American Indian humanitarian, activist/visionary, entrepreneur, established actress, recording artist and award-winning filmmaker, Joanelle Romero founded - The American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles in 2006, and her non-profit Red Nation Celebration created and produced 7 Inaugural Historic cultural events in The City of Los Angeles during the month of November; Red Nation Celebration & Joanelle Romero receives green light from Mayor Villaraigosa 2006.
Joanelle Romero, founder of 13 year old American Indian owned and operated Red Nation Celebration (RNC), a nonprofit organization, produced the vision and creation of the American Indian Heritage Month to The City of Los Angeles. RNC is the leading producer in the City of Los Angeles with well over 10 events and growing each year for our American Indian Heritage Month including estabished events; Mayors Reception, Respecting the Water of Life Ceremony's, Film Festival, Native Youth Films, Concert Series, Native Comedy Industry Night, Enviromental Youth Empowerment Summit, American Indian Parade - Downtown, Pau Wau, Indian Market, Poetry Jam, Art Exhibit, Workshops for youth, International Indigenous Sacred Women's Council & Conference, American Indian Holocaust Memorial, and Heritage Ball Honoring Our Legends - Opening & Closing Gala Events as well as our Annual American Indian Cultural & Heritage Program Book.
“We chose Los Angeles for our inaugural event,” says Joanelle, “because this city is the home of the largest American Indian urban population in the United States. It is the second largest city in the country and the entertainment capital of the world; Mayor Villaraigosa has proudly stood alongside us to bring our heritage month to fruition.”“We use this celebration of our American Indian Heritage Month to focus the world’s attention on the unique strength of our communities and the contributions of our outstanding achievements in the performing arts and to spread the message globally that Indian country is strong today,” says Joanelle.
We stand strong together in featuring more than 20 American Indian Tribes in the Southern California region, & over 500 nations celebrating their culture, heritage, tradition, living performing arts. RNC highlights are local tribes and nations that were here first in the City of Los Angeles the Juaneno, Acjachemen, Chumash, Cahuillas and the Tongva.
“For the first time since the Europeans came to this land; our American Indian children & communities will see their image once again in this city. This is the vision, this is the ceremony, this is the dream, ” says Joanelle.
In 1992, Senator John Kerry declared that November be set aside as American Indian Heritage Month. And while American Indian activities have been produced over the years, there had never been a mayor of any city who has officially recognized our Heritage month – until now.In September 2001, Joanelle approached Margie Reese in the Office of Cultural Affairs and suggested to her that the city needed to observe American Indian Heritage Month.
Six years of hard work, November 2006, Margie and Joanelle kept that commitment and with the City of Los Angeles support launched the first annual American Indian Heritage Month in The City of Los Angeles. As founder of Red Nation Celebration, the oldest and longest-running American Indian non-profit organization funded by the Office of Cultural Affairs in Los Angeles, Joanelle received the blessing and support from all local 19 tribal Chairmen and representatives including local American Indian spiritual leaders and then presented to Mayor Villaraigosa her dream and gave him the opportunity to be the first Mayor to officially recognize American Indian Heritage Month. In January of 2006, the Mayor and the City of Los Angeles said “yes,” and the rest is history.
Although some Angelinos may know very little about the rich culture that is such an important part of Los Angeles’ history, Red Nation’s goal is to introduce the city to the unique and diverse cultures of the American Indian. Red Nation Celebration dedicated last year’s American Indian Heritage Month to the late Edward Albert Jr., Commissioner of American Indian Affairs for the State of California, Co-founder and commissioner of Malibu’s American Indian Task Force; award winning actor, community activist, and Red Nation Board member.
Joanelle Romero has been of service in Indian country and American Indian communities for 30 years.
