Geronimo Lives: An interview with Dallas Goldtooth of the 1491’s

In my other incarnation as host/producer of Urban Nation LIVE on Winnipeg’s STREETZ FM, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Dallas Goldtooth of the 1491’s about their awesome video/poem, “Geronimo E-KIA.”

I enjoyed it so much I thought I’d include the audio here for those who may have missed the original broadcast. Here is my introduction:

Early last month, the much-despised Osama Bin Laden was tracked down and killed by U.S. Navy Seals in Pakistan.

In confirming their kill, the Seals sent a short, coded message to President Barack Obama. It read:

“Geronimo-E K.I.A. [Killed in Action].”

To many Indigenous people, the use of the legendary warrior’s name as a stand-in for the notorious Bin Laden was a grievous insult. And for my next guest, that code inspired more than outrage — it led to a poem, one that’s actually gone kind of viral on YouTube.

Dallas Goldtooth is a member of the 1491s, a sketch comedy troupe based in Minnesota and Oklahoma. And he joins me now by phone in a somewhat undisclosed location…

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/17368197″]

Obviously, my radio interview offers the audio of the poem only. To see it in all its visual glory, watch below.