Future Forest - 2023 by korvidae published on 2023-12-31T17:13:17Z Mix recorded from my performance Thursday evening at Future Forest 2023 For me, music and performance has always been about encouraging people to look outside of themselves, to engage in community, and to recognize the importance of solidarity across race, class, gender .. across borders. The mic was not included in this recording, so I am including below the words that I spoke at the beginning of my set. These words came from a place of wanting attendees to start off the festival rooted in respect for place. For many years I have been an advocate for harm reduction and community care, but respect for the earth is tied into respect for humanity. It's all related though, can't you see? The genocide we are currently witnessing in Palestine is an assault against people, culture, and land. We live in a globalized society -- the money we spend, the culture we create, the actions we take, they all have influence around the world. Many people want their art disconnected from 'politics'. To me, to be silent, is the most political statement you can make right now. ------- I want to unofficially welcome you to the forest, where pleasure and play and a weekend of joy are before us. But I also want to welcome you to this forest, where the birds and the trees and the river and the breeze have been here long before us. We are nestled and nurtured by this ecosystem the branches shelter you the roots carry you the river soothes you will this sway the things that you do? step softly, tread lightly I encourage you to allow yourself to feel spritely and to be aware of the ways you leave your impact here on the river bank, on the soil, on this place we hold so dear and maybe you will begin to allow yourself to be impacted can you feel the river running through your veins? can you hear the whisper of the leaves summoning you? will this sway the things that you do? because this forest is not yours or mine it has been bought and sold but it's roots are far too old for these capitalist schemes I want to challenge you to dream new dreams dream. new. dreams. where care and nurturance are built into the seams dreams with tendrils that sprawl through time and space into your daily lives, where they are etched on your face don't let these few days be the pinnacle of it all can you hear the rallying call? in a world so bent on destruction what can we build? what can we create? we can't leave the end of this story just up to fate because who keeps us safe? we do. and that includes our forest kin too Genre CawCaw