Reclaiming Indigenous Narratives: A Collective Vision for the Land

In a captivating urban courtyard along Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, a group of six emerging Native architectural and graphic designers have come together to create a powerful and immersive exhibition that challenges the dominant narratives surrounding the land. "We Carry the Land" is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and deep connection to the earth that these designers bring to the table, weaving together their diverse cultural heritages and design practices to reimagine the built environment.

Reclaiming the Land, Redefining the Narrative

Bridging Cultures, Connecting Homelands

The exhibition is the collective vision of Celina Brownotter (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe), Anjelica S. Gallegos (Santa Ana Pueblo | Jicarilla Apache Nation), Freeland Livingston (Diné | Navajo), Selina Martinez (Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Xicana), Bobby Joe Smith III (Black and Indigenous | Hunkpapa and O'ohenumpa Lakota), and Zoë Toledo (Diné Asdzáán, Navajo Nation). Drawing upon their expansive diversity, the designers have created a cohesive and powerful installation that challenges the dominant narratives surrounding the land.The exhibition is a testament to the designers' deep connection to their respective communities and homelands. Each element of the installation reflects the cultural specificity of the designers' heritages, from the adobe bench crafted with soil from Phoenix to the stencils inspired by the Lakota writing system. The designers have also incorporated plants harvested from their ancestral lands, as well as local flora, with the guidance of Tongva steward Bob Ramirez.

Reclaiming the Narrative: Challenging Settler Colonialism

The exhibition's location holds significant historical significance, as Wilshire Boulevard was once known as "Calle de los Indios," a major Tongva route connecting various communities. The narrative of the La Brea Tar Pits as a center for scientific exploration has long perpetuated the erasure of Native peoples from the spatial narrative of Los Angeles.By reclaiming this space and weaving together the diverse cultural threads of the designers, "We Carry the Land" poses a powerful challenge to the dominant settler colonial narratives that have long shaped the built environment. The exhibition's temporary nature serves as a reminder that Indigenous presence and connection to the land are not relics of the past, but living, breathing realities that continue to shape the present and future.

Collaborative Practices, Collective Visions

The exhibition is the result of a collaborative process that brought together the six designers, each contributing their unique skills and knowledge to the project. From the concept sketches to the fabrication of the installation components, the designers worked together to create a cohesive and immersive experience.The collaborative nature of the project extends beyond the designers themselves, as they also engaged with local communities and Tongva stewards to ensure that their work was grounded in respect and reciprocity. The programming accompanying the exhibition, including workshops and conversations, further emphasized the importance of building relationships and sharing knowledge across Indigenous diasporas.

Designing for the Future: Indigenous Futurities

At the heart of "We Carry the Land" is a deep exploration of what it means to contribute to the built environment as an Indigenous person working on non-ancestral lands. The designers grapple with the complexities of being "Native and diasporic," holding seemingly paradoxical positions simultaneously.Through their work, the designers propose new modes of making place, drawing upon their cultural knowledge and design practices to envision Indigenous futures. The installation itself, with its interplay of natural and man-made elements, serves as a physical manifestation of this vision, bridging earth and sky in the carveout of an urban courtyard.The designers' commitment to centering Indigenous ways of knowing and being extends beyond the temporary installation, as they emphasize the lasting connections and relationships forged through the project. As Bobby Joe Smith III notes, "the connections that were formed in this space will carry on long after the last curtain is taken down.""We Carry the Land" is a powerful testament to the resilience, creativity, and deep connection to the land that these six designers bring to the table. By reclaiming the narrative and reimagining the built environment, they offer a glimpse into a future where Indigenous presence and stewardship are not just recognized, but celebrated and woven into the very fabric of our communities.

Resilient Stocks Defy Economic Headwinds

Despite a deluge of important economic data, stocks have proved remarkably resilient this week, defying expectations and showcasing the market's ability to weather turbulent times. Investors are now turning their attention to the upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decision, as they navigate the ever-evolving economic landscape.

Navigating the Shifting Tides of the Market

Weathering the Economic Storm

The markets have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of a barrage of economic data this week. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are up 65 points ahead of the bell, while the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures hover around fair value. Barring any dramatic turn of events, all three major indexes are poised to build on their sizable weekly gains.The key inflation data has been digested, and investors are now eagerly awaiting the Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision. In the meantime, import prices have fallen 0.3% in August, providing a glimmer of hope for easing inflationary pressures.

Navigating the Volatility

The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw a flurry of activity on Thursday, with over 1.8 million call contracts and more than 1 million put contracts exchanged. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.57, while the 21-day moving average remained at 0.65, indicating a shift in investor sentiment.Amidst the market volatility, individual stocks have also been making headlines. Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) stock is down 4.4% premarket, after the airline manufacturer's factory workers rejected the new labor contract and went on strike. Year to date, the equity is down a staggering 37.6%.AstraZeneca plc (NASDAQ:AZN) stock, on the other hand, is off 1.8% before the bell, following a downgrade by Deutsche Bank from "hold" to "sell." Despite this setback, the equity is still up 17.3% year to date, though it is on track for its biggest weekly decline since July 2023.

Navigating the Earnings Landscape

The earnings season has also been a focal point for investors, with Adobe Inc (NASDAQ:ADBE) being the latest company to report. Shares of the software giant are down 8.8% in electronic trading, as the company's disappointing current-quarter guidance overshadowed its upbeat fiscal third-quarter results. Heading into today, ADBE is down 1.7% in 2024.As the market navigates these shifting tides, investors are keeping a close eye on the upcoming events, including the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, which is set to be a key driver of market sentiment in the coming week.

Exploring the Global Landscape

The resilience of the US markets is not an isolated phenomenon, as the global markets have also been grappling with their own set of challenges. In Asia, the markets have had a mixed performance, with the Nikkei in Japan shedding 0.7%, while the Kospi in South Korea finished up 0.1% and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 0.8%.The European markets have also been closely watching the developments, with the European Central Bank's (ECB) decision to slash inflation rates yesterday still in focus. The major indexes in Europe are higher in response, with London's FTSE 100 up 0.3%, France's CAC 40 also up, and Germany's DAX 0.6% higher.The global economic landscape is constantly evolving, and investors must navigate these shifting tides with a keen eye and a steady hand. As the markets continue to demonstrate their resilience, the coming weeks and months will undoubtedly bring new challenges and opportunities, requiring investors to stay vigilant and adaptable.