It Could Happen Here Who We Talk About When We Talk About Borders
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May 5, 2025 James and Gare tackle the often-overlooked impact of borders on Indigenous populations, revealing how media narratives can distort their experiences. They highlight the detrimental effects of border wall construction on cultural heritage, using specific examples from the Cumilai and Tornottam peoples. The discussion critiques how both Democratic and Republican administrations cover migrant issues differently while calling for greater representation of Indigenous voices in these conversations. Throughout, they blend seriousness with humor, making the complexities of borders more relatable.
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Indigenous Erasure in Border Reporting
- Border reporting often erases Indigenous peoples' existence and perspectives.
- Ignoring Indigenous agency distorts the true impact of borders on local communities.
Laws Waived Harm Indigenous Lands
- Waiving environmental laws for border wall construction ignores cultural and ecological damages.
- Importantly, Native American Graves Protection Act waivers allow destruction of sacred ancestral sites unnoticed.
Border Wall Harms Sacred Ground
- Border wall construction destroyed sacred saguaros and harmed drainage systems in Indigenous lands.
- The Biden administration cut funding for saguaros' care, leading to many dying after transplant attempts.