Article by Walt Pourier (Oglala Lakota) Creative Director for Vision Maker Media marketing strategies | Photos provided by Walt Pourier
From our Vision Maker Media perspective, it seemed like anything was possible at the Dream The Impossible Native American Youth Conference on the campus of the University of California in San Diego. It had to be one of the most inspiring events I’ve seen in a while.
The conference theme “Find the courage and strength to overcome the challenges and barriers life may put in your way, and don’t be afraid to dream” was right in line with Vision Maker Media’s iNative 7G movement campaign of our Youth Media Project.
Our iNative 7G movement focus is set to help this generation of Native Youth share their voices, their elders’ voices and their tribal cultures through filmmaking and storytelling.
With the help of two veteran Native American Film Producers/Directors, Dan Golding (Quechan Indian Nation) and Cedar Sherbert (Sante Ysabel), we were able to reach out to potential Next Generation Vision Makers!
Each session was filled with passionate youth eager to learn more about how Vision Maker Media could help them to share their community experiences and individual tribal cultural perspectives through film and storytelling.
Dan shared wisdom and knowledge through his productions “Chasing Voices,” “Awaken,” and “PBS – Native America.” Cedar shared the same through his productions “Gricelda and Selena,” music video “Harpoons” by Sisu, and excerpts from his thesis “Memory.”
Leala Pourier and Charlie Perry organized Vision Maker Media’s session logistics and reached out to Native Youth through the Conference Resource Fair.
The event was a huge success and we look forward to many more youth outreach opportunities to inspire Vision Maker Media Next Generation Vision Makers!
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.
