A night of Indigenous comedy, community, and connection, bringing people together around the significance of Bears Ears.

By Liberty Kinsel
Operations and Donor Relations Coordinator
Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition

The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition hosted its second Laughing for Land: A Night of Indigenous Comedy on April 23, 2026, at the Guild Cinema in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The evening featured comedians Joshua Fournier (Diné), Zach Abeyta (Chicano), and Lori Chavez (Kewa Pueblo) who each brought their own perspective and humor to the stage.

Together, they created a space where Indigenous voices, storytelling, and laughter could take center stage.

This event built on the success of our first Laughing for Land: A Night of Native Comedy in 2023. At first glance, a comedy show might not seem directly connected to the Bears Ears landscape. However, laughter is an essential part of Native communities, supporting healing and kinship.

Many Native peoples describe laughter as medicine. Humor is a way to tell stories, endure hardship, stay connected, and heal together. Bears Ears is also a place of cultural and spiritual renewal, where people can return to share offerings, prayers, and songs. In a similar spirit, this event invites all to gather, laugh, and heal with one another while learning the deeper meaning of land stewardship.

Because the Coalition is based in Albuquerque, gatherings like this create an important bridge that connects urban Native communities, visitors, and allies to a landscape that may feel far away but remains deeply relevant. During the program, we set aside time to share a brief overview of the Coalition’s work and the importance of Indigenous stewardship. We also created space for continued engagement through an information table staffed throughout the evening, where attendees could learn more and ask any questions.

This year’s event received overwhelming community support, with the entire venue filled to capacity. The energy in the theater was electric and reflected a strong sense of community. The event coincided with the weekend of the final Gathering of Nations powwow, with attendees in Albuquerque traveling from as far as Wyoming. To make the event a little more accessible, this year’s show was free to the public.

Laughing for Land continues to grow as an intentional gathering for connection, joy, healing, and kinship. Through events like this, we hope to strengthen relationships between people and the land and uplift Indigenous voices, while sharing the significance of Bears Ears and the importance of protecting this sacred landscape for future generations.

We’re grateful to the comedians who shared their voices and humor, to the Guild Cinema for hosting us, and to everyone who came out to share space, laugh, heal, and be in community with us. Gatherings like this help strengthen relationships and deepen understanding of Bears Ears, even from afar.

Ahéhee’ – Kwakwhay – Askwali – Elahkwa – Tog’oiak’ – Thank You