We recently connected with Shane Lara and have shared our conversation below.

Shane, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects I have engaged in is starting my own poetry brand called Deadly Medicine Poetry. In Native American culture we believe in acts of good medicine that come in many forms from traditional dance, family gatherings, beadwork all the way to spoken word poetry. I have engaged in the gift of spoken word since I was twelve years old and have recorded music as a Hip-Hop artist and later as a slam poet competing nationally all over the nation from Portland Oregon, Salt Lake City Utah and all the way to Daytona Beach Florida. Sadly as I engaged in these poetic adventures I realized that my people did not have any spaces for them on those scenes. I witnessed Poeticas slams for the Latino community, Valkery slams for the women and other open mics for different groups yet I saw no spaces for Native American people which shocked me because we were America’s original story tellers, the first nations. I decided that I wanted to be a solution to this problem so I created Deadly Medicine Poetry where I host poetry workshops for the Native community. Some people in my community were doubtful that there would be an interest but when I began hosting I would get 10 to 15 particpants on average. I create writing prompts that are culturally relevant like “As an Indigenous person what do you wish non-natives would understand about you?”. Many Native communities are very marginalized to the point some believe that we are extinct and if it’s not that then we are subjected to stereotypes like “Do you get casino money?” Or “Do you pay taxes?”. I see spoken word as a weapon of truth against the dominant narrative that wants to shove us in the dark. Speaking truth in itself is revolutionary as well as good medicine. My goal is to promote healing through art, sharing that gift with others who need it most. I let my community know that their voice matters, that they are the experts in their own stories despite many eurocentric viewpoints we see in acedemia. Our stories are rarely ever portrayed and the only way that can change is if we lift our voices. Deadly Medicine Poetry was created to nurture those Indigenous voices, giving our communities the space and love to flourish.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an enrolled member of the Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana. I was not born into my culture as my family left Louisiana in the 1930s to get away from the racism and for better opportunity in California. Many were scared to claim their Native Identity due the treatment we recieved by this country, so many did not teach their kids where they came from. Because of this I was born assimilated, yet I found my people 6 years ago and reclaimed my Identity. Now I represent my people with pride. It’s this identity that has fueled my passion for creative writing and Hip-Hop poetry. I love recording music, reading poetry for community events, speaking at the local colleges and writing books. What makes me stick out as a creative writer is my background in rap music. I consider Hip-Hop my first love and I started out battle rapping people in middle school and highschool. I was inspired by artists like Rakim, Immortal Technique and 2pac. I blended my agressive battle style with slam poetry and was able to earn the respect of many great poets. One of my proudest moments was when I worked with a non profit called Focus Forward where I worked with the youth at the juvenile justice center in Fresno. Many of the youth resonated with my freestyle abilities and love of rap music. With the help of focus forward, Fresno’s current poet laureate Joseph Rios, former poet laureate Bryan Medina, we had the incarcerated youth compete in their first ever poetry slam in the unit. For their participation they recieved a certificate that they could present to a judge that would help them get released earlier. In my work as a creative writer I am willing to make time for any non profit or group who would love to have me present whether it be poetry, my life story or communities that would like to understand Native Americans a lot better. I love public speaking and inspiring others to learn more.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Growing up I always heard that you can never be an artist because it won’t make you any money. Because of those messages I did not value or see myself for the talented person I am. I began to pursue jobs and careers that I didn’t like because I believed money was the most important thing. I became very miserable and wondered why creator gave me a useless talent. It wasn’t until I reconnected with my tribe that my gifts felt nurtured and needed. I had to silence those negative voices in my head and remind myself that money isn’t everything. Funny enough because Native people valued my voice so much they gave me opportunities to read my work and I recieved my first check of 500 dollars from the American Indian Center in Chicago. From there I began making some side money. Though the money was nice what was more important was seeing many community members value my work, telling me that my words inspired them. That was a currency that felt bettet than cash itself. I had to learn to love myself and the gifts my creator gave me in order to find true happiness in my work.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think non creatives struggle to understand why art is valuable or important. As outsiders looking in they don’t see how art inspires people or how it brings communities together. We live in an individualistic society based on profit that doesn’t care about anything else. My own parents had a stereotypical view of Hip-Hop and Poetry until I brought them in my world. They saw different artists of different styles and how we praised on another. They were able to see how these communities were like a 2nd family. Stories are important. Before colonization most Native Americans did not have written records because our elders were our living breathing records. They were our storytellers, they were our poets and stories were told through traditional dance as well as song. The arts preserve memory and to many it might come off as a foreign concept. I feel many non-creatives would see my work as a hobby but for me it is a passion and my life work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deadlymedicinepoetryjam/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093903806634&mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@decapitationmusic4295?si=ZfMomJ2MS-6z8wk-
• Other: Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@decapitation0917?_t=8qHeAKDXY7e&_r=1

Image Credits
For the personal it was taken by the 418 Project a poetry venue in Santa Cruz