Season 1, BONUS EPISODE: Crisosto Apache

In this episode of Social Objects, host Dr. Medill interviews Crisosto Apache, a celebrated poet and the 11th Poet Laureate of Colorado. The discussion moves beyond literary achievement to explore how material objects serve as "living" conduits for Indigenous history and personal identity.

Apache introduces two deeply personal items: a metal needle used by his great-great-grandmother to sew and an aluminum plate belonging to his grandfather. He rejects the colonial term "artifact," arguing that these objects possess a vital "spirit" that connects him to his Mescalero Apache, Chiricahua Apache, and Diné (Navajo) lineage.

The conversation also tackles the ethics of museum curation, with Apache advocating for the repatriation of Indigenous items and a shift toward recognizing tribal traditions as active, rather than extinct. He explains the significance of his surname and the linguistic reclamation occurring within his community. Ultimately, Apache defines his objects with the word "Life", urging listeners and students to act as "story carriers" by asking questions and preserving the nuance of their own histories.