March 21
Who Tells the Story Matters - Representation
Joanelle Romero
Host
Founder of NWIFTV in All Media
Oyate Wayanaka Po Win / People Who See This Woman. Mescalero-Chiricahua Apache Dinétah Paiute and is SpanishSephardic. A relative of Pawnee Pojoaque Southern Ute Lakota and Haudenosaunee.
Humanitarian, Producer, Director, Actress, Founder NWIFTV in All Media. A Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Short-Listed for an Academy Award
Romero received the Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award for “the vision to see the truth…and the courage to speak it” (Arpa International Film Festival)
Georgia Lightning
Director Producer
Cree/Bear Clan Treaty 8 is a storyteller, filmmaker, actress, public speaker and advocate for change, with 30 years of experience in the film and TV industry. Her films have garnered several awards including the “White House Epic Award” given to emerging artists who change the world with the works they create, such as the narrative feature film “Older Than America,” exposing the residential school reality.
Dr. Alma Martinez
Actress Stage Director Professor of Theatre
Best known for her roles in film and television shows including the Peabody Award winning drama series The Bridge with Demián Bichir and Diane Kruger and Corridos: Tales of Passion & Revolution with Linda Ronstadt as well as performances on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre, Mexican and European stages.
In 1979, Martinez joined the Center Theatre Group production of Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit. Her film debut was in Valdez’s 1981 adaptation, the American classic Zoot Suit, launching a career that led to her induction into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2013. She has since been the lead actress in many of Valdez’s projects in a collaboration that has spanned over 30 years. Australian director Fred Schepisi cast her in his American film debut, Barbarosa with Willie Nelson and Gary Busey. This was followed by Under Firewith Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris and Jean Louis Trintignant. Martinez made a notable Broadway debut in In the Summer House directed by Joanne Akalaitis featuring Dianne Wiest, Frances Conroy and Liev Schreiber.
Martinez has appeared in over 20 features and independent films inducing over 100 major productions in the US, Mexico and Europe in venues.
Michelle Shenandoah
Speaker Writer Thought Leader
Kaluhyanu:wes “She is Fond of the Sky”
Onʌyota’:aka (Oneida)
A traditional member of the Onʌyota’:aka (Oneida) Nation Wolf Clan of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
She is the founder of Rematriation and the non-profit Kanenhi:io Ionkwaienthos. Raised in a family of traditional leadership, she carries the values and responsibilities of being Haudenosaunee throughout her life. Inspired by her grandmothers who led generations of Oneida Nation land claims, Michelle carries her ancestors’ passion to rematriate her people’s lands and bring about the truthful telling of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s influence on the world.
As a traditional member of the Longhouse, a trained lawyer and a visionary for change, Michelle creates space for Indigenous voices to be honored fully with light and love. Most recently, as Founder of Rematriation, Michelle directed and produced the Rematriation films: An Indigenous Response to #MeToo and the 10-part series, Indigenous Women’s Voices, with Mohawk Director, Katsitsionni Fox. Through her storytelling as a filmmaker, writer and speaker, Michelle creates safe spaces to share tools and resources that she has learned from her own healing journey and lived experiences.
Connie Perez-Andreesen
UFW Chief Administrative Officer
Connie Perez-Andreesen is a Certified Public Accountant who began her career with a regional firm based in Kern County as a staff accountant and rose through the ranks to become one of only two Latinas to make partner in the 40- year history of the firm. The firm had substantial experience managing the accounts of major governmental, agriculture and petroleum corporations. She assisted other partners in managing the firm’s multi-million dollar budget. In the Spring of 2017 Ms. Perez became the Controller for the United Farm Workers of America (UFW),
Ms. Perez was also appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown as Commissioner to the State Lottery Commission and served as Vice Chair and Chair of the Audit Committee that oversaw the Commission’s 6.4 billion dollar budget. She was the designated representative for Central California. Ms. Perez served as a Board Member and Treasurer on the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, representing the interests of businesses across the central region from Yuba County south to Kern County.
Alex Rose Holiday
Dinétah Navajo Nation and Slovakian
Traditional Singer – Model
I grew up on the Navajo Nation, near Shiprock, NM. I’m 24 years old and I’m a singer, motivational speaker, and artist. I am Tóáheedlíinii (water flows together clan). I compose songs in my Diné language to inspire all generations of native people to learn their culture & language. Music is our universal language, it will speak to you even when you don’t understand the words through the melodies and the beat. My goal is to share what I’ve learned from my time on Mother Earth to inspire my people to connect with their roots. I give presentations on traditional stories, traditional foods & utensils, mental health, & balancing tradition with modern society. My ultimate goal is to spark interest in all people to learn about their culture as well as others, to plant the seed & let their curiosity lead them back to their roots.
