New interdisciplinary publication centers Indigenous voices and decolonial practices in dialogue about water, land, and community
New York, NY, November 17, 2025 — Groundwater Arts proudly announces the release of "Start with the Ground: a journal on decolonization," an ambitious interdisciplinary publication that brings together Indigenous artists, writers, and community leaders to explore the intersections of decolonization, climate justice, and artistic practice.
Storytelling is an Indigenous way of knowing. A tradition rooted in listening as much as in narrating. Each year, writers bring vital stories to the world, honoring lessons, battles, and joys passed through kin and community. From searing poetry to thrilling fiction and gentle tales for children and families, these new books by indigenous authors illuminate the ever-deepening circularity of native storytelling. Every one is a testament to the resilience, humor, and imagination that keep traditions old and new very much alive.
By CS Staff: Edison Andrango (Kichwa Otavalo), Roberto De La Cruz Martínez (Binnizá), Michelle de León, and Rosy Sul González (Maya Kakchiquel)
Rematriation is an Indigenous women-led nonprofit based in Syracuse, New York, founded in 2016 by Michelle Schenandoah, a member of the Onʌyota’:aka (Oneida) Nation Wolf Clan of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
By Georges Theodore Dougnon (Dogon, CS Staff)
Across the globe, Indigenous youth are rising as powerful leaders in the fight against climate change, combining ancestral knowledge with innovative action to protect their lands, cultures, and futures. Through the Cultural Survival Indigenous Youth Fellowship, young leaders from Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Bangladesh have designed and led projects that not only address urgent environmental challenges but also strengthen community resilience and intergenerational connections.
By Titus N’getuny, Communication Officer, Endorois Indigenous Women Empowerment Network (EIWEN)
Podcasts have become a vital space for Indigenous Peoples to reclaim their narratives, revitalize languages, and share cultural knowledge on their own terms. For African Indigenous creators, they serve as platforms for sustaining ancestral wisdom, amplifying oral traditions, and strengthening cultural identity while making these stories accessible to global audiences.
By Lucas Kasosi (Maasai, CS Fellow)
Cultural Survival welcomes the newest member of our Board of Directors, Dr. Lyla June Johnston. Lyla June is an Indigenous musician, author, and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne), and European lineages. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences around the globe towards personal, collective, and ecological healing. She blends her academic work in Human Ecology and Indigenous Pedagogy with the traditional worldview she grew up with to inform her music, perspectives, and solutions.
By Phoebe Farris (Powhatan-Pamunkey)
In rural Alaska, where six months of darkness shape daily life and traditional stories lean toward horror, Indigenous filmmakers are reclaiming narrative power.
By Djalma Ramalho Goncalves (Aranã Caboclo, CS Consultant)
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are headquartered on Massachusett land, in Cambridge, MA, and we thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory.
