Conversation with Land Defender Kim Smith

Kim Smith is a Todích'íí'nii (Bitterwater clan) woman, artist, organizer, activist, water protector, and board member for Honor the Earth. In this episode Kim shares a whole system approach to sustaining Indigenous life practices and reasserting our conscious participation to living on this planet. She talks about the many layers of her work as centered from solution based community organizing, and reminds us the importance that women and youth have as voices in contemporary movements, such as Standing Rock. 

Music featured on this episode by: Nahko and Medicine for the People and Rebel Diaz

More About the Artist: 

Kim Smith is a Todích'íí'nii (Bitterwater clan) woman from St Michaels Arizona. As a woman of a water clan she holds her responsibilities to water dear and has dedicated her life to protecting water & her homelands from resource extraction. For the past 10 years her organizing efforts include art activism, raising awareness about resource extraction on the Diné Nation, water rights, food sovereignty, permaculture & indigenous empowerment in efforts to uphold many inherit responsibilities. As a young Diné woman looking at personal and political choices she makes efforts according to her cultural teachings and values; thinking and behaving in a way that is consistent to the teachings of ancestors and with the laws of nature. In an effort to restore balance to the land and community. 

Kim is also a board member for Honor the Earth & Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment ( Diné CARE) two pioneer indigenous environmental organizations. Kim is also the curator for a national traveling exhibition called, "The Art of Indigenous Resistance".