Los Angeles, CA, USA
$500 - $2500 / Day
I am an Indigenous multimedia documentarian born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. To date, I have spoken at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, UCLA, California State Polytechnic University, Pitzer College, Cal Arts, UC-San Diego, UC-Riverside, UC-Irvine, Occidental College, Northwestern University and University of Oregon. My work presents personal stories of contemporary urban Indians in photography and film to commemorate the legacy of the Indian Relocation program, a U.S. federal program enacted to assimilate American Indians in the 1950s. My overall mission is to combat the idea of the static, stereotypical Indian portrayed so pervasively in all media. I want people to know that Indians are many nations with many stories. My photography portraits stand against prevalent stereotypes of American Indians in popular culture. Having grown up on a tribal reservation in Arizona my experience of Indian life was not reflected in popular culture. My work is to produce authentic portraits and stories of the persistence of Indian life in contemporary contexts. As a storyteller, I develops photographic narratives that illustrate the real stories of American Indians within their communities. My multimedia work reflects the perseverance of American Indian cultural identities today. I wish to produce living portraits of American Indians reflected through an indigenous aesthetic lens. I work as a talent consultant for various television networks. I have professionally produced five award winning films for the Southern California Indian Center’s InterTribal Entertainment multimedia program, co-created film workshops for Native youth, produced PSA’s for Fox Studio’s American Indian Summer Institute program, and co-hosted “Bringing the Circle Together,” a monthly showcase of Indigenous documentaries at the Japanese American National Museum National Center for Preservation of Democracy Tateuchi Forum in Los Angeles. Received a BA in American Indian Studies and Film Television from UCLA.
Attended the removal of Christopher Columbus statue in Grand Park, downtown Los Angeles on Nov 10, 2018.. Christopher Columbus Statue that stood at Grand Park in Los Angeles, CA. for over 45 years has been removed. Captured video of event and photography still (noted credit in video)
Tribes and indigenous communities from across turtle island joined in the 3rd annual Women's March in an effort to raise awareness for amongst the many social, political, environmental and economic issues; the thousands of missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW), a major concern.
Attended event and captured video and still photography for the event on November 10, 2018.
This article is part of an exclusive series about Cornerstone Theater Company’s upcoming Hunger Cycle play, "Urban Rez," a community-engaged production created in collaboration with members of the Native American community in Los Angeles. "Urban Rez," written by Larissa FastHorse, an award-winning playwright and choreographer from the Sicangu Lakota Nation, reflects a contemporary story of urba
(Password to video link: LOEN2014) LEGACY OF EXILED NDNZ documents the lives of young American Indians currently living in Los Angeles, California. This non-fiction story is told through the voice of a handful of young adults who have either migrated from their respective reservations over the course of their lives. www.exiledndnz.com
Produced for Zocalo Public Square
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