABC7 News, SF Examiner, SFGate, KCBS Radio, BenitoLink
Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, August to September 2024
- Shown at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) from August 17th to September 3rd 2024
- Opening reception on August 19th featured a film screening and Q&A panel discussion (MAH, California Humanities)
- About the exhibit: https://www.santacruzmah.org/exhibitions/contemporary-indigenous-voices
- Press: BenitoLink, Gilroy Dispatch
Previous Events
Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, Hollister, April 15th 2024
- Screening of the short film "Contemporary Indigenous Voices: Land of Popeloutchom" featuring local indigenous community members Valentin Lopez (Chairman, Amah Mutsun Tribal Band), Ann-Marie Sayers (Tribal Chair, Indian Canyon Mutsun Band of Costanoan Ohlone People) and Kanyon "Coyote Woman" Sayers-Roods (Cultural Representative and Native Monitor, Indian Canyon Mutsun Band of Costanoan Ohlone People)
- Shown at the Granada Theatre, Hollister on Monday April 15th at 5pm
Film Screening at the Community Foundation for San Benito County's Epicenter, January 19th 2024
- We presented three short films, with a follow-up Q&A session with Valentin Lopez (Tribal Chairman, Amah Mutsun Tribal Band) and Kanyon "Coyote Woman" Sayers-Roods (Cultural Representative and Native Monitor, Indian Canyon Mutsun Band of Costanoan Ohlone People)
- The following reception was a wonderful opportunity to forge connections between indigenous and other peoples within the San Benito County community
About the Project
As an artist, Kirti has always been intrigued by human relationships — especially how they impact the discovery of identity and belonging within one’s culture and the wider world. By bringing so many Indigenous voices together, she creates a unique experience for audiences to engage with these ideas themselves.
Kirti's work offers an intimate insight into Indigenous leaders' connections to their land and ecology, their intergenerational relationships, and their vital role in cultural revitalization. By sharing the voices and images of her subjects, she seeks to foster a more compassionate society by enlightening viewers about this challenging subject. The exhibition conveys the rich tapestry of indigenous heritage, their deep connections with the land, and their significant cultural contributions.
Kirti's dedication to cultural sensitivity and trust-building has allowed her to bring together an unprecedented number of Indigenous community members for this project. They contributed their valuable time, practical support and unique stories and perspectives, without which this project would not have been possible. Participating Indigenous Cultural Groups and their representatives are:
- The Association of Ramaytush Ohlone - Gregg Castro (Culture Director)
- Confederated Villages of Lisjan - Corrina Gould (Tribal Spokesperson) and Ruth Orta (Culture Bearer)
- Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area - Monica Arellano (Tribal Vice Chairwoman)
- Tamien Nation - Quirina Geary (Chairwoman) and Mike Bonillas (Culture Bearer)
- Indian Canyon Chualar Tribe of the Costanoan-Ohlone People situated within the Mutsun linguistic territory, commonly known as Indian Canyon Nation - Ann-Marie Sayers (Tribal Chair) and Kanyon “CoyoteWoman” Sayers-Roods (Cultural Representative and Native Monitor)
- Amah Mutsun Tribal Band - Valentin Lopez (Chairman)
- Rumsen Ohlone Tribal Community - Linda Yamane (Culture Bearer and Artist) and Violet Smith (Cultural Learner and Naturalist)
- Esselen Tribe of Monterey County - Tom Little Bear Nason (Chairman and President) and Jana Nason (Tribal Administrator & Secretary, Publications Chair)
- Salinan Tribe of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties - Patti Dunton (Cultural Protection and Preservation Lead) and Mary Rodgers (Traditional Lead)
- Salinan T'rowt'raahl Tribal Community - Gregg Castro (Elder's Council) and Matthew Castro (Cultural Learner and Grandson)
Keep in Touch
Join our mailing list for periodic project updates.
Testimonials
Gregg Castro - Culture Director of The Association of Ramaytush Ohlone
“Bassendine’s work has become an essential project for the further education of the public in California of our current existence and that we are not 'living in the past.’”
Christina Hellmich - Curator in Charge of the Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, at de Young Museum, San Francisco
“Bassendine's work is important to the state of California as a cultural heritage archive and as a source of community action and education. We, at the de Young museum, are excited to share her photographic portraits, accompanying participant statements in the form of didactics, and short films with our visitors.”
Media Coverage
Film Screenings
Kazu Radio 90.3 FM: Kirti will talk about the short films and their messages on relationship to land and climate change, this Friday 15th November at 6:44am, 7:44am, 8:44am and again at 3:44pm and 4:44pm, and streaming afterwards at http://kazu.org.
Art on Market Street Poster Series
ABC7 News: Native American Exhibit Expands to Market Street" (TV News Segment)
DeYoung Exhibit
ABC7 News: SF de Young Museum exhibit explores indigenous views on climate change (TV News Segment & Article)
KCBS Radio: Contemporary Indigenous Voices of California’s South Coast Range -deYoung show (Radio Interview with Kirti)
American Kahani: Immigrant Photographer Turns Her Lens on Revival of Native Culture in California (Interview with Kirti)
de Young Fine Arts Museum: Q+A: Contemporary Indigenous Voices Photographer Kirti Bassendine (Interview with Kirti)
SF Examiner: ‘We are still here’: de Young exhibit highlights Indigenous Bay Area (Article)
SFGate: Portraits At De Young Museum Illuminate Leaders In California’s Indigenous Community (Article)
Benito Link: San Benito County photographer documents Indigenous life in new exhibit (Article)
California Humanities: National Native American Heritage Month Project Spotlights (Article)
Native American Art Magazine:
In their own Words: Powerful photographic portraits give voice to the Indigenous communities of California’s South Coast Range (Article) (Paywall)
Our Supporters
Our deep gratitudes go to California Humanities for seed feeding through their Humanities for All Project Grant, and to Benito Link as our fiscal sponsor.
Many thanks to all the individual donors who have also helped support this project through direct donations and our crowdfunder. This support has been essential to bring the project to where it is today.
Become a Supporter
Become a Supporter and help Indigenous Voices sing out across our region and the rest of the world!
You'll be helping to create a compelling and inspiring documentary film and sustaining ongoing community exhibits and events throughout the year.
Supporters are invited to our annual webinar with Kirti and guests, and receive a signed "We Are Still Here" poster and landscape photograph, depending on the tier.
- $30/month - join Kirti for a "meet the artist" webinar each year for a project update, discussion and Q&A
- $50/month - attend the webinar and receive a signed "We Are Still Here" photographic print poster (choice of Kanyon/Gregg at present) after 3 months of being a supporter (or after making a one-off $250 donation)
- $100/month - attend our webinar and receive a poster and a signed 11x14 landscape photograph after 6 months of being a supporter (or after making a one-off $750 donation)
Help transform our interviews and film archive into a compelling and moving documentary film. The film will highlight the land stewardship, worldviews and cultural resilience of indigenous communities from California’s South Coast Range. By honoring these voices we will deepen public awareness and bring forward a deeper understanding of how all our communities can relate to the land in a healthy way.
Your support will be greatly appreciated and pivotal in moving the project forward to its next phase - to contribute, please Become a Supporter
Team members, Advisors and Volunteers
This project has been made possible through the assistance of a small core team, indigenous and anthropological advisors and many volunteer hours - not forgetting the invaluable contributions, support and participation of local indigenous community members themselves.
Core team members are:
- Kirti Bassendine - photographer, videographer, director and producer, project lead, exhibition and event coordinator, fundraiser and grant writer, transcript editor
- Rishi Burr - videographer, film editor, grant writer, transcript editor and practical photoshoot assistant
- David Bassendine - framing project vision and questions, researcher, website creator, grant & copy writer, transcript editor and practical photoshoot assistant.
Advisory team members are:
- Dr Beverly Ortiz (Anthropologist, Chair of Native California Research Institute, former East Bay Parks Cultural Services Coordinator) - Humanities Advisor
- Gregg Castro (Culture Director, The Association of Ramaytush Ohlone and Salinan T'rowt'raahl Tribal Community) - Indigenous Cultural Advisor and Writer
Volunteers are:
- Natasha Burr - graphic design, practical photoshoot assistant
- Shaunie Briggs - graphic design, press release and publicity
- Peter Burr - transcript editor
- Sam DeRose - practical photoshoot assistant
- Jack Singer - practical photoshoot assistant
Moving Forward
Looking forward, Kirti will tour this exhibition to reach audiences not only across California but also the U.S. and internationally. She is also working to establish a permanent exhibit for each participating cultural group, as well as a documentary and a book based on this project.
