Indigenous Roots Productions

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Indigenous Roots Productions 501(c)3 NGO providing opportunities for indigenous research and preservation

09/02/2026

Did you know that the Holy Apostolic Assyrian Church of the East dates back 2000 years? The history of this ancient Church is deeply complex with roots in the evangelism of St. Thomas, St. Thaddeus, and St. Addai.

Modern churches chant ancient prayers in Neo-Aramaic (and some in the ancient tongue itself!). Here Rabbi Rasson explains how the musical traditions held by the Church of the East are indeed unique from a theoretical and structural perspective. Furthermore, he emphasizes that the musical modes of our hymns serve as unparalleled inspiration for modern composers.

Look for your closest Assyrian Church of the East whether in Iraq, Iran, Chicago, Phoenix or even in London and India!



Rasson Betyonan
Mar Sargis Church

08/20/2026

Born in the land between two rivers, the ancient Aramaic language dates back at least as far as the 10th and 11th centuries BCE. Modern Assyrians maintain this linguistic lineage in spite of our diaspora and the consequences of colonialism and statelessness.

The language itself is a perfect example of how a nation’s identity extends beyond physical borders. While Indigenous people - like Assyrians - deserve the rights to our traditional lands, we fight cultural genocide by continuing to speak the words of our ancestors and sowing seeds in each new generation born throughout all four corners of the globe.

How important is your language to your nation’s survival? What words connect you to others who hold your Indigenous identity?



Music: & Mar Sargis Church
Art: Rabel Betshmuel

Truly celebrating Indigenous People can prove be a difficult task for many in our modern world. It can mean making sacri...
08/09/2026

Truly celebrating Indigenous People can prove be a difficult task for many in our modern world. It can mean making sacrifices, admitting the reality behind horrific histories, and taking concrete steps for change.

*Wherever your heritage is from 🌎 the question is* 💭 Are you willing to hear your ancestors call and support the traditions that carried this world through generations? 🙌🏼

Share below about how you celebrate Indigenous Peoples with concrete action! ✍️



📍 Milpa - San Miguel Tecuiciapan, GRO, MX

08/06/2026

Language is one of the most profound gifts we are given from our ancestors. For Assyrians, our language connects us in spite of the diaspora.

Unfortunately, many Indigenous languages - like Soorayt (Neo-Aramaic) - are lost to assimilation and the challenges of statelessness. Allisar’s words are not only an observation but can also be received as a warning.

We must revive our pride and commitment to this ancient language that echoes from the streets of Nineveh to all corners of the modern world.



Music by Mar Sargis Church Choir and

07/27/2026

What Emanuel shares here is a profound narrative into the unique journey of identity formation in minority Indigenous communities. Without the dedication of his parents, what Assyrian influence might Emanuel have missed?

What’s more is the ripple effect that would have on the Assyrian nation - that we too would then lack his art which expresses some of the most prominent themes for Assyrians across the world.

How has your family shaped your identity? Have you survived ethnic suppression and still managed to contribute to the growth of your heritage?

IRP emphasizes the deep respect and appreciation we have for our narrators, like Emanuel, and all they have done for the Assyrian nation.

Sights and Sounds of the Assyrian Diaspora Social Series - Arc 1: Statelessness and Identity (Reel 5)



Note: In the film, Emanuel’s name is incorrectly spelled but you can see that correction reflected in this cut and in all future presentation.

07/20/2026

The power of Indigenous identity cannot be understated. When you carry a heritage that has been built over millennia - like the Assyrian nation does - your experience of life is inherently profound and complex.

To be Assyrian is to hold an ancient and enduring pride, as Chamoun passionately asserts. This pride cannot be erased through displacement or even genocide. Paul Batou’s piece, 100 Years of Genocide, shows that same deep emotion expressed in painting which Chamoun shared in his oral history narrative.



Narrator: Chamoun Lazar
Art (B-Roll): Paul Batou
Music: played by Elie Tamo and stewarded by

07/13/2026

Rabbi Rasson Bet-Yonan speaks to such a complex and vital point in our conversation - especially for those of us who are born in diaspora, with perhaps only one Assyrian parent, and often aren’t near a large Assyrian community.

Indigenous identities are paramount to our continued existence, and yet, our nations’ sociocultural landscapes - that of Assyrians and other Indigenous communities around the world - are evolving at exponential rates.

What truly defines someone as Assyrian, or any particular Indigenous identity for that matter? While we must have relevant pillars on which to maintain our unique ethnic distinctions…who determines what those variables are? Can they be flexible as new circumstances arise? Where does that leave community members who don’t strictly meet these requirements or expectations?

Sights and Sounds of the Assyrian Diaspora Social Series - Arc 1: Statelessness and Identity (Reel 3)



Rasson Betyonan

Music by: Rasson Bet-Yonan

07/06/2026

How does Indigenous identity impact the experiences of immigrant children? 🗺️

Sights and Sounds of the Assyrian Diaspora Social Series - Arc 1: Statelessness and Identity

Statelessness as an Indigenous person can be a deeply complex journey.

In spite of that, Rabel BetShmuel has built a successful life in Chicago since leaving his homeland in Iraq decades ago. As a designer, artist, and IRP’s community partner in our first research film, his work and commitment to his nation’s growth is well-established.

We must consider how a multi-country expedition fleeing one’s home early in childhood would have felt. This story of immigration inevitably continues to influence his artistic practice as well as his social and individual perspectives.

Share your own story in the comments or respectfully ask Rabel Betshmuel about his perseverance adapting to new languages and cultures while retaining his Assyrian identity. 📝⬇️



📍 Chicago, IL

Music by Rasson Betyonan

07/02/2026

IRP’s very own Secretary of the Board was first one of our oral history narrators. What Shibla shares here is a succinct nod to the underlying thesis of Sights and Sounds of the Assyrian Diaspora: Art in Response to Statelessness. A nation that cannot be destroyed will navigate the abyss of statelessness and survive through the ages. How beautiful that one of our world’s oldest nations and the “world’s first EMPIRE” blossoms anew through art.



🎶 Music by Chamoun Lazar Chamoun Lazar

🎙️ Shibla BetShmuel

06/29/2026

Can art be an effective response to Statelessness and Diaspora? Can it foster community connections and build stronger roots even when a nation cannot fully access its ancestral homeland? 🌍

Oral history research declares a profound YES ✅ we’ll be taking you on a journey of how Assyrians harness the power of art to keep our nation connected and cultivate our identity as we survive diaspora.

🎥 If you haven’t had the chance to watch the full research film, Sights and sounds of the Assyrian Diaspora: Art in Response to Statelessness, 👀 be sure to check out our YouTube channel and take some time to learn from Assyrian community leaders in the arts!

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