Dmae Roberts presents the Indigenous special series INDIGIFI-Definition of Resilience a documentaries about Indigenous hip hop artists produced and hosted by Alexis Sallee of INDIGEFI and distributed by Native Voice One.
In this episode, Alaska, AK Rebel and AKU-MATU represent Alaska Native culture and they talk about the effects of colonization. As they share their stories, we hear how they bring healing and a warrior mentality to their music.
Samuel Johns, who performs as AK Rebel, is Ahtna/Gwich'in Athabascan. Johns is an established artist in the state who was also featured in the documentary "And Now We Rise." J
Allison Akootchook Warden, who goes by AKU-MATU, is Inupiaq and from Kaktovik. She talks about generational trauma and her mother's struggle to "relearn her language word-for-word" after being sent to boarding school. She talks about writing more of her songs in her native language to prompt younger generations to learn.
Definition of Resilience is a four episode radio and video documentary series highlighting the dynamic stories of Native American hip-hop MCs. INDIGEFI host Alexis Sallee travels to document their contribution to modern music. Each episode follows two artists who share their story and Indigenous history. Through interviews, we hear personal stories from addiction and identity to boarding schools and generational trauma. We see these artists powerful lyrical and artistic expression work to uplift their communities and inspire youth. From Minnesota to Alaska, eight rappers bring insight and emotional rawness in exploring disconnection and reconnection to Native culture.
Host/Producer: Alexis Sallee grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, of Iñupiaq descent. Her love of sound for film and music started at an early age and found its focus in radio. She worked as a sound editor of local and national programming for the Anchorage based Koahnic Broadcast Corporation after graduating high school. In 2010, Alexis moved to Florida to attend Full Sail University where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Recording Arts. Taking her skills to L.A., she continued working with Koahnic, now as a host and producer. She pioneered special productions such as “Iñupiaq Drum and Dance: A Cultural Renaissance,” which garnered a 2017 First Place Native American Media Award. Alexis currently resides in Ventura, CA where she hosts INDIGEFI and is going into her seventh year working in the audio post-production industry. Some of her film and television credits include Oculus, Poltergeist, Before I Wake, Birth of the Dragon, Wish Upon, Bravo’s Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, and NBC’s Allegiance. She also served as Sound Supervisor for the Showtime documentary Play It Forward.
- KBOO