Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT) and Native Voices at the Autry bring the Indian and Indigenous storytelling tradition to the AIROS Native Radio Network. With a grant from the Ford Foundation, NAPT and Native Voices plan to produce a Native American audio theatre series from local communities to be distributed nationally by AIROS.
“This four-year project will bring Native theatre to a much wider audience on Native radio and on the internet via www.airos.org. It also marks the beginning of what we see as a long term partnership between Native radio and theatre,” said Frank Blythe (Eastern Cherokee/Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota), Executive Director of NAPT.
Native Voices at the Autry is part of the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. Founded by Randy Reinholz (Choctaw) and Jean Bruce-Scott, the theater program develops and produces plays for the stage by Native Americans. Reinholz is the Artistic Director and Jean Bruce Scott, Native Voices’ Executive Director.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to work with AIROS and share with a larger audience productions that have appeared in Indian country and on our stage in Los Angeles,” said Reinholz.
“Storytelling has always played an important role in the oral history and culture of tribal people. AIROS and Native Voices will help maintain this tradition through the airwaves, and to Native people throughout the country,” said Shirley Sneve (Rosebud Sioux), Director of Radio and Television at NAPT.