Speaking up for the People

SANTA FE—Tristan Ahtone, first semester student at the Institute of American Indian Arts, is definitely a voice to tune into. Having recently moved to Santa Fe from Houston, Texas, where he was co-hosting a radio show called First Nations Radio, Tristan brings with him to IAIA experience and expertise in the wild world of politically-edgy radio and Native Journalism.

“Live From Occupied Indian Country”

First Nations Radio, an independent station started by Tristan and his co-workers, Jason Socier and Binx, would open every show with the announcement:“Broadcasting live from occupied Indian Country, this is First Nations Radio.” Here at IAIA, as CHRONICLE staff reporter, visual artist, media-savvy innovator and politically aware activist, Tristan speaks about his projects and goals with the same candid determination.

First Nations Radio covered political rallies, protests, local and national Native news stories with a radical, no-fear, in-your-face attitude. Clips from the radio show reveal a straightforward, daring voice, covering a wide breadth of information. Tristan gathered his news stories by sifting through national online Native newspapers, as well as word-of-mouth local and national news.

The station interviewed major figures such as John Trudell; members of the Dineh Punk trio, Blackfire, as well as Corporate Avenger; Raul Salinas; the Mexica Eagle Society of Albuquerque (a Chicano group based on Native traditions); Leonard Peltier’s grandson, and Delaney Bruce and Standing Bear.
If you were looking for cutting edge Native news, reviews, music and opinions, First Nations Radio was the channel to tune into.

However, it is not always the straightforward news and contemporary Native voices, revealing what’s really going on in Indian Country and the world, that the public wants to hear, remarked Tristan. First Nations Radio was cancelled after six months.

“The September 11th (2002) anniversary show was the show that probably did it in,” Tristan remarked. “I wasn’t condoning the (terrorist) act, but I did say that if Crazy Horse and Geronimo were flying those planes, nobody would have asked why they did it.”

“Native People Should Be Taking Control of the Media”

Tristan speaks humbly about his radio work, but a great amount of passion lies in his intentions for this kind of work. “Media has a lot of influence on people, so it’s important to have Native people on TV. Native people should be taking control of the media – the weather channel, the headlines, the production behind the program – hell, if I can do it, anybody can do it.”

Surprisingly, radio was not always Tristan’s primary interest.

“It just kind of fell on me,” he said. “Recently, in Houston, I got interested in the Pacifica Radio stations. I found out they needed a new show, and there were no Native shows at that time in Houston, nor any outlet for the Native community there. I felt a local Native show with a decidedly political slant would help bring some cohesion to the Native community in Houston.”

“I’m kind of torn between the visual arts and journalism,” Tristan said, when I asked what he was primarily pursuing at I.A.I.A. “I’m kind of nervous about selling paintings the rest of my life. With journalism, at least I know I can get a job.”



Tristan Ahtone, Kiowa, grew up living almost everywhere: born in Phoenix, he lived in Colorado, four places in Texas, Tennessee and Pakistan. His family is from Carnegie, Oklahoma.

For Tristan, politics is a natural aspect of both Visual Arts and Media. “Politics was never a part of my life until I made it a part of my life,” he said. “But my family was very open-minded, and growing up in different places broadened my perspective of the world. Also, growing up Indian you have a different outlook on the world. You hold a particular political place in the country.

“All people have a certain political, social and economic position, but people have different ways of responding to this position. It depends what lens you look through to see yourself. Right now, I’m looking through a political lens to understand the world and my place in it.”

Talking to Tristan about politics, you will hear very clear opinions about the media. “Independent media is the only way you can get a decent news report,” he said. “But even independent media has a bias, as it is usually slanted to the left. There is still truth in those articles, though, because it reveals information other than what comes from ‘White House Sources.’ When most news is slanted to the right, it doesn’t hurt for other news to slant to the left, so as to make up a more accurate picture.”

Speaking Up From Exile

Tristan said he came to IAIA to learn new skills and apply these skills to the development of his art, both visual and media arts. He would like to keep working in radio as well.

Tristan is looking for any other students who’d be interested in working with him to raise up the Native voices in Santa Fe through the venue of cutting-edge radio: “First Nations Radio in Exile.” If you’re one of those voices not afraid to speak the truth, I’d get to know Tristan Ahtone.

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