Photo caption: Hotvlkuce Harjo, 18, was one of seven participants in the “InSight: Indigenous Youth, Digital Images and Violence Prevention Photography Exhibit.”
Photo by Terria Smith
Los Angeles - A year’s worth of work from seven young Native American artists was made available for the public to see during the opening of the “InSight: Indigenous Youth, Digital Images and Violence Prevention Photography Exhibit” at the Autry National Center.
Betty Bonner, 17, and Ronnie Romo, 18 - both of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian community - perform a scene from the Larissa FastHorse play “Average Family.”
Photo by Terria Smith
Walnut, Calif. - The Native American Youth Leadership Summer Pipeline to College may have ended on Sunday, July 29 but the friendships formed among its 18 participants will continue on.
“I have one word I wanted to point out and that’s ‘ohana’,” said eighteen-year-old Ronnie Romo of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians during the program graduation. “That’s something I learned from our Hawaiian partners. Ohana means family, and I can honestly say you all are my family now.”
Performers in the LA Skins Music Fest’s Youth Talent Showcase pose with DJ and actress Crystle Lightning.
Photo by Terria Smith
Up and coming Native American contemporary performers were front and center during an evening of music. Their sets - which were part of a Youth Talent Showcase - featured cover songs including those from Tammy Wynette and Jason Mraz as well as originally composed music.
Nine-year-old Aleyah Toscano, of the Cherokee nation, said she had practiced for three months to perform her a capella rendition of Adele’s “Someone Like You.”
“I wanted to show my talent and I was honored to come,” Aleyah said.
The young songstress said she also has hopes of becoming an actress.
