Why We Wear Red Leadership
WWWR is led by its leadership committee: Joanelle Romero CEO and director of NWIFTV, Robin LeBeau Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Founder at Ehanni Society, Jen Martel Producer/Story Supervisor at OYATE and Jeri Onopa a member of Native Women’s Fire Circle at Sherman Indian School.
Committee Members
Joanelle Romero Born Spanish-Sephardic with Apache Ancestry, a relative of Pawnee, Dine, Paiute, Pojoaque, Southern Ute, Haudenosaunee and kinship to Lakota and Jicarilla Apache. Joanelle’s father was born on the Jicarilla Reservation and her great-grandma from her mother’s father side was born on the Mescalero Reservation.
Joanelle’s family relations to her Indigenous communities are strong. Chief Leonard Crow Dog gifted Joanelle her name ‘Oyate Wayanka Po Win’ (People Who See This Woman), during ceremony in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Joanelle is a Sundancer and carries the sacred čhaŋnúŋpa (pipe carrier).
She is the director of NWIFTV, Founder President CEO, Red Nation Celebration Institute.
Joanelle is the first Native filmmaker to be Short-listed for an Academy Award for her doc short ‘American Holocaust: When It’s All Over I’ll Still Be Indian (2000). Joanelle Romero is an actor, writer, director, producer and film distributor. Her first lead role was ‘The Girl Called Hatter Fox’, first film that a Native actress carried a leading role in a contemporary Native woman story. ‘The Girl Called Hatter Fox’ was the first contemporary Native film produced addressing #MeToo #WhyWeWearRED
Robin LeBeau Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and member of the Mnicoujou band, Elk Head Tiospaye, whose family are the keeper of the sacred canunpa, White Buffalo Woman calf pipe. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Founder at Ehanni Society. Recipient of The RNCI Edward R Roybal Award.
Jeri Onopa Born and raised in East Los Angeles I have 4 siblings, two fathers one mother. Growing up in the InterCities exposed to gangs, drugs and alcohol daily, we grew up surrounded by a strong culture with people of color. My Native Ancestors are Yaqui (mothers side) and (Pima/Papago) Akimel O’odham (fathers side) of the Sonoran Desert and of Sonora Mexico, with Spaniard in the mix.
I am a mother of 3, a Grandmother of 6, I strongly had to stand as a Cycle-Breaker to protect my kids. Being part of several sacred Ceremonies for Healing, Strength, Courage, Respect, reminds us to do Self Care, especially for our women. We have our Native Women’s Fire Circle with our 4 Medicine Carriers at Sherman Indian School, for our young sisters to join us if needed, healing, strength courage to face their future after high school.
I appreciate the stand and support Red Nation Celebration Institute has given for MMIW in “ Why We Wear Red” also for Murdered & Missing Persons. I’m honored to join the women to be a voice.