"Sharing Our Stories" workshops

‘Sharing Our Stories’

Acting and writing workshops for young Natives

By Eva ThomasThis summer, the nonprofit Southern California Indian Center and its multimedia training and production initiative, InterTribal Entertainment, collaborated with the professional Acting Company Native Voices at the Autry to sponsor summer workshops for Native American youth in the Los Angeles area. The program was called “Sharing Our Stories: Young Native Voices Acting/Writing Workshops.”

The workshops were designed to give Native youth the opportunity to pursue acting and/or playwrighting in a supportive and professional environment. Students could take part in one or both tracks, depending on interests and availability. The month-long acting track took place in June, classes were held at SCIC’s downtown Los Angeles location.

“We saw a need to develop and to increase the pool of Native American acting talent as well as the need to provide summer programming for kids here in L.A.,” said James Lujan (Taos Pueblo) SCIC planner and ITE director. “This summer, ITE partnered with Native Voices at the Autry to join forces to serve the community.”Comment:  For more on the subject, see Young Native Voices. For more on Native Voices at the Autry in general, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.