Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Young. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Tanya’s Cherokee ancestors hail from the rural American South. She continues to be an active participant in Cherokee language education and in the ongoing work of the Cherokee: Wherever We Are program, covering Pre-Removal years and Cherokees of Freedmen descent.
A former collaborator with the American Indian Community House, Tanya worked with Member Diana Gubiseh-Ayala to direct a documentary about fellow Native American and “two-spirit” women living with HIV/AIDS. A former Board member of the Manhattan cable access network MNN and active member of the feminist Third Wave Fund, Tanya grew up believing we’re all here to work together to build a better world.
In 2009, Tanya was Story Producer on HBO’s competition docu-series “Brave New Voices” about diverse young slam poets, including the spoken word team from the Santa Fe Indian School and indigenous poets from Honolulu.
Ms. Young spearheads the First Nations Storytellers Group that creates indigenous street art and socially relevant essays and tales in Hollywood as a means of keeping Tongva, Chumash and Cherokee history and aesthetics top-of-mind for local residents.
A member of the Native American Casting Group and Board Member of the HIV Writers Workshop at Cedars-Sinai, this socially-conscious writer was a 2010 Writers Boot Camp Fellow and won both the 2001 George Foster Peabody Award and the 2002 Literacy in Media Award for her teleplay for Nickelodeon’s “Little Bill.”
Acting on TV shows The Rookie, Mom, The Bold & the Beautiful and Strange Angel, Tanya improved her craft by studying improv, writing skits and performing live theater with Upright Citizens Brigade and Second City. A former election campaign worker, charitable grantmaker and documentary producer, Ms. Young draws on her life experience and resilience to create stories and characters that are grounded and authentic.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey to becoming the storyteller that I am now has been encrusted with jewels of knowledge and experience. But that definitely has come at the cost of working with some difficult personalities and challenging competition. But if my ancestor’s example has taught me anything, it is to stay resilient And keep your eyes on the prize.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My organization First Nations Storytellers was birthed during the crucible of lockdown. First Nations Storytellers is a civic social organization that curates Indigenous wisdom on the environment and cultural traditions. We champion sustainable gardening, biodiversity, soil health, fire safety, language, history and dance traditions to craft stories into street art, public performances and community green spaces.
Utilizing innovative technology, we are creating instructional digital & video series to assist tribal and urban Native folk in enhancing their communities by sharing stories and replicating greenspace rebirth.
I am very proud to be part of cultural preservation for Indigenous people. It is the key to identity but mental wellness and survival.
Definitely what sets me apart from other creators in the Kids & Family space is Publishing Kid’s Digital Storybooks in English & Cherokee. We are telling entertaining, relatable stories from the point-of-view of kids ages 6 to 11, especially boys who are at risk for failing literacy and falling into the school-to-prison pipeline.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding a great mentor for your creative business is so key. Look for successful people who have too much on their plate. They might like to put some of their work on yours. That is really how I learned how to seriously produce long-form series. My boss was paid $1 million a year to write, cast and push out the sausages that are episodes. But there’s only so many hours in the day so when emergencies arose, or there were staff issues, I became an invaluable resource and was able to climb the scripted ladder in surprising ways.
Pricing:
- TRACE: A LOST & FOUND MYSTERY – $6.99 kids’ storybook
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/firstnationsstorytellers?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064202641857&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/firstnationssto?s=21&t=Y3K699ZAb72wJtzMbETC7w
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR32KAHY/ Office #501-759-8921
