Tzintzun Aguilar-Izzo (elle | their)
Tzintzun is a Xicanex environmental storymaker and movement weaver, residing as a settler on Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) Territory. They are part of the Kaniatarowanénhne (Upper St. Lawrence River) Watershed and live along the banks of my friend and guardian, the St. Regis/Akwesasne River. Their ancestors are a rainbow of cultures, landscapes and waters; resisting, partaking in, and suffering the violence colonization, migration, and the systemic injustices of an imperialistic global economy. In navigating this complex actuality, they create art and actions to honor all their ancestors (human and beyond).
In recent years, they have collaborated with their art and life partner, Blake Lavia, to create/share stories of resistance and hope. As part of the environmental storytelling collective Talking Wings, Tzintzun and Blake have organized environmental conferences and helped weave together storytelling tapestries. Together, the duo are currently working with Talking Rivers, Inc., to unite human communities across Kaniatarowanénhne (St. Lawrence River) Watershed to advocate for the rights of the regions rivers.
