For anyone seeking an Indigenous take on the “history behind today's politics” in the form of a simple, yet elegant, Twitter thread, check out the following one from Gabriella Cázares-Kelly. She’s a Tohono Oʼodham Nation citizen who’s a tad ticked off about contemporary misunderstandings surrounding the name of her tribal nation — and the greater implications of that ignorance.

“Our name has meaning, power. [A]nd we carry it with pride,” she explains within the thread. “Not recognizing our traditional name erases us. It’s easy to pass policies that hurt us if you think we’re extinct.”

A burgeoning politico in her own right, having recently been elected as the Pima County recorder in Arizona (she was supported by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in that effort), she’s one to watch.

You’d be especially wise to keep an eye on her greater political ambitions (her bio, written before her election win in 2020, is here, and this article offers a solid primer).

“When people ask me how long I have been politically involved, or involved in politics, I grew up on a reservation and I’m Native American. My entire existence is political,” she recently told Tucson.com, which notes that she was sworn into office while placing her hand on a copy of “Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto” by Vine Deloria Jr.

Take a moment this Sunday to watch (read) her preach:

Mic drop.

She’s done, having read that reporter for filth, but she does provide this handy Tohono Oʼodham pronunciation guide on Tik Tok:

Gabriella Cázares-Kelly @GabriellaCKelly

In case you’re wondering how to pronounce Tohono O’odham: TikTokvm.tiktok.com

February 4th 2022

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