Ty Defoe: Telling Our Own Story at NYPR’s First Peoples Week

NYPR’s First Peoples Week runs Monday, Oct. 5, through Saturday, Oct. 10. | Image from Facebook.

On Thursday, Oct. 8, artist and CalArts alum Ty Defoe (Theater BFA 10) takes part in Telling Our Own Story, a program of the New York Public Radio’s First Peoples Week, a festival celebrating North American Indigenous life and history. 

Defoe (Giizhiig, Ojibwe + Onieda) will be joined by actor Tanis Parenteau (Billions), and Patricia Marroquin Norby, associate curator of Native American Art at The Met. Led by host Madeline Sayet, TED Fellow and recipient of the White House Champion of Change award, their discussion will focus on “Indigenous storytelling — the mainstream-ization of the concept, their personal practices, and how adding native narratives can help create a more inclusive, and honest, understanding of country and history,” according to the program. 

Defoe is a writer, performance artist, Grammy Award-winning musician, and educator. He recently went on a national tour with fellow CalArtian Heather Henson (Theater 00) for their play Ajijaak on Turtle Island. He also starred on Broadway in the critically acclaimed Straight White Men.

NYPR’s First Peoples Week runs Monday, Oct. 5, through Saturday, Oct. 10, and features live events, performances, a virtual exhibition, and vibrant conversations about land treaties, mascots, Indigenous representation, storytelling and more. 

Telling Our Own Story will livestream for free on Oct. 8, at 7 pm ET.