NonfictionIn Conversation

Joey Clift with Vanessa Lillie: "We've Been Here the Whole Time"

Name: Joey Clift with Vanessa Lillie: "We've Been Here the Whole Time"
Start: 2026-11-05T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-11-05T01:00:00+00:00
Location: Brookline Booksmith

Brookline Booksmith

279 Harvard Street

Brookline, MA, United States

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Join us at Brookline Booksmith to celebrate the release of We've Been Here the Whole Time with author Joey Clift, in conversation with Vanessa Lillie. We've Been Here the Whole Time!: A Not So Sacred Guide to All Things Native America - Peabody and Emmy-nominated Native comedian Joey Clift takes you on a journey to discover the largest population you don't know in his hilarious debut for fans of Michael Harriot, Mo Rocca, and Phoebe Robinson. Foreword by Shane Hawk, writer and co-editor of Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology! Put away the construction paper: This contraband book is here to teach you everything your high school refused to teach about Native American history, people, and culture. From misunderstood figures like Pocahontas, to sports mascots, to the Land Back movement, to how cool Lily Gladstone is, this hilarious NDN-approved guide is the first of its kind––illustrated in an irreverent, textbook-meets-notebook style by Diné artist Julie Fiveash. Share with your loved ones and transform your boring Thanksgiving into a big "You're Welcome" dance party! Joey Clift (Cowlitz tribe) walks you through a wide range of information that will answer provocative questions and debunk Americans' wildest assumptions. This giftable, conversation-starting book is perfect for history buffs, teachers, and comedy lovers alike. Funny, fearless, and deeply informative, Joey Clift's debut reminds readers that Native people aren't just part of history—they've been here the whole time. (via Brookline Booksmith)

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Joey Clift

Los Angeles-based comedian, TV writer, director, Peabody and Emmy-nominated producer, and enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Joey attended college to become a local TV weather person because he didn't see any Native American comedians on television as a kid, and that made him believe he wasn't allowed to work in comedy. He has since proven otherwise, writing for critically acclaimed TV series like Spirit Rangers on Netflix, Molly of Denali on PBS and Paw Patrol on Nickelodeon. Joey created Gone Native, a Webby-winning Comedy Central Digital series and his short films have screened everywhere from Just for Laughs to the Smithsonian Museum.