Thank you for joining us for the first season of Talkin Story podcast.

Over the course of the past six months of recordings, and the past 9 weeks of episodes, we have traveled through the complex terrain of racialized challenges, profound insights, far more laughs than tears, and many, many moments of delight.

What emerged and grew was a sense that our collective capacity and vision can, and in fact is, generating unique and resilient ways of living and creating in these shifting times.

We extend our deep thanks and appreciation to the many contributors to this podcast, for sharing their insight, perspective, wisdom, struggles and hope.

As we turn our attention towards season two, please consider supporting us on this journey. Sponsorship inquiries can be addressed here: info@well-organized.org

This episode concludes with the playing in full of our theme song, "Melanin" by Ben Wilson, in collaboration with Ave Avelino, and Morgan Tigerman, which has been a wonderful contribution. You can also find it on Spotify here:

Melanin by Ben Wilson

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Talkin Story is a project of Well Organized: Collaborative Community Driven Organizing in Port Townsend, WA.

https://well-organized.org/

We appreciate the support of the Port Townsend Arts Commission, Jefferson Community Foundation, Finnriver Farm and Cidery, Addieun Foundation, the Community Equity Initiative, as well as private in-kind and monetary donations. Thank you!

This is a very special episode in which local indigenous people and an African-descended community member talk about their efforts and viewpoints on reparations and landback. It gets personal as well as hopeful.

The original flute music in this episode was generously provided by Paul Chiyokten Wagner, a member of the Saanich tribe of Vancouver Island.

Chiyokten is a knowledge keeper of Coast Salish ways of educating and governing pertaining to co-creating Paradise from the time of the animal people to before Settler colonial contact. He is also a Frontline warrior and has spent much time at many indigenous lead occupations, most recently Fairy Creek.

Most importantly, he is the founder of Protectors of the Salish Sea an Indigenous led group who has occupied the Washington State Capitol three times to help create a future for our wild salmon, our whales, the circle of life and all children.

Jessaca Lee is a Łingít two-spirit femme with two lineages indigenous to Turtle Island, as well as European ancestry. She was raised on Łingít aaní and Dena’ina territory, born into the Tongass rainforest of Southeast Alaska where a piece of her heart will always remain. She now resides in Qatáy (Port Townsend), with gratitude to the traditional people of this land, the Chemakum, S’Klallam, Twana, Makah and more. She is growing roots and weaving dreams of a permanent home.

While bed-bound from chronic illness in early 2019, she imagined the Jefferson County Anti-Racist Fund into being. JCARF is a grassroots community project, providing white folks with an opportunity to enact reparations and mutual aid.

Naiome Dawn Krienke is a mixed tribal woman working on rematriating the lands of their ancestors and bringing back traditional ways.

Chasity Sade is a mother, naturalist, earth-tender and mentor to youth. Connecting with her ancestral roots, supporting indigenous empowerment, and upholding social justice are all dear to her heart. She has lived in Chimacum, Washington for twelve years, intent on cultivating right relationship with the land and the people of the land.

Talkin Story is a project of Well Organized: Collaborative Community Driven Organizing in Port Townsend, WA.

https://well-organized.org/

We appreciate the support of the Port Townsend Arts Commission, Jefferson Community Foundation, Finnriver Farm and Cidery, Addieun Foundation, the Community Equity Initiative, as well as private in-kind and monetary donations. Thank you!

In this episode with Velda Thomas, we sink into a relational field that includes ancestors, more-than-human-kin, and each other.

Velda also reads a beautiful original poem inspired by her recent exploration of communal healing called "For the Benefit of All" which you can find on her Patreon.

Velda was born in England, with family ancestry sourced from Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas.

Love of creative expression has been a constant thread running through Velda’s life. Whether visual, written or performance she has dabbled in it all: blending genres to expose distinct hybrid forms of personal expression.

Current practices and interests include sound, somatic movement, clay, printmaking, poetry and personal narrative.

www.veldathomas.com

www.patreon/veldathomas.com

Book - Blended - Perspectives on Belonging

Art Deck - Bless the Horses - An Equine Wisdom Deck

IG - veldathomas11

FB - Velda Thomas and Stardust Press

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Talkin Story is a project of Well Organized: Collaborative Community Driven Organizing in Port Townsend, WA.

https://well-organized.org/

We appreciate the support of the Port Townsend Arts Commission, Jefferson Community Foundation, Finnriver Farm and Cidery, Addieun Foundation, the Community Equity Initiative, as well as private in-kind and monetary donations. Thank you!In this episode with Velda Thomas sink into a relational field that includes ancestors, more-than-human-kin, and each other. She also reads a beautiful original poem inspired by her recent exploration of communal healing.

Velda was born in England, UK with family ancestry sourced from Africa, the Caribbean and the America's.

Love of creative expression has been a constant thread running through Velda’s life. Wether visual , written or performance she has dabbled in it all. Blending genres to expose distinct hybrid forms of personal expression.

Current practices and interests include sound, somatic movement, clay, printmaking, poetry and personal narrative.