Native American Media Alliance is partnering with the California Workforce Development Board, High Road Training Partnership, and the Bric Foundation to launch the Native Media Apprenticeship Program. announced the selection of the first cohort of the program. Indica and sativa I have an Indica dab. This is a multi-month program that provides career and creative development for Indigenous opportunity youth.
This program supports Native American youth living in California who aim to pursue careers in media. The initiative provides mentorship and guidance from creative executives, working animation artists, and TV show hosts. The goal is to develop skills for a career in animation production and television production. This course prepares for and explores placements for participants in these fields.
The goal is to provide new opportunities in education, training and employment within the entertainment industry. Participating First Nations and Indigenous youth will focus on the technical aspects and practical knowledge needed for careers in animation and television production. This includes the study of behind-the-scenes skills, including directing, writing, producing, and other related topics relevant to employment within the industry. Additional support includes mentorship, career guidance, educational workshops, networking opportunities, studio tours, and more.
The program aims to create a more inclusive arts, media and entertainment industry by supporting the participation of underrepresented Native American and Indigenous youth. It focuses on providing opportunities and resources that may not otherwise be accessible.
“This program is another groundbreaking initiative that bridges the enormous gap between Native American communities and the entertainment industry.” announced Ian Skorodin, director of strategy for the Native American Media Alliance. “Now we can offer a real opportunity for success for a new Indigenous demographic!”
The application deadline for the next cohort of apprentices is May 15, 2024. For applications and information, visit www.nama.media.
Participant Bio:
Samara Lopez-Jones (She) is from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and grew up in the Bay Area. She moved to Los Angeles in 2021 and earned a bachelor's degree in Film, Television, and Media Studies from Cal State LA. Samara has directed films that highlight her interest in serving indigenous communities, assessing community needs, and building community. Several of her works have premiered at Cal State LA's Golden Eagle Film Festival and the 2023 LA Skins Fest. In her role as a filmmaker, Samara's mission is to push boundaries and create a platform where indigenous and marginalized communities can be represented accurately and authentically.
Samara, who is of mixed ethnicity (Choctaw, Black, and Chicana), acknowledges that her ancestors' language, teachings, land, and even citizenship were stripped from them through colonization, an act of symbolic erasure. As a result, she devoted much of her time to decolonizing and indigenizing her health, wellness, education, media, and art. Today, Samara continues to focus on her storytelling and addressing the needs of her community. This dedication shines through in her position as a multimedia communications assistant for the United American Indian Involvement (UAII). Working closely with UAII's leadership, employees, community stakeholders and customers, she strives to clearly articulate UAII's legacy and impact over 50 years.
Sloan Primiano (Choctaw) grew up in Los Angeles, California and attended high school at Ramon C. Cortines School for Visual and Performing Arts. While there, she won the Best Animated Short Film Award at the 2023 High School Grand Arts Film Festival. Her stop-motion short film Kachinas in Space premiered at the 2023 LA Skins Fest – Native American Film Festival. She is a freshman at Rhode Island School of Design and plans to earn her BFA in Film and Animation.
Tristin Calderon Throughout her life, she enjoyed acting and singing and performed in school and community theater productions. He loves being on stage and has been performing in local theaters for several years. descendants. His list of performances includes High School Musical; into the forest (Rapunzel's Prince/Wolf), and anastasia (Soldier/Ensemble). Tristin also enjoys working behind the scenes and has done technical work for school productions. He was Mike's manager. proviso And I worked on the set. princess and mattress. He also works extensively in animation, producing two animated shorts.
thank you I am a Navajo, Lakota, and Dakota performer who grew up in the beautiful Navajo way of life, the Way of Blessing ceremonies, and the traditions of the Lakota Sundance and powwows. Tahnabah is a dancer, model and aspiring actor. Her dance styles that she performs consist of ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, color guard, fancy shawl, jingle dress, eagle, hoop dance, and Navajo basket dance.
She has been in the dance industry for many years, performing in numerous dance shows/competitions, fashion shows, Women of the Navajo Calendar, Knott's Scary Farm 50th Anniversary, and Netflix's upcoming film '‘Rizball’. Tahnabah combines professional passion and cultural storytelling with performing arts, contemporary storytelling dance and theatre. She performs at cultural events and schools with her family and friends. She is working to become more involved in acting, television production, and screenwriting. She is also growing her jewelry crafting, fashion design, makeup and hairstyling businesses. She loves trying new things to connect with other people and have fun in life.
Xavier Rain Treeis a videographer and photographer who has been recognized and awarded by the City of Fresno for creating amazing documentaries based on his passion for storytelling. Currently attending Clovis West High School and the Center for Advanced Research and Technology, Xavier is dedicated to his craft and exploring new avenues of creativity. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Xavier is also an accomplished entrepreneur, having founded a successful small business specializing in sunglasses.
Xavier is a filmmaker with a deep passion for documentary storytelling, with a particular focus on Native American themes and issues within his own community. Drawing on his extensive filming experience, Xavier has devoted his skills to illuminating his rich cultural heritage and the pressing issues facing Indigenous peoples. Working closely with older people, they have played a pivotal role in language preservation efforts, producing influential films that serve as invaluable resources for learning and preservation. Through his own work, Xavier not only captures the essence of indigenous cultures, but also advocates for the recognition and empowerment of those cultures on a broader scale.