Joanelle Romero
Founder, CEO, President, Red Nation Celebration Institute
About Speaker
Joanelle Romero is a humanitarian, actor, singer/songwriter, entrepreneur, member of The Academy Motion Picture Arts & Sciences since 2016 and first native filmmaker to be short-listed for an Academy Award for her film film ‘AMERICAN HOLOCAUST: WHEN IT'S ALL OVER I’LL STILL BE INDIAN’. First Native to receive humanitarian award Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award given to projects that have “the vision to see the truth and the courage to speak it.” Third Generation Union Strong, a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1977, marking 45 years of membership. During her time as a member, Romero has actively participated by serving on the SAG-EEOC committee from 1998 to 2001. Within the framework of SAG-AFTRA, her nonprofit organization RNCI undertook numerous initiatives. Among these were the production of various events, including the creation of panels such as "Where Are We (Native Americans) in Film, Television, and Radio" in 2000 - this marked the first time SAG had an event on Native Representation, and "Native Women in Film & Television" in 2012. This commitment was an avenue to amplify the voices of Native individuals and foster representation within the entertainment industry. Romero’s family legacy in politics and the entertainment industry is historic and respected. Her mother Rita Rogers, Mescalero-Chiricahua Apache and Spanish- Sephardic, was signed to Universal Studios in the 1960’s. She was featured in nine Elvis Presley movies, the Carol Burnett Show, and the Red Skelton Show. In the political realm, her Uncle was one of the most decorated politicians, Congressman Edward R. Roybal. In 1949, Roybal became the first Native Indigenous person to serve on the Los Angeles City Council since 1881 and was one of the highest-ranking Indigenous persons in California municipal government. He left the ladder down for others. Romero has a long impressive career starring in the first Contemporary Native Women’s Story ever produced 1977 “A Girl Called Hatter Fox '' to 1989 Sundance award winning film cult classic Pow Wow Highway, the film that paved the way for contemporary native filmmaking. Founder, President, CEO of Red Nation Celebration Institute actively organizing ground-breaking initiatives & programs since 1978. RNCI Properties include: Red Nation International Film Festival, RNCI Red Nation Awards, Red Nation Television Network Native Indigenous Media Streaming Company (predating Netflix and all other streaming services), Native Women in Film & Television in All Media, RNCI Crew, California Native Indigenous Film Commission, New Mexico Native Indigenous Film Commission, American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles, Native Studies Center, Native Indigenous Student Academy for Cinematic Arts and Native Youth Matter - If I Can See It I Can Be It.