It’s no secret. Our world revolves around media. It connects us. It influences us. It educates us. We welcome it into our homes through our televisions. We share it with our families through social media. Which is why Native representation in the media is so important. Especially at a time when media is so significant to who we are as a society—it’s essential that Native voices are part of the narrative.
Invisibility of Native culture in the media creates a void that is filled by toxic stereotypes and false narratives including racist mascots, over-sexualized portrayals of women, offensive costumes and inaccurate stereotypes in movies and films.
We can heal through stories. By empowering Indigenous communities to tell their stories, we can cultivate a more diverse, more understanding world. Native representation in the media allows Native youth grow up with stories that represent their backgrounds and with figures that embody their culture. These stories can generate important public conversations about present-day Native issues, and shed a long-overdue light on the other half of American history.
We’ve funded and trained Native filmmakers to share their stories with the world. Starting in 1976, Vision Maker Media evolved from film, VHS, DVD and now to online streaming, and we continue to showcase the most compelling Native stories for public broadcasting on local PBS stations and online.
*Statistic provided by IllumiNative at illuminatives.org
Walt is Oglala Lakota and created the logo for Urban Rez. He is Creative Director, owner of Nakota Designs Advertising Designs and Graphics. Executive Director of the Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.
Lynn Palmanteer-Holder, an Indigenous plateau woman of North Central Washington and member of eight of twelve Tribes of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Lynn recently retired as inaugural Director of Tribal Government Affairs for Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, the state’s oversight agency of 34 CTCs. She is a highly accomplished professional that spans over 40 years. She is an experienced educator that has a demonstrated history across K12, post-secondary & higher education as a teacher, school counselor, superintendent, researcher, and professor. Also, she has diverse experience as an entrepreneur, Tribal leader and administrator. She is skilled in curriculum and program development, facilitating government to government relationships that led to formal partnerships between state institutions and Tribes developing custom programs. Lynn has served on many boards and has been recognized for various statewide, and national awards. She has several scholarly publications and has done various conference presentations and speaking engagements, at the local, national and international level. Lynn holds a Ph.C. (ABD) in Social Welfare Policy from University of Washington. She earned her M.Ed., with a concentration in counseling psychology from Washington State University and B.Ed., in K12 Education from Eastern Washington University. Lynn is a wife of 49 years, a mother of three adult professional children, granny of 10 and great granny to two. Lynn and her husband are high school sweethearts, and together enjoy time with their 15+ two-legged blessings.