Oral history interview with George Stonefish, 2020
Abstract
In the first session, George Stonefish describes his indigenous heritage, the Moravian Indian territory in Canada, and the decision to stay in New York City for the pandemic. He discusses various places that he lived around the United States and compares anti-indigenous racism elsewhere with New York. He describes speaking and voicework he has done. He also recounts and emergency episode where he w ent to the hospital for non-COVID bronchial pneumonia at the outset of the pandemic. He discusses the isolation of social distancing and the health of band members and other acquaintances. He discusses his perceptions of the briefings and responses of Andrew Cuomo, Donald Trump, and Bill de Blasio. He also speaks about distancing protocols, his grandson as an essential workers at a grocery store, online socializing, gentrification, and the experience of being a Native American in New York City.
In the second session, Stonefish revisits topics from the first session. Some other topics covered include the Black Lives Matter protests, demographics of protesters, and crime and policing in East New York. He also describes additional visits to the hospital for non-COVID issues, coronavirus testing programs, masking conventions in different neighborhoods, and thoughts for life after the pandemic
COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; COVID-19 (Disease)--Social Aspects; Epidemics--Social Aspects; Hospitals--Emergency services--United States; Social distancing (Public health); Indians of North America--New York (State); Black lives matter movement; United States Race relations 21st century; United States Politics and government 21st century; East New York (New York, N.Y.); Stonefish, George, 1957-
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
68 pages
Note (Biographical)
George Stonefish (Walter George Stonefish Willis) is from a Lenape reservation in the Moravian Native American territory on the Thames in Canada, but he was primarily raised in the New York City area. Stonefish speaks at universities, does land acknow ledgments for conferences, and works as a consultant for the Ford Foundation. He is is also a musician in the group SilverCloud Singers and voice-over actor
Note
Interviewed by Sara Sinclair on May 13 and September 23, 2020
Note (Provenance)
George Stonefish, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023