Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

NAPT Welcomes Multimedia Intern Blue Tarpalechee

Blue Tarpalechee (Muskogee Creek) has accepted a summer internship with Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT). The twenty‐five‐year‐old, 4.0 student at the Institute of American Indian Arts in

Santa Fe, N.M., is a double major in creative writing and new media: moving images. He grew up in Okmulgee, Okla.

In his new role as Multimedia Intern, Blue will serve as a project assistant, producing online video content that will aid in NAPT’s mission to share Native stories with the world. Utilizing his skill‐set of writing, shooting and editing, Blue will travel regionally and document current opportunities and community‐wide involvement in furthering Tribal efforts. In addition to producing content for NAPT this summer, he will also take part in relevant training and public presentations.

Blue commented, “This is an amazing opportunity because I am getting to do what I love and filmmaking is something very powerful to me. I am extremely honored to be able to work with and learn from the amazing producers and team at NAPT while delving deep into issues that face Indian Country every day.”

Prior to joining NAPT, Tarpalechee was a guest speaker at the American Indian College Fund’s Flame of Hope Gala in Denver, Colo. He is an AICF Coco‐Cola First Generations Scholar, a starting player for the Santa Fe Sting—the semiprofessional football team in Santa Fe—and has been an actor in over a dozen films the past two years. Most recently, he won the American Indian Higher Education Consortium’s Student Film Festival for the second year in a row with his humorous take on a Muskogee legend, “Turtle Races Wolf.”

NAPT strives to pave a path of learning for the next generation of gifted writers, producers, directors and educators of Indian Country who will reveal numerous works of art through documentation and preservation of authentic media for following generations. NAPT, with aiding support from our sustaining donors—Friends of NAPT—allows us to provide opportunities to Native youth that would not otherwise be possible.

“When I first met Blue at a conference, I was so pleased to see such a talented and accomplished young man with such motivation to change the world through the power of film—and I know that he is not alone,” shared Shirley K. Sneve (Rosebud Sioux), NAPT’s Executive Director.

Tarpalechee expects to graduate in Spring 2012, then hopes to continue his studies as a graduate student at Stanford University and to share stories that move individuals to do something that brings them happiness and hope for a better future.

“I can’t wait to get started,” Blue said, “I know there are great stories out there in Indian Country that need to be told, and now I’m in a position to make that happen. I’m looking into developing stories from every corner of the map, even Canada, so I’m very excited.”

About NAPT

Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT), a non‐profit 501(c)(3) which receives major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, shares Native stories with the world through support of the creation, promotion and distribution of Native media. Founded in 1977, through various media—public television, public radio and the Internet—NAPT brings awareness of Indian and Alaska Native issues. NAPT operates AIROS Audio, offering 24/7 downloadable podcasts with Native filmmakers, musicians and Tribal leaders. VisionMaker is the premier source for quality Native American educational and home videos. All aspects of our programs encourage the involvement of young people to learn more about careers in the media—to be the next generation of storytellers. NAPT is located at the University of Nebraska‐ Lincoln. NAPT offers student employment, internships and fellowships. Reaching the general public and the global market is the ultimate goal for the dissemination of Native‐produced media.

 

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