WATER IS LIFE SOUTHWEST MUSIC & RESISTANCE FESTIVAL

Date and Time for this Past Event

• Saturday, Mar 11, 2023  1pm - 10pm

Location

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Details

An unprecedented coalition of Native artists, environmental allies, activists and speakers – plus diverse art and culture experiences – are coming together for a one-day event in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Tucson, AZ., March 11, 2023, at the MSA Annex from 1:00—10:00 p.m. “Water Is Life Southwest” features Keith Secola, Papago Warrior, Rebel Diaz, XIXA, David Huckfelt, Giant Sand, Djentrification, One Way Sky, Cihuatl Ce, Humblelianess, DJ Q, Lady Gugu and more, with special guest speakers and Indigenous organizers from all over the Sonoran Desert region.

Presented by the Indigenous and women-led organization, Honor the Earth, and sponsored by KXCI Community Radio, the debut festival is modeled after a successful annual event Honor the Earth hosts in Duluth, Minnesota every year. Additional sponsors include Southwest Folklife Alliance, NDN Collective, Hotel McCoy, EXO Roast and others. Past Duluth performers have included Indigo Girls, Bon Iver, Low, Keith Secola, Dessa, Ani DiFranco, Joe Rainey Sr., stars of the hit TV series “Reservation Dogs” and many others. All proceeds from the Arizona concert will help fund Indigenous issues, including Land back, sovereignty, conservation, border justice, just transition and food and water initiatives by Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples In Arizona.

“We’re very excited to present this first-year festival. It marks a new partnership between Indigenous organizers of the American Sonoran border region and Honor the Earth, the nation's largest Indigenous environmental non-profit. We hope it will deepen the relationship between organizers in Arizona and Honor to invest in local efforts for land back, just transition and Indigenous rights,” noted Krystal Two Bulls, Co-executive Director of Honor the Earth. “We’ve made this a family-friendly event, featuring local and Indigenous food and merch vendors, climate Justice organizers, and art-making in the regional artist village onsite at the Annex. All are invited!”

“Water Is Life Southwest Music and Resistance Festival is a cross-cultural experience for and by Indigenous People in the Sonoran Desert, their allies and all who support caring for Mother Earth,” added David Huckfelt, the Artistic Director and performer for the Arizona and Minnesota festivals, former member of The Pines and renowned recording artist.

“This unprecedented festival will further Honor the Earth and our partners’ mission to support tribal initiatives with financial and resource assistance for current and future generations. Honor is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023, and this festival is one way to join in the celebration." Huckfelt said he expects “Water Is Life Southwest Music and Resistance Festival to become an annual event like the Water Is Life Festival held every year in Duluth on the scenic, sacred shores of the Gichi-Gami (Lake Superior) at Bayfront Park.

“Our Duluth event is one that people look forward to every year. In the past it’s been covered by major national media and media throughout Minnesota including Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The Current / Minnesota Public Radio, Star Tribune, The Duluth News Tribune and more.”