Tekona
Tekona reflects on his family’s teachings while he braids his hair in the early morning and makes deeper connections to his Indigenous identity. The film is a glimpse into the mental health of young indigenous men by way of treating emotional vulnerability with insight and compassion. Faced with feelings of isolation, toxic masculinity, and stereotypes of Native people, Tekona embraces the visceral connection to his mother and the matriarchs who inspire him to be strong.
Shalene Joseph
Tomás Karmelo Amaya is Yoeme, A:shiwi, and Rarámuri. An award-winning director and writer, his work empowers communities through respectful, culturally sensitive storytelling. His photography has appeared in outlets like The New York Times and Buzzfeed. Shalene Joseph, from the Gros-Ventre and Athabascan peoples, holds degrees in Native American and Indigenous Studies. A youth leader and Project Coordinator for the Native Wellness Institute, she co-founded the Indigenous 20 Something Project, focusing on healing from historical trauma.
Tomás Amaya
Tomás Karmelo Amaya is a Yoeme, A:shiwi, and Rarámuri director, writer, and photographer from Phoenix, AZ. His work, published in The New York Times and The Guardian, celebrates Indigenous resilience through striking, culturally sensitive imagery that honors people, spaces, and traditions. Shalene Joseph is Gros-Ventre and Athabascan, with degrees from Fort Lewis College and UCLA. A Project Coordinator at the Native Wellness Institute, she co-founded the Indigenous 20 Something Project, focusing on healing historical trauma through community collaboration and cultural wisdom.
