Humor offers a chance to challenge the narrative of marginalization. This is according to Dallas Goldtooth, Res Ball (film) actor and environmental activist, who spoke on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the University of Colorado Macky Theater. Goldtooth mixed his signature storytelling and humor with advocacy, gaining the audience’s trust.
“Buy American Spirit cigarettes,” he said when asked how non-indigenous allies can get involved.
Dallas Goldtooth of Dakota and Diné heritage speaks at Macky Theater on the Campus of University of Colorado at Boulderof his experience with environmental issues and activism . (Melodie Miller | Photographer)
Goldtooth is known for his character William Spirit Knifeman in the FX series Reservation Dogs. He is also the founding member of the 1491’s comedy group. He joked with the Boulder audience and reminded them that solving the climate crisis means acting on a larger scale. The climate crisis disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities and other marginalized groups.
Actor and activist Dallas Goldtooth as William Knife-Man in FX’s Reservation Dogs. (Photograph by Shane Brown / FX)
“I’m sure all of you are really happy about your hybrid car that you’re driving or that you switched your light bulbs to LED lights. It’s great. But we have to remind ourselves as we understand that the causation of climate chaos is capitalism. It also means that the fight to protect this planet is much more than environmentalism,” Goldtooth said.
Activist Dallas Goldtooth encourages the audience to . (Melodie Miller | Photographer)
The fight for climate change is a fight for liberation, according to Goldtooth. Many areas affected by climate chaos are marginalized communities. Their citizens often lack the power to influence what happens to the land. They have no voice regarding the water, the air, or their bodies. He encouraged the audience to help lift marginalized voices.
“This will allow us to imagine a future that’s livable for everyone,” Goldtooth said.
Dallas Goldtooth combined humor and inspiration for action with audience at Macky Theater on the Campus of University of Colorado at Boulder. (Melodie Miller | Photographer)
“Just bring people together around a common issue and let them talk with one another. You have right-wing ranchers, and you have left-leaning natives,” Goldtooth said, “working together to stop the Keystone XL pipeline to preserve clean water on their lands. I’m happy to say that we won the Keystone XL campaign.”
Dallas Goldtooth joked with the audience at Macky Theater on the Campus of University of Colorado at Boulder. (Melodie Miller | Photographer)
Goldtooth amplified the importance of the world’s “climate chaos as an issue that we are all dealing with on this planet.” He softened the message with a personalized joke when asked how he began his career as an activist. Goldtooth told the audience, “Well, I was 13 pounds when I was born. So, my mom knew injustice.”
Dallas Goldtooth reminded the audience at Macky Theater on the Campus of University of Colorado at Boulder that the climate crisis affects marginalized communities disproportionately. (Melodie Miller | Photographer)
Storytelling is a “big part of the organizing effort to make this planet better,” Goldtooth said. Humor provides the “opportunity for you to disrupt the narrative because all of our fields have been impacted” by marginalization. For example, the United States insurance companies secure capitalistic investments. Goldtooth told the audience that “insurance companies are complicit in the destruction of the earth.”
Benny Shendo attended Goldtooth’s speech. He is the vice chancellor for Native American Affairs at the University of Colorado. Shendo is also a member of New Mexico’s Democratic Senate. “I think you will find humor across any country. I mean, it’s not any different in Pueblo or any different in Pani or any other tribe,” said Shendo.
Benny Shendo. University of Colorado alumni speaks to Congress. Members of Congress formally accepted a sculpture of Po’pay, a medicine man from Ohkay Owingeh who led the Pueblo Indian Revolt of 1680, to complete the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall collection. (Photograph courtesy of the C-SPAN 2 Archives)
Phillip Gover is a Tribal Affairs Specialist for the Colorado Department of Human Service. He is an advocate for Indigenous Coloradoans and said, “I think Native Americans have always dealt with tragedy with a sense of humor. Most people would say, ‘What?’ Why would you laugh at that? If I’m not laughing, then I’m crying, and I’d rather be laughing.”
Phillip Gover, a Tribal Affairs Specialist for the Colorado Department of Human Service (Melodie Miller | Photographer)
Goldtooth uses joy and laughter to advocate for marginalized Native American communities disproportionately facing climate change.
Dallas Goldtooth shared the stage with students at Macky Theater on the Campus of University of Colorado at Boulder. (Melodie Miller | Photographer)
He is descended from the Minnesota Dakota/Diné (Navajo) tribe. He is a member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community. He is also a Dakota language instructor.
Melodie Dawn Miller 
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