Full Circle at Tonkawa: From Performer to Filmmaker

Last year, in 2024, I was invited to perform at the Tonkawa Film Festival. At the time, it was one of the very first film festivals I had ever attended. I wasn’t there as a filmmaker — just as a performer, sharing my Native American Hoop Dance with the community. But something about that experience struck a deep chord in me.

I remember sitting in the audience, watching the films, meeting the filmmakers, and feeling completely inspired. That small town in Oklahoma, with its big heart, lit a creative fire in me. The very next day, when I got home, I sat down and started writing what would become my short film Courage.

Fast forward one year — I submitted Courage to the same festival that had inspired its creation. And not only was it accepted, but I returned to Tonkawa in 2025, this time as a filmmaker. Walking back into that space with my finished film felt like a powerful full-circle moment.

Then something incredible happened — Courage won Best of Fest, and also received Best Native American Film. It was surreal. To be honored in that way, at the very festival that sparked the idea for Courage, was deeply emotional and unforgettable.

I want to give my heartfelt thanks to James Schwartz and everyone at the Tonkawa Film Festival for believing in me and creating such a supportive space for emerging artists. You gave me the inspiration — and this year, you gave me a homecoming I’ll never forget.

And a huge thank you to Blackmagic Design, who sponsored the Tonkawa Film Festival and awarded me a Blackmagic Cinema Camera as part of the grand prize. What an incredible gift and tool to carry into my next story.

Tonkawa reminded me that sometimes, a single moment of inspiration can change everything. I wrote Courage because of what I experienced there — and returning with that story in hand felt like coming full circle