Animation has always played a part of everyday life in mainstream American society and Native American communities. Today, we are seeing a reflection of the state of diversity by the acknowledgement and production of culturally diverse animation. Contemporary Indigenous artists, animators, actors, directors, producers, and script writers, now more than ever, offer audiences a new angle on American Indian culture and have been developing animation to voice Indigenous narratives both present and traditional for the past two decades. Who are the players in this field, and how do they shape overall Native American discourse? This panel will discuss how institutions and artists are supporting, mentoring, and bringing animation to the forefront of Indigenous creative vision and imagination.

Sponsored by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. Moderated by MoCNA’s Membership and Program Manager Andrea R. Hanley (Navajo).

Panelists

• Kalikolehua Hurley (Native Hawaiian), Community Relations Manager, MOANA, Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa), Artist and Filmmaker
• Cindy Benitez, Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Film Programmer