Q. In a world full of worthy causes, what is it about TTF’s mission that made you want to join the Board?
A. Sometimes when a knowing is so deep in your bones it’s difficult to articulate why you are compelled to be involved. This is how I feel about Tribal Trust. To me, it’s obvious: those who make up only 5% of the global population yet protect 80% of the Earth’s remaining biodiversity (life!) ought to have the support they need to not only preserve, but nourish, their cultures. As well, if an Indigenous group is called to share its ancestral wisdom with another culture who has lost its way, I stand with Tribal Trust in supporting this exchange through face-to-face experiences and mindfully created media. What Tribal Trust continues to do under Barbara Savage’s leadership is a tremendous gift to all of humanity, and it’s an honor to serve alongside her and our incredible board.
Q. What inspires you most about the work you do with ILLUMINATE?
A. As the Artistic Director of ILLUMINATE, I curate every aspect of a festival attendee’s experience, from how many days the festival will be, to its concept, theme, poster art, venues, program flow, musical components, workshops, and of course, the films. I am deeply inspired by the filmmakers who submit their films each year for consideration. Even if a film is not a fit for our festival, I always admire the tenacity, courage and dedication of a filmmaker who is intent on sharing transformational stories with the world. I realize that the impulse to tell these types of stories comes from a place of deep caring for others and our planet, and this inspires me about the human heart.
Q. How would you define conscious cinema?
A. Films that are made with the intention of supporting humanity’s evolution are films that I categorize as “conscious cinema”. They may be socially conscious or spiritually conscious, narrative or documentary, but what these visual stories have in common is that they support us to become better versions of ourselves so that we may ultimately be of greater service to the whole. They’re soul-centered and solution-oriented, often provoking self-reflection and wonder at life’s mysteries. Sometimes these films ignite our hearts in such a way that we are inspired to take action, an outcome that many filmmakers foster by having an Impact Campaign alongside their film.
Q. Why is creativity important in the world today?
A. I believe that creativity connects us to unseen realms and in doing so, helps to remind us of a world before the built environment, imposed calendars, capitalism in its current form, fake food, etc. Art connects us with our hearts and the heart is a portal to universal consciousness—a knowing beyond duality. Keeping this intrinsic knowing alive through creativity allows us to remember who we really are, children of the Earth with the sacred opportunity to learn how to live in harmony together on this planet. We are all in school together on Spaceship Earth, after all.
THANK YOU TÉANA and all of our Tribal Trust Foundation Board members. |
