Each year, 10 Native youth and their non-profit Mentor organizations are chosen to receive a grant to implement a project inspired by their dream for themselves and their community. For the ninth year of this program, 2024 Dreamstarters are using storytelling to bring awareness to issues in Indian Country and celebrate the beauty of Indigenous people and culture. They are using visual, oral, written, or digital storytelling to undertake projects that will help uplift Native voices and allow Native perspectives and stories to be heard.
Dreamstarter Academy 2024
In April 2024, the 9th class of Dreamstarters gathered in Washington, D.C., for Dreamstarter Academy. Dreamstarters and mentors came together during this four-day Academy to learn, network, and prepare for their grant year. With financial support, hands-on mentorship, networking, and communications training, these Dreamstarters are well-equipped to take on their projects for the 2024 grant year. In the 6 months since the Dreamstarter Academy, these 10 Dreamstarters have already made great strides toward achieving their Dreams.
What’s New
Hannah Waller’s project “Pretty Hair Camp” is a 30-minute Short Film that explores themes of identity, community, love, and loss. Hannah has made excellent progress on her project, bringing on a Producer and a Director of Photography, as well as department leads for the wardrobe and design departments. Hannah is excited to have her leading lady cast and is currently in the process of bringing on another actor she hopes will play the leading man. The filming schedule is being set, and she hopes to have the bulk of the filming completed by the end of the year. Additionally, Hannah is in talks with potential investors who have expressed interest in providing additional financial backing for the project. Hannah reports that she has a wonderful support network to make her film come to life.
Kuliamai Aveiro-Kalaniopio is cultivating a digital multimedia archive of interviews and conversations between youth and elders of the Kohala community called Na leo o Kohala (Kohala Voices). In partnership with the Kohala Oral History Project, Kuliamai has started an after-school program for six local middle and high school students. Each week, the group comes together to learn how to film, practice interview skills, and brainstorm on upcoming interviews. So far, the students have completed nine interviews with elders sharing their stories. On November 7th, students, elders, and the local community gathered for a Hoike – a celebration of learning. Kuliamai and his students look forward to continuing their work into the New Year.
Jacob Grignon is also creating a digital library of audio and video recordings of Traditional Teachings by Menominee Elders. Jacob’s archive will help preserve indigenous knowledge and make it accessible to future generations through a moderated access that will help protect sacred and traditional ways. Jacob is currently working on building relationships with local tribes and elders, ensuring interviews and teachings are recorded with the utmost respect. He is also working on creating a script for his interviews and is participating in training in preparation to record. Jacob is thankful for the support of his project and is looking forward to beginning interviews once diligence is completed.
Devyn Kazhe’s project “Adapt and Overcome” is a 20-minute documentary short highlighting the stories and successes of Native American Para Athletes through the lens of her own story of recovery and rehabilitation, with themes of traditional cultural values and resilience. Through Dreamstarter Academy, Devyn connected with Paige Bethmann, founder of the independent filmmaking company “She Carries Her House Productions,” and began collaboration on the short film. Much of the filming for the short film was completed in August and September. Currently, they are working on editing and finishing the film. By next spring, they look forward to distributing the film and hosting community screenings and outreach programs.
Dowawisnima Groves is hosting a series of Traditional craft-making workshops that will connect Native Youth to their histories, empower them to try new ways of self-expression, and encourage them to tell their own stories through art. Dowawisnima successfully hosted her first series of workshops in August, focusing on beadwork. Her workshop was broken into four two-hour sessions that allowed instructors to connect with students and provide them with in-depth instruction. Not only did the workshop provide information on how to bead, but Dowawisnima also led discussions on “why” beadwork is an essential tool for storytelling and how it relates to personal and cultural identity. Dowawisnima is very happy her first workshop was a success and looks forward to hosting more throughout her grant year.
Anagali Duncan’s project “The Honoring Our Peoples Existence” (H.O.P.E.) Podcast will center on narrating the poignant story of the Cherokee removal from their Native lands, through interviews with elders to address and correct the inaccurate and incomplete histories and stories perpetuated by the U.S. education system. The first six months of his project have been spent preparing for the recording of the podcast; purchasing and testing equipment, finding a local artist to make podcast art, constructing the narrative flow of the interviews, and setting dates for interviews and recordings. Anagali has also delved into research, purchasing historical books and reading first-hand accounts to ensure the accuracy and validity of his interviews. Anagali is excited to start recording episodes and hopes to gain a good following when the episodes are released.
Souksavanh Keovorabouth is creating an academic manuscript that will illuminate the narratives, obstacles, and triumphs experienced by the Indigenous Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit community in urban communities in the Southwest. Over the next year, Souksavanh will be conducting focus groups in three major cities of Arizona to gather firsthand accounts and data that will be used to derive insights and strategies on how these communities interact and how their interactions can be improved. Souksavanh has started securing focus group venues and preparing interview questions. They have also begun discussions with University of Arizona Press to publish their study so other scholars and Indigenous Queer people will have access to their findings.
Carrie Johnson is telling the story of basketball in Native communities, highlighting the reclamation of a sport that was once used to erase Native American culture through a 20-minute documentary that explores the dynamic role of basketball in Native communities. At this point, Carrie is over halfway done with filming for her documentary project, with footage from multiple Tribal Basketball tournaments, as well as several interviews for historical context and personal interviews to support the film’s narrative. Carrie’s film has garnered interest from other organizations interested in distribution and coverage of the film.
Jarrette Werk is working on a series of stories celebrating Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest. This project will be compiled into a beautiful coffee table book titled “Through the Lens and on the Page.” Jarrette has started gathering essays, photos, and stories to feature in the book, showcasing a diverse range of voices and places that highlight the rich cultural tapestry of Native peoples in the Pacific Northwest.
So far, Jarrette has developed a rough plan for the book’s structure, including chapter themes, and is currently searching for a graphic designer to create a compelling visual presentation of the work. Jarrette and his team are excited about the positive feedback they have received regarding the book and look forward to making continued progress in the new year.
KamiJo Whiteclay is focusing on uplifting Apsáalooke (Crow) youth by encouraging creativity in the arts and inspiring fearless storytelling in the next generation through her project The Daasawuuá Kuulushbíoo (To Create Within the Heart), which consists of Creative Labs for the community, and the creation of a children’s coloring book that features original art and poems that highlights aspects of Apsáalooke culture. So far, Kamijo has begun planning her workshops and preparing her book. She has recently acquired all the equipment she will need and is excited to be making progress on her book. Creative Labs will begin after the new year, and KamiJo is already looking forward to planning an open mic night to launch her book.
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We are so excited for our 2024 Dreamstarter Storytellers and all the successes they have had so far and all that is yet to come. To follow along their journey and receive updates about the upcoming Dreamstarter programs, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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