“I could be a ninja, I could be a pirate or I could be in a play y’know.”

This movie shows that perspective from Scott’s character, and I love it. It shows the American Indians as the ones who respect and help out when people are needed. It’s a nice little twist.

Well to me growing, up I’ve had my own psychological war with my parents dying at such a young age. My mother was killed by a drunk driver, then two months later my father drowned.

I’m not gonna fall. I’m tired of falling. I’m tired of seeing our people fall. I don’t believe in failure.

Smoke Signals really mirrored the way I grew up and how I felt, and that movie was the first time I’d dealt with my parents’ death and how I felt that loss and sadness and anger.

It’s what we put in our minds and our hearts to succeed. And success isn’t about money.

Acting for me was an escape and it wasn’t until Smoke Signals that made me realize that acting is a personal development and challenge to grow.

I think when I started acting it was the first time I got the freedom of expression.

When faced with structural injustice, especially in the form of oppressive military occupations,

We [Americans] have a historical trauma when it comes to the past relationships when it comes to Native Americans and the history of how America was created.

Ever since I started acting, I’ve always spoken to our people about identity. I’ve spoken to kids, telling them: “Where do I get my strength to push through the barriers to get me where I’m at today? It’s my culture and my traditions, you know?

Growing up with sexual abuse and having to be in gangs and dealing with my own trauma; finding the cultural identity when I was 16, and learning those traditional ways saved me from hurting myself.

We [Native Americans] respect being human beings, but also the natural and spiritual world and I thought that came across wonderfully

I was able to express certain emotions and feelings that I could put into other characters, so it was a good way for me to run away from ho I personally was.

Success isn’t about the biggest house in the world. Success is about loving your family, taking care of your child.

We have to know that they exist and we have to take care of those traumas and learn to heal from them.

I carry two traditional pipes and I sing my songs and pray that us as human beings treat each other with respect. So when it came to trying to portray a connection on screen, that’s what you see.

Before embarking on important undertakings sit quietly calm your senses and thoughts and meditate deeply. You will then be guided by the great creative power of Spirit.

It is not society which is to guide and save the creative hero, but precisely the reverse.

The commitment to love always transforms, heals, and opens new avenues of creativity.

He’s a little bit you and a little bit me. But mostly he is himself. Filled with empathy, curiosity, and creativity. And wrapped in our love.

Fear creates space for creativity. Love creates space for healing.

Daydream, imagine, and reflect. It’s the source of infinite creativity.

To live creatively free, do what you know how to do now, then ‘act as if’ you know how to do the rest.

I view my role more as trying to set up an environment where the personalities, creativity and individuality of all the different employees come out and can shine.