In Memory of #KleeBenally: An Interview with #Blackfire

January 3, 2024
via @CrimethInc

"Early on December 31, 2023, the #Diné land defender, organizer, author, and musician Klee Benally passed away at the age of 48. In his memory, we present an interview that we conducted in 2009 with Klee and his siblings in the punk band Blackfire. At that time, they had already been making music together for twenty years.

"A dedicated and demanding proponent of #IndigenousLiberation, Klee fought on a wide range of fronts, emphasizing the importance of both concrete and spiritual forms of #resistance and critically exploring the possibility of an #IndigenousAnarchy.

"As the eulogy published by Anarchist Agency recounts,

"'Klee was living in Flagstaff, Arizona at the time of his passing. He was born October 11, 1975 in #BlackMesa and worked nearly all his life at the front lines of struggles to protect #Indigenous sacred lands. Klee was a driven organizer with projects such as #IndigenousAction Media, #Kinlani #MutualAid, and #IndigenousMutualAid. He also helped establish #TáalaHooghan Infoshop, #ProtectThePeaks, and #OuttaYourBackpackMedia, and volunteered with #HaulNo.'

"'Haul No is a campaign against #UraniumMining in the #GrandCanyon. #LandDefense struggles were especially important to Klee.

"In addition to all this, Klee was a filmmaker and musician. You can view many of Klee’s films here. In addition to his decades in Blackfire, Klee also played in the band Appropriation and recorded various solo projects."

Read more: https://crimethinc.com/2024/01/03/in-memory-of-klee-benally-an-interview-with-blackfire

#IndigenousActivist #ClimateJustice #LandDefender #IndigenousAnarchist