“Filmmakers have the power to heal the past by telling their stories.” – Haile Gerima.

I started acting when I was five, in an industry where Native people were often shown in limited, stereotypical ways. At first, I took every role offered to me, not realizing I was sometimes helping to reinforce those stereotypes. During a fashion shoot, I wore a Native headdress. At the time, I thought of it as art, but later I understood the harm in taking sacred items out of their true context, even as a Native. That moment made me look at representation much more carefully.

While studying film and media, I noticed that Native voices were often misrepresented or left out entirely. Realizing this made me see storytelling as a way to resist and reclaim. It became a tool to challenge false stories and take back our voice and identity.

As a filmmaker, I write, produce, direct, and edit films that focus on Indigenous characters. I use collaborative visual storytelling to advocate for our stories. My work brings together memory, identity, and truth, connecting generations through the strength of our ancestors.

I believe stories have the power to change, challenge, and inspire us. Because of this, my goal is to lift up Native voices so we are seen in our full complexity and humanity.

Stories heal, especially the ones we dare to tell.