Note: For the full experience, listen to the audio above, or look up ‘Story Paths’ on your favorite podcast player.
Find out more about Mr. Rodriguez’ work here:
https://www.luisjrodriguez.com/
Welcome to the Story Paths newsletter and podcast. I'm Theodore Lowry.
Today, I'm glad to be presenting you with a conversation with Luis Rodriguez. This was an in-person conversation that I recorded at the Peacemaker Gathering, which the Cowichan People hosted, on southern Vancouver Island.
At this indigenous-led gathering, people came from all around. We practiced making peace between us, in the form of ceremonies, discussions, circles, healing, honoring elders, and keeping a sacred fire. This conversation took place during that four day gathering.
I met Luis there, and we snuck away to do a recording on the spot, which means that because this took place on a farm, you get some bonus goat noises in the background, the singing of our cousin species: the goats.
A little bit about Luis.
He has worked for over 40 years in the prison system, bringing creative processes into some of the roughest environments imaginable. He has a bit of a rough background himself, as he'll describe in the conversation. After hard times, and with the support of others, he came to healing, and being able to help others heal themselves.
In the places he goes, there's a good deal of violence, of being caged, of inmates not getting what they need as human beings. He brings play into those situations in a way that is and valued so much by those hardened folks that they request for him to come back again and again.
Now, I know I've had stereotypes about how art and play is something that we can enjoy when we’re living high up the pyramid of needs. But here I learned that play is also needed in the most difficult situations.
In his work, Luis invites his participants to imagine simple, powerful metaphors—a train, a musical instrument, crossroads—to enter into their traumas in an approachable way. To adjust their life path, their intentions, and to walk in a way that is more in accord with their true desires, even in the midst of these most difficult situations.
I bring you: Play in Prisons, with Luis J. Rodriguez.
Play in Prison, with Luis J. Rodriguez