Worlds ~ Words

UNC Asheville will host three virtual talks with indigenous activists and writers in March as part of its “Worlds ~ Words” multilingual indigenous speaker series.

The series will kick off at noon on Thursday, March 11 with a discussion of Congreso de los Pueblos (The People’s Congress), a political and social movement in Colombia focused on environmental and indigenous rights, among other causes. Participants will learn more about the current human rights situation in Colombia, the U.S. policy role, and how communities are organizing to protect their rights in the context of increasing violence following Colombia’s 2016 peace accords.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 982 1549 6698

Passcode: 247567

Guatemalan poet Wingston González will present “No Budu Please” at noon on Thursday, March 18. González was raised speaking Garífuna among his Afro/Black-indigenous community, and his poetry features Garífuna culture, musical narrative, unorthodox rhythm patterns, and theatrical delivery. In addition to poetry, he has worked in the fields of dance, visual arts, music, and artistic action. His published work includes Los magos del crepúsculo [y blues otra vez]l CafeínaMC: segunda parte, la fiesta y sus habitants; and CafeínaMC: primera parte, la anunciación de la fiesta among others.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 989 4464 7785

Passcode: 294580

The series will close with Mexican and indigenous poet and essayist Judith Santopietro presenting “Tiawanaku” at noon on Thursday, March 25. Santopietro’s work has appeared in publications such as Anuario de Poesía Mexicana 2006 from Fondo de Cultura Económica, Rio Grande Review, La Jornada, and The Brooklyn Rail, and she is the author of Palabras de Agua. She received the National Poetry Award Lázara Meldiú in 2014, and was a finalist in the International Literary Award “Aura Estrada” in 2017.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 918 2158 7914

Passcode: 291171

The “Worlds ~ Words” series is sponsored by UNC Asheville, Witness for Peace Southeast, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.