Variety to Host Inaugural Indigenous Storytelling in Entertainment Breakfast

Variety will host its inaugural Indigenous Storytelling in Entertainment Breakfast on June 5 in Los Angeles. The invite-only breakfast program will feature a series of keynote and panel conversations with creators, talent and executives which will center on Indigenous storytelling and spotlight achievements of Indigenous communities in film and TV. The event will also explore how the industry is faring in creating opportunities for Indigenous talent in front of and behind the camera. 

Writer, director and producer Sterlin Harjo will participate in a keynote conversation with Clayton Davis, senior awards editor for Variety, about his experiences co-creating the groundbreaking show “Reservation Dogs” and will discuss what he’s excited to accomplish next.  

To start the day, Mona Morales Recalde, community outreach lead for the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrieleno/Tongva, will lead the room in a Land Acknowledgement.  

The first panel “Indigenous Storytelling Breakthroughs” will feature speakers Bird Runningwater, executive producer of “Fancy Dance”; Billy Luther, writer and producer of “Flybread Face and Me” and “Dark Winds”; Tazbah Rose Chavez, writer, director and producer on “Reservation Dogs” and “Accused”; Jana Schmieding, actor and writer for “Rutherford Falls”; and Aiko Little, business and finance office administrator for the United American Indian Involvement, as well as chair of the Native American Indigenous Writers Committee for the Writers Guild. The conversation, moderated by Variety’s senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay, will highlight the creative achievements from Indigenous communities in film and TV.  

Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation leader, producer and Academy Museum trustee will participate in a spotlight conversation diving into his upcoming entertainment projects with Variety EVP Content Steven Gaydos. 

The Meet the Makers: HBO/Max’s “True Detective: Night Country” panel will take the audience behind the scenes of the popular HBO and Max series. Jenelle Riley, Variety’s deputy features and awards editor, will moderate the conversation featuring Issa López, creator, executive producer, showrunner, writer and director, and series actors Kali Reis and Isabella Star LaBlanc.

Oneida Indian Nation and HBO/Max are premier partners of the event.