Bio Diversity, November-December issue

Robby Romero is not your typical rock and roll star. Although he was raised on rock lore and celluloid (his father worked in the film biz and his mother was an actress/ dancer who appeared in numerous Elvis Presley films), Robby cultivated his Native roots. Under his laid-back Hollywood exterior, is the Indigenous voice of resistance. Robby Romero is a Spiritual Activist.

Robby founded an organization called Native Children’s Survival (NCS), a non-profit group devoted to the healing of Mother Earth and her children. The mission of NCS is to create awareness through the arts about human rights and sustainability.

Robby’s first effort set the stage for all that would follow. In 1990, Robby formed Red Thunder, a combination of contemporary rock and traditions unchanged for a thousand years, Red Thunder summons the mystery, the magic, the spiritual sweep of the Indigenous world into the bands own unique brand of music-Native Rock. In addition to his music, Robby creates films about the relationship between Indigenous Peoples, the environment, and the threats we face from legalized violence in the name of resource development. Robby’s film, Makoce Wakan/Sacred Earth aired on VH1’s World Alert series, Hidden Medicine, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and aired on Sundance Channel, his latest “America’s Last Frontier” premiered at the United Nations World Summit in South Africa and at the United Nations Permanent forum on Indigenous Issues this past May in New York city.

Robby has accomplished a great deal but knows there is so much more to do.

While Robby Romero and Red Thunder are in New York City getting ready for their College Tour entitled “Thunderstorm / A Music Movement”, “America’s Last Frontier” will screen at the Tribecca Grand on Monday, November 24, 2003 at 7:30 PM. Robby will perform live, along with other distinguished guest artist at this Media Event. For more information please visit: thunderstormtour.org

You can purchase “America’s Last Frontier” CD soundtrack at eaglethunder.com or by calling 1.877.EAGLE95

AMERICA’S LAST FRONTIER
Robby Romero and Red Thunder
Eagle Thunder Records

Interviewed by Victor Zurbel for Biodiversity

America’s Last Frontier is a “rockumentary” film and soundtrack CD, about the permanent protection of our wild places. The story takes place in the Arctic, where the Gwich’in Nation has lived for thousands of years in villages nested along the Porcupine Caribou migration routes which extend far into Canada.

In the view of Biodiversity, it’s important for us to see our connectedness to these, and other Indigenous Peoples, as they are the caretakers of our earth. They are on the front lines and at the point of impact of our industrial world’s crimes against nature. We have to realize that when we lose Indigenous Peoples and the wildlife and plant species that nurture and support them, it will then be us that are on the front lines and at the point of impact. We can no longer think of the problem as “out there.” The protection of our wildlife preserves means the protection of ourselves, even though we may be nested in a comfy plot of land behind a picket fence in suburbia and do not see the inevitable connection to our wild places such as the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.

Robby’s message is that we all should become educated non-violent activists and have our voices be heard. And Red Thunder is one Native Rock band that is making sure it’s voice is being heard.

THE INTERVIEW

Biodiversity:
You talk about Indigenous Peoples being on the frontlines. That makes it sound like a war.

Robby:
It is a war, an even greater war than the war with Iraq and the war in the Mid East. It’s a war against the earth our mother and all her children. And it’s more dangerous, because it’s legalized violence and legalized terrorism perpetrated by unregulated and unsustainable resource development in the so-called third world.

Biodiversity:
You said something interesting; you said “so-called” third world.

Robby:
That’s how “so called” developed nations or countries refer to “so called” undeveloped nations or countries, but in reality there is only one world, and we are all accountable. Remember, poverty is the worst form of violence and Indigenous Peoples live in some of the poorest communities in the world. We are experiencing life out of balance. Human beings are becoming detached from humanity, the realities of our natural world and the natural law. People are disconnected from how some consumer lifestyles have grave negative impacts on others. In addition to the high demands for fuel, most of our household products, beauty products, and convenience products are also made with petrochemicals and tested on animals. Millions of species are dying and becoming extinct because of that fact. We are loosing pure medicines and a vast wealth of knowledge with the distruction of our wild places. Many of today’s products have highly toxic substances that are giving us cancers. Consumerism is a double-edged sword. I ask myself, How does my lifestyle, my work, my play effect others? What kind of impact does my life have on the planet and my relations? Sometimes it’s hard to know. But one thing is certain, it is a consumer democracy and every day we vote with what we buy. Through education and non violent activism we can guide ourselves and others to make smart, responsible choices in what we buy and how we live. It’s time to wake up and realize that we are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Biodiversity:
It’s very hard to be part of the solution. There ís a lot of green washing going on. How do we know whom to trust?

Robby:
We have to get past the deception. Ironically, in most cases, the companies that are doing the best advertising campaigns for the environment are the ones that are doing the most looting and polluting. So we need to continually educate ourselves and share that knowledge with others. Sometimes, we become part of our own deception; this happens when we lose our way, our connection to each other and the natural rhythm of the earth. In today’s world, it is not hard to lose ones way, especially when we live in cities where there are electrical and microwave currents moving throughout. In these places, we are not even walking on the earth; we are walking on sidewalks, on top of electro-magnetic fields generated by cables, wires, and subway systems. This I believe has played a part in the spiritual bankruptcy we are faced with today. I am not speaking of religion, I am talking about the sacred fire that burns within all our hearts; it’s what connects us to each other and to all living things. I am talking about pure power. The human beings are the caretakers of the earth, why have we allowed ourselves to become the predators? Through blind over-consumption we the people of the earth have become the greatest threat to our planet, and if we do nothing to change this conscious, the consumer will be consumed.

Biodiversity:
So how do we turn the tide? It all seems so overwhelming terrorism, war, natural calamities, domestic violence.

Robby:
Where there is despair there is hope. It’s actually a very exciting time to be alive. The generation today is the most important generation in the history of our planet. What we do now will determine the future of life on earth. A sustainable future will depend on modern technology and ancient wisdom working together to restore a balance. One of the strangest notions promoted around the would is the idea of success. If success continues to mean the attainment of financial wealth and power or fame, things are going to get worse. To me success is about attaining pure power, the power from within, the power to love, to heal, to raise our children. I am talking about the power to care for and protect all our relations. In your question, you mention “natural calamities” I do not view this in the same vain as terrorism, war and domestic violence. But, we are in crises, and as our lifestyles continue to effect the climate the ecosystems are compounding-in-change and so the earth will naturally cleanse herself. Those who understand nature and the natural laws will have a better chance of survival then those who do not.

Biodiversity:
I agree. But that’s all great in theory. After I read this article, what actions can I take? What can I do today to help create a sustainable future?

Robby:
Become part of the healing process. It’s not good enough to simply complain about our leaders and the path of distruction of which we are being lead, we need to hold them and ourselves accountable. We need to support leaders who champion sustainable development and make decisions based on the generations yet to come. That takes being part of the process. It takes courage. It also takes education and responsible consumer choice. One way, is to use our energy, our dollar as our vote. Try to buy only products that are pure, organic, wild-crafted and recyclable. Buy only products from companies that support organic farming, sustainable and natural resource development, and do not use toxic, carcinogenic substances. Buy only products from companies that are accountable and engage in socially responsible and fair trade practices. Use your voting power to support corporations that have “no harm” policies.
Often, there is question of cost. So we can also look for everyday products in everyday places that are biodegradable and non-toxic to the earth, to the water, and to the breath of life we depend on for survival. It’s about supply and demand. They way to bring down the cost is to demand a better quality of product and life now and for the future. If you desire to be part of the solution, take one step at a time and walk gently upon the earth towards a sustainable future. We can do this together by making educated changes to our consumer lifestyle and buying habits. We can become part of the process by standing united with one voice. And there are many ways to do just that, for example: we can do it in the middle of the night or and at the break of dawn. And we don’t have to stand on a mountaintop and shout. Just tune in, log on, say what we mean and mean what we say. Let your voice be heard.