Author: Ian Skorodin

Tvli ain’t no movie man, but he’s seen a lot of movies. He has also been fortunate enough to be around people who are in the industry and is lucky to have learned from them. Tvli is grateful for being a part of the Native American Media Alliance, and is really happy that such a… Read more »

Justin Deegan is an award winning filmmaker and a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nation. Justin, began his career as a theatre actor in Fargo, North Dakota. However, he changed his path when he realized that the majority of the film written and produced were by Non-Native American filmmakers. That was the defining… Read more »

Sal’s life has been creatively informed by the unique culture of the Southwestern U.S., and as a Chicano/Yaqui writer, his work often includes Indigenous characters and themes. From a young age, his parents taught him to be socially conscious, and in addition to writing and filmmaking, Sal is a lifelong social activist. Sal’s personal experience… Read more »

Wenona Benally Baldenegro is a practicing attorney who moonlights as a producer for an online tv show, local tribal radio show and tv docuseries. Wenona is a former Arizona House of Representative. During her day job, she serves as the Assistant Attorney General for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson, Arizona. Wenona holds a Juris… Read more »

Annette Arkeketa is an enrolled member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma and is also Muscogee Creek. Arkeketa is founder of Hokte Productions, an independent film and video production company where she is the producer, writer, director, videographer, photographer, and editor. She is currently Co-producing Indigenous Cuisine with Co-producer Tvli Jacob. Her productions include Iron… Read more »

Linzmarie Schultz (Wyandot Nation of Anderdon) grew up in rural NC where she attended NC School of the Arts both in drama and a summer of filmmaking specializing in writing/producing. She (eventually) got her degree from UNC CH where she acted and wrote on the student television soap opera as well as being a guest… Read more »

Debra Peebles (Red Lake Band of Chippewa) grew up in North Dakota and Northern Minnesota. Debra’s mother had a love of music and fine art, her father taught reading; and both told wonderful stories. Her aspirations and influences are not far from either of their worlds, however, her mother’s Indigenous heritage has moved her life… Read more »

Ty Coughenour is an award-winning writer, producer, director who resides in Seattle, Washington and is a member of the Lummi tribe. He graduated from UCLA cum laude in 2011 as a Gates Millennium Scholar. During his senior year, he interned at Simon Kinberg’s Genre Films and a writer’s room at Nash Entertainment under Robert Kosberg…. Read more »

Rhiana Yazzie (Navajo) is a 2021 Lanford Wilson and 2020 Steinberg Award winning playwright, a director, a filmmaker, and the Artistic Director of New Native Theatre, which she started in 2009 as a response to the lack of connection and professional opportunities between Twin Cities theaters and the Native community. She is a 2018 Bush Foundation… Read more »

Steven Hatathlie Tallas is an Navajo Award-Winning Filmmaker known for his debut feature film, 2020’s Rez Dogs. Which was shown around the world and won several awards, including best feature film. Growing up on the Navajo Nation, Steven wanted nothing more than to see someone like himself starring in the movies he enjoyed most. With… Read more »