Our Reflection on Feminista Hip Hop Encuentro!

Group 1: Trish, Ian, Estey, and Anders

“Encuentro means an intersectional collection of so many nations and so many people that don’t normally get the chance to come together being given a platform to speak about their experiences.” – Raven Two Feathers interviewed by Estey Chen. Feminista Futurisms: Afro-Indigenous Muxeres in Hip Hop Futurisms, June 3rd 2018 at UW Intellectual House. Word document

“This encuentro to me meant awareness. I’m an environmental anthropology major and am in a class discussing indigenous and latino issues. Experiencing this in person brings that knowledge forward. The discussion of looking for roots meant a lot to me. As a Pacific Islander, roots are important in my culture and this was an important space for community to come together.”- Kyra Anela Smith-McFarland interviewed by Anders Peterson. Feminista Futurisms: Afro-Indigenous Muxeres in Hip Hop Futurisms, June 3rd 2018 at UW Intellectual House. Word document

Overall Summary

As a group we wanted to select photos that conveyed the many aspects and experiences from this Encuentro. Our main focus was fostering convivencia that itself could work to shape buen vivir. In selecting a photo of our finished altar along with one of group members working we acknowledge and celebrate the labor that went in to creating this event. Artist production was central to our photo selection; our altar, the #vivanosqueremos prints, the group painting and musical performances all show artist collaboration and creation. The group conversation tied these elements together at the event and it does so in our photos, placed in the middle to blend art with activism and thought with creation.

Category: Convicencia. This photo is categorized as convivencia because we are coexisting with the spirits of La Pachammama. The process of building the altar brings people together as we are all contributing to the offrenda and offering.

1. Estey Chen
2. Group 1 Altar  
3. Feminista Futurisms: Afro-Indigenous Muxeres in Hip Hop Futurisms
4. University of Washington Intellectual House, Seattle Washington, USA.
5. June 3^rd, 2019

Category: Building communities. This photograph is categorized under Building communities because the painting depicts the “life we want to have.” As people at the encuentro had a feeling or connection with the dialogue and performances, they were encouraged to add to the painting.

1. Trish Hoy
2. Viva Nos Queremos Communal Painting, introduced by Milvia Pacheco
3. Feminista Futurisms: Afro-Indigenous Muxeres in Hip Hop
4. University of Washington Intellectual House, Seattle Washington, USA
5. June 3, 2019

Category: Making Scenes. This photo is categorized under Making Scenes because the group dialogue between the audience and the Hip Hop Feministas focused on how the artists spread their message in their communities and how they are fighting the status quo in everything they do. The inspiring individuals make scenes in their communities and had a lasting impact on the University of Washington community as well.

1. Trish Hoy
2. Discussion with Black Mama, Caye Cayejera, Taki Amaru & Gabriela Sinchy Gomez, facilitated by Lanessa Cerillo and Makayla
3. Feminista Futurisms: Afro-Indigenous Muxeres in Hip Hop Futurisms
4. University of Washington Intellectual House, Seattle Washington, USA.
5. June 3^rd, 2019

#vivanosqueremos

Category: Buen Vivir. This photo is categorized as Buen Vivir because the individual pieces of artwork and the art collective as a whole depict the theme of the life that these marginalized communities want to have. An ecologically-balanced theme shines through these pieces.

1. Trish Hoy
2. #vivanosqueremos Print Wall
3. Feminista Futurisms: Afro-Indigenous Muxeres in Hip Hop Futurisms
4. University of Washington Intellectual House, Seattle Washington, USA.
5. June 3^rd, 2019

Category: Buen Vivir. This photograph is categorized as Buen Vivir because Taki Amaru sings in her indigenous Kichwa language as she connects with her land and people. The lyrics of her songs speak to her visions of the good life and maintaining the spiritual connections between ancestors and the earth.

1. Ian Platou
2. Taki Ameru Performs in front of the group altars.
3. Feminista Futurisms: Afro-Indigenous Muxeres in Hip Hop Futurisms
4. University of Washington Intellectual House, Seattle Washington, USA.
5. June 3^rd, 2019

Group Altar Work
Category: Convivencia. This photograph is categorized as an example of convivencia as the building the altar is a community-building process that brings groups together. The altar further adds to the collective of all of the altars that contribute to the atmosphere of the greater event, further perpetuating a theme of convivencia and community.

1. Anders Peterson
2. Group 1 works on our altar.
3. Feminista Futurisms: Afro-Indigenous Muxeres in Hip Hop Futurisms
4. University of Washington Intellectual House, Seattle Washington, USA.
5. June 3^rd, 2019

Links to Estey’s Live Blog Posts:

Anticipation Builds: Group 1

Feeling Grateful: Group 1