Before I wrote this I just completed recording a new video to edit for my channel. I recently shared in a “life update” video that I was coaching after school where I worked. This, including having my second part-time job had me experience a 52-56 hour work week. I’ve also been more focused on creating more art in my free time. In fact, I also uploaded a video show casing my new earring designs I’ve been selling for 2 weeks now. Holiday season is approaching and I miss creating art pieces, and even more excited to be doing functional/wearable items rather than just decorative pieces on canvas.
The bottom line is, I’ve been busy. This has also allowed me the time to really consider the type of content I would like to upload in the future. There is an event coming up that I actually reached out to see if I would be able to record some footage at. They were very much open to me attending and making a film about it. If you’ve been with my for a while you may remember when I used to upload at least twice a week making videos about low vision, or an LGBT topic. After uploading over 200 videos in a span of about 4 years, I felt that I’ve shared almost all my opinions on things I can speak to regarding my albinism, visual impairment, and sexual orientation.
I’ve also developed a strong resolution that there are more than enough vloggers out there representing the disabled and gay communities. More recently I have also began uploading videos related to my cultural identity. I have been working the past several years to build a network and relationship with other indigenous creators on YouTube, and have even done a collaboration project with 5 people. But to this day maintaining strong relationships with other Natives on YouTube is hard. However, I feel that my focus needs to be directed more toward indigenous representation in online media.
This is not to say that I will not upload any other content related to my other identities. If there is a project I wish to create or thoughts I wish to share I will still make videos about them. But for the majority of my content, I know that I do want to host a lot of more discussions about the Native community and various aspects of our identity, our history, and culture. As always, if you have any topic suggestions or questions that you would like for me to answer feel free to leave a comment or send a message. Thanks for reading.
Author: JD Aragón
Indigenous, LGBT, Visually Impaired, Creator and Advocate with Albinism.
My Come Back!
Um Wainuma? Nu’ Samivaya yan Hopi-matsewa, but you may call me JD! And I know that it was been the looongest time since I have last posted to this blog. This is the media platform where I have the least amount of followers… (currently) but I really appreciate those of you who chose to check out this site and subscribed for the content.
As you will see, my branding image has changed quite a bit. I now have a new logo and I just completed installing them on Instagram and YT. I don’t have any other social media outlets, other than my podcast which is available on the app anchor.fm. You can listen to episodes previously uploaded when you search for Indigenou21.
Now that I have invested in re-branding my digital signature, I really am going to start putting more effort into creating video content related to the very theme of this blog, REAL TALK. I will also be doing my best to create content that doesn’t always seem to be too educational oriented. I really would love to re-establish my presence online on a more personal level. This will include, less serious videos, art, music, and of course more collaborations with other indigenous creators, persons with disabilities, and who identify as LGBT+.
The past month I have reminded myself that the basis of learning always reflects back on story telling, a method of teaching that is still continuing in indigenous cultures today. Conversations with the audience and other creators, who are willing to share their own stories along side my own, will truly make a better world for those willing to listen and gain a new perspective.
That being said, if you know of a creator I should check out please let me know! Can’t wait to get started on new uploads!!!
Indigenous21 Podcast
What’s up awesome readers of the internet! So, a few days ago I launched my new project for the #indigenous community. In my last post I had expressed how I still wanted to create digital content, but the feeling of making videos for my YouTube channel has started to feel like “too much” work. Mainly due to the fact that I now am working two jobs, I have a wedding coming up, and with the Holiday season approaching, things will be getting busy with events at work.
Indigenous21 is my new podcast which can be found on anchor.fm. My first episdoe I introduce myself and what my goal is through the platform. Earlier today I’ve uploaded my second episode to the podcast where I discuss Native Culture on digital media with my sister DeeDee. I also talk about what I have been able to achieve by uploading content to my YouTube channel and where I have been invited to speak about representing my communities.
The ultimate goal is to have submissions from listeners who also would like to contribute their thoughts on topics discussed on the podcast. I would very much like to build a network of indigenous leaders and scholars, activists, artists, or people who are proud of their culture and want to share and preserve it. I encourage you to have a listen and join me at the talking table. I’m still getting a feel for what my schedule will be, but for now my mission is to bring awareness of the podcast to the indigenous community.
What are some topic suggestions you would like to hear? The main direction I am wanting to go with this podcast is to have interactions with the community, conversations, bring these discussions to the people and give them an opportunity to engage and share their own perspectives and ideas. Look for the following profile image of the podcast to listen!
Launching a New Project!
Hello awesome readers of the internet! I would like to begin this post by letting you all know how excited I am for this announcement! Well… more of a teaser really. But if you have been watching my recent uploads on my YouTube channel, I have been expressing that my presence within online media has not been that prominent the past few months. The reason for this? Over the summer I decided that I no longer wanted to mindlessly scroll though my phone when I am bored, I was also working at a summer youth program in which I was talking to my youth group about the negative side affects of social media. I then decided to set an example and made the move to delete both my Facebook and twitter accounts. I still have been using Instagram, but since I have left the other two platforms, I have noticed a change in my habit of digital media interaction. I was no longer interacting with other individuals, but only consuming media. I have not used my phone at work to check certain sites, and I have felt really good about this.
However, just yesterday I did the unthinkable and caved! I am BACK on Twitter and have been growing restless with not creating any content over the past two months. Why am I no longer creating YouTube videos? Well, I will still be uploading video content, but not as often anymore. I think that for the time being, I need to take a break from video media and see what new ideas come to mind for my channel in the future. I do want to make content!
Because of this urge to start creating again, I have now been working on launching a new project on a completely NEW platform! This media style will be completely new to me and I am so eager to get to work on the MANY ideas I have inside my head! I am hoping that I will be able to launch this project within the week and I plan to start networking with others to contribute and build onto the discussions I am wanting to host for my community. I hope that you will join me once I share the first published product of this new venture, and I hope that you will also share with others as well.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT!!!
Life is Chaos and it Never Stops
Hello readers of the internet. These past several months have come and gone so quickly the Holiday season is almost upon us! So many things are going on for me now that I have began to notice my absence from online digital media lately. I am still a consumer, but I have not really made a video in quite a bit and to be completely honest, I want to produce content, but my usual method of recording and editing the material would just pull more time for me in terms of “taking it easy”.
I do however need to get a video promotion done which should have been done at least a week ago! I think that I need to revise my method of uploading and producing content for my channel. Because I certainly WANT to make more content, but I just don’t want to have to put in the “work” to get these projects done. Work, meaning something that will drain me of brain power, and editing on a computer screen for several hours does impact my vision and eye strain after a while. The amount of potential stress I could have, with having a second, part time job, planning a wedding…. yes I did say wedding. 🙂
I proposed last December on the 28th, and we’ve decided to have our wedding on Dec 29th. Nothing too fancy, and we will do our best to keep it small, but come one, family is family. All of these changes happening, new responsibilities, I’m adjusting to all of this and would like to keep my sanity, Or maybe I do need a bit of a break??? from the channel that is. I have ideas but would like them to be presented in a way that I am satisfied with the quality of the content.
Maybe since leaving both twitter and facebook I have felt that making my presence known on digital media isn’t the highest priority for me, but to find a balance in not only consuming content, but actively learning and discussing certain topics with others. Maybe I’m at a point where I would like to hear more of what others are contributing to the online community. I’ve enjoyed seeing the success of friends and others that I follow. I’ve been active in a more local sense lately. and maybe that’s enough for me right now.
I do want to make videos, but I don’t want to stress about it. Let me know your thoughts if you are a fellow creator or if you follow me and my content. Thanks for reading and I hope all is well.
Selling Merch!
For those of you interested, I have launched a campaign to sell a design I made for shirts. Please share if you think others would be interested in ordering! Thank you all so much for your support!
Visit https://www.bonfire.com/indigenous-pride/ to have a look!
Life Update
Hello readers of the internet!
It had been quite some time since I last posted here, or even uploaded a video to my YouTube channel. Summer was EXHAUSTING! He have high temps, I was working, I’m back at the normal job, and I also have a part time job still with the place I worked at during the summer. SO with two jobs and also incorporating gym time back into my schedule, I now only have the weekend to record videos. At the moment I don’t have any footage to edit so you will have to wait more than likely another week.
Hows my life? Well my AC went out just this past weekend and I had to get a room Sunday night to keep my sanity and catch some sleep I missed. That is now fixed. I also have an audition coming up in September for a local TEDx talk in 2019. I am now just jotting down notes and starting to compose my speech. Maybe I can upload a video discussing my topic for the talk.
I also have received an invitation to apply for a scholarship to attend a week long summit at MIT for Disabled Activists in Digital Media. The application deadline is also in September so I am doing my best to brush up my resume and compose a letter of interest. The actual event will be held in May 2019.
I am still without facebook and twitter! I have survived a month without either account. At times I do feel the urge to “share” or browse through the feeds to catch up with all of the people I was following. I satisfy my scrolling needs through instagram, but I hardly interact with other people though comments. I just like the posts! 🙂 I now find myself at times feeling like “okay, this is when I would be on twitter and fb, but I don’t have them anymore….. what to do???” Silly I know, like there are SO MANY things I could be doing, but yet my brain misses looking through the feeds of social media.
Am I Lost???
I have lived this entire week without two social media apps I have used almost everyday for over the past five years! I deleted both of my Facebook and Twitter accounts (although I still have another week to change my mind before they are erased) I have felt weird wanting to “check in” with others but I now only have YouTube and Instagram. I wonder what relatives are up to, what old friends are doing….
I’ve also realized how often I feel the urge to “share” something or want to scroll through some feed to feel updated on everything. I like the fact that I am pulling my phone out less during the day. I still watch the same amount of YouTube videos on my phone, but I also think that I have been using Instagram more to satisfy my urge to scroll on posts. With the introduction of ITV and the slight changes made to YouTube…. it has been interesting to me in thinking about how these platforms continually transform themselves to keep users on their sites and innovate ways for creators to “work” more using new developments for followers to consume content.
I am also bummed that I am missing out on another year of VidCon for a second year in a row. But I think not seeing posts on Twitter and FB help. 🙂 I want to “talk” to people who I could normally communicate through messenger on those apps. I hope this feeling of want to post and scroll will pass after more time. My brain still needs to adjust. It’s a challenge to keep “connected” to my audience when I limit myself to interact with them to only two social media sites. But I also have Patreon and you can always email me! 🙂
I’m Deleting Facebook and Twitter Profiles
Whats up readers of the internet! I know I have not posted to this blog in quite some time. And I wanted to post here before I edit the video about this topic for my YouTube channel. As you’ve read in the title, I’m leaving Twitter and Facebook.
Why? It’s my choice, and I feel that making this decision will help me to gain more focus on what truly matters to personal achievements. I don’t need to play the “numbers game” of social media to find my happiness and to feel productive. I can devote my time wasted on these apps to get more important things done. I can focus less time in a virtual bubble and hopefully not be as distracted by notifications or feeling the need to check in on these sites.
But I’m not leaving social media all together. I am a YouTuber after all, and as a visual creative person (who is visually impaired) I love seeing posts on Instagram! I will still be using these two platforms to share my creativity with others and to connect with those who live far and wide.
What are your thoughts about social media? Is it good or bad? Are we addicted to these apps?
Real Talk 