Remembering William Yellow Robe Jr.: Sacred Stage: Talks with Native Playwrights and Artists

American Indian Airwaves

“Sacred Stage: Talks with Native Playwrights and Artists” is an in-depth series of interviews with Indigenous activist, artist, actors/actresses, playwrights and more about their legacy work and how their activism intersects with Indigeneity and the contribution across and within Indigenous and non-Indigenous arts. Today’s program is in remembrance and honoring of William Yellow Robe Jr. (Assiniboine and Sioux Nations located at the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana). He was a prolific writer, playwright, director, educator, activist, and more. William Yellow Robe Jr. also taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts, Brown University, and the University of Maine. In addition, Yellow Robe Jr. has authored over 40 plays – more than any other Indigenous playwright, including, but not limited to: Where the Pavement Ends: Five Native American Plays, Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers and Other Untold Stories, Rez Politics, The Star Quilter, plus more. Yellow Robe Jr. moved onto the spirit world in mid-July 2021. His legacy is indelible in the Native Theater movement that emerged decades ago with Yellow Robe Jr. laying the foundation, inroads, and creating the mechanism for the next and future generations of Native American playwrights. Yellow Robe Jr. is an ancestor. Part 1, Guest: Albert “Abby” Ybarra (Yaqui Nation) Project Indigenous member, Environmental Education Specialist, actor, musician, and more joins for us for the hour to discuss his legacy work over the fifty years as an indigenous person and activist and how they shape and from his contributions to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous arts ranging from theater, television, and more. Part 2, Guests: Sound from the second segment of today’s program is partial excerpts from the recent Native Theater industry William Yellow Robe. Jr. Memorial held at the Public Theater in New York. Here from colleagues, friends, and more who had the honor and pleasure to know and work with Yellow Robe Jr. as well as actors/actresses reading excerpts from some of the Yellow Robe Jr’s. plays. American Indian Airwaves regularly broadcast Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm (PCT) on KPFK FM 90.7 in Los Angeles, CA; FM 98.7 in Santa Barbara, CA; FM 99.5 in China Lake, CA; FM 93.7 in North San Diego, CA; FM 99.1 KLBP in Long Beach, CA (Thursdays 5pm-6pm); and WCRS FM 98.3/102.1 in Columbus, OH. Click here for archived American Indian Airwaves programs on the KPFK website within the past 60-days only or click on (below) after 8pm for today’s scheduled program. Soundcloud Apple Podcast Google Podcast iHeartRadio Pocket Casts Spotify Podcast Stitcher Podcast Tunein Podcast