WORD Christchurch has kicked off in Ōtautahi with a focus on indigenous voices, featuring poets Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe and Tayi Tibble. The event, celebrated for its diversity, had originally been scheduled for May but was postponed to September 20.
LaPointe, a poet and essayist from the Upper Skagit and Nooksack Indian Tribes in the US, joins the festival as a speaker. Tibble, a guest curator and award-winning poet, emphasized the importance of including diverse wāhine voices. Tibble recalled that WORD was the first out-of-town festival she attended, noting the significant progress Aotearoa has made in representing a range of voices.
Tibble expressed her pleasure in reciprocating the manaakitanga (hospitality) LaPointe showed her during a US book tour. LaPointe described her visit to Aotearoa as a reminder of the strong bonds and care shared among indigenous communities.
The two poets first met in Seattle in 2022, introduced through mutual connections. Tibble described their initial meeting as a dream realized by their ancestors, while LaPointe spoke of feeling an immediate connection, akin to meeting a sister.
Their friendship continued to grow, and they met again at the Portland Book Festival, where their collaboration felt effortless. Tibble noted their discussions about the Pacific Ocean as a metaphorical highway connecting their ancestral journeys.
During their tour, Tibble chose to visit LaPointe’s home on the reservation instead of going to LA. Tibble found the experience deeply meaningful and appreciated LaPointe’s hospitality.
However, their recent tour in the US also brought challenges. At an event on Bainbridge Island, which is Coast Salish territory, they faced uncomfortable and aggressive questions about race and feminism. Tibble and LaPointe felt unprotected and were disappointed by the event organizers’ refusal to pay for their appearance despite a sold-out show.
The encounter at Chief Seattle’s grave, marked with the phrase “Chief Seattle, firm friend of the Whites,” deeply affected LaPointe, highlighting the painful contrast between honoring their ancestors and facing racism.
Despite these difficulties, Tibble and LaPointe gained support from other BBIPOC communities, including Native American women who helped raise funds for them. LaPointe also learned the importance of setting boundaries and not feeling obligated to answer insensitive questions.
Tibble and LaPointe will continue to share their experiences and discuss kinship in their upcoming events, including tonight’s poetry reading, Ahakoa He Iti He Pounamu, and a talk on Saturday, August 31.