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𝚊𝚗𝚙𝚊'𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎

@anpa.o

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𖥔 lakota artist & director @kawathefilm
𖥔 @sundanceorg native lab alum

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This is LIFT Thursdays! Each Thursday, we’ll introduce you to one of our 2026 LIFT Awardees, sharing their stories and the projects they’re bringing to life. Meet Anpa’o Locke.

Anpa’o Locke (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe & Village of Tazlina) is a filmmaker and storyteller based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Born in the Standing Rock Nation, her work explores identity, belonging, and the intersections of Black and Indigenous experiences, examining how culture, community, and history shape individual and collective narratives.

Locke was a 2023 Native Lab Fellow and a 2022 Full Circle Fellow at the Sundance Institute (@sundanceorg), where she developed her short film “Kawá,” which follows an Afro-Indigenous teen reconnecting with their Native roots. In 2023, she co-curated “Imagining Indigenous Cinema” at the UCLA Film & Television Archive (@uclaftvarchive), a groundbreaking series featuring more than 40 films by Indigenous artists from across the United States created in the post-Standing Rock era.

Locke’s 2026 LIFT project, “Soundwaves of the Red & Black,” is a documentary short film exploring the artistic and cultural expressions of Afro-Indigenous artists Two Lips (@twolipsmusic) and the band Lindy Vision (@lindyvisionmusic). Using cinéma vérité techniques and experimental visual storytelling, the film examines how Black and Indigenous cultural backgrounds inform the artists’ music, creative practices, and political frameworks.

The work will be shared through community screenings in Tribal communities, accompanied by conversations, gathering spaces, and opportunities for dialogue.

These awards would not be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Help us restore a world crafted by Native artists with our cultures at its center: link in bio.
++++ Video used is from “Kawa,” 2024 by Anpa’o Locke, Director, Writer, and Executive Producer.

#LIFTThursdays #NACF #NativeArtists #IndigenousArtists by @anpa.o

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8 days ago

back to my roots 🥹🪶🌟💫✨ taken in Somewhere In New Mexico by @anpa.o

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5 months ago

So much gratitude for the cast and crew of Kawá! This film wouldn’t have been created without the people here. This short film was close to the heart and deeply personal, and I am so honored to have directed this project with you all.

Thank you so much for believing in this vision and contributing your talent, voice, stories, deep understanding, and compassion to the film. It was indispensable to the set and the creation of this film. It was a dream to make, and I cried so much along the way (tears of gratitude and tears of stress, of course). I hope that after this, there will be more stories about Indigenous peoples that explore all the nuances of who we are. Wopila.

This short film follows Kawá, an Afro-Indigenous teen navigating disconnection from her Native roots, and her mother, Elizabeth, a young single mother. Together, they embark on a journey of understanding, love, and reconnection as they relocate to Grandma’s house on a Lakota reservation.

Cast:
Elizabeth - Morningstar Angeline @1942morningstar
Kawá -Zoey Reyes @zozoreyes
Grandma- Billie Tohee
Aya- Lily Joy Winder @lilyjoywinder

Crew:
Written and Directed by Anpa’o Locke
Executive Producers - Erica Tremblay @ericajtremblay , Anpa’o Locke, Lejend Yazzie @dogbreeath, Hollie Hirst
Director of Photography - Shaandiin Tome @shaandiin
Producers - Razelle Benally @razellebenally, Charine Pilar Gonzales @charinepilar , Aroonsri Khamsamran @jango_khamsamran, Shaandiin Tome, and Steph Vera @stephviera_
First Assistant Camera - Jazmin Harvey @jazmeener
Assistant Director - Armando Gonzales @mokeyag
Gaffer - Matt Livingston
Key Grip - Zechariah Montoya @zechariahmontoya
Boom Operator - Forrest Goodluck
Sound Mixer - Forrest Goodluck
Costume Designer - Noni Miller @noni.celeste
Art Director - Lejend Yazzie
Set Decorator - Lejend Yazzie
Still Photographer - Sonya Burke
Marketing - Steph Vera
Composer - Forrest Goodluck
Music by Lucaa @lucaaband , TwoLips @twolipsmusic
Production Assistants -Natalie Benally @natalie_benally , Christy Bird, and Sunshine Eaton @_sunshineea_ taken in NDN Country by @anpa.o

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2 years ago

making life-long collaborators, memories and movies 🎬💫🌟

what more could you ask for 🥹 taken in NDN Country by @anpa.o

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2 months ago

I went to indigenous pathaways to check out my friend Anpa’O and Chauné’s performance and films.
I missed Anpa’o but I am still so proud and excited for her like crazy :) I did get to see Chauné’s performance girl you and Natalie did that!! So proud of you guys!
I myself start back in film school this Monday so wish me luck!! And I just found out that my semester is now covered!! Still going to be applying for more scholarships though #afroindigenous #nativesinfilm #indigenousfilmmaker #indigenousfilm #afroindigenousfilm taken in Santa Fe, New Mexico by @anpa.o

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2 months ago

@kawathefilm made its debut and screening at the Pathways Film Festival 2026!!! Director @anpa.o
DP: Shandiin Tome Gaffer: Matthew Livingston Key Grip: Zechariah Montoya. (BTS Photos on set by yours truly)

Of course it’s been my life’s narrative of being unavailable for a debut screening. Bad luck, or being too busy is my daily existence.

It’s such a great story and I can’t wait to watch it!

The Kawa film was an exciting experience. It was a blessing to join this group of talented indigenous filmmakers and support indigenous women in film!!

#pathwaysfilmfestival #kawathefilm #kawa #nmfilm by @anpa.o

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2 months ago

feeling like the most loved girl in the world 🥹🥹🌟🌟

so MUCH GRATITUDE for the cast and crew and ultimately my family, family, and partner who came to support me and my film premiere.

Kawá is a film so personal to me, and I feel like it's wearing my heart on my sleeve; so I’m indebted to the people who let me be vulnerable, transparent, and true to my spirit.

I hope you see me as much as I see you ❤️🫶🏽

Lastly, thank you to Ashley and Cole — your programming for this film festival is absolutely AMAZING. This is what Indigenous film programming is supposed to be: close to the community 🫶🏽 thanks for seeing Kawá as apart of this vision. 💕🌟 taken in Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino by @anpa.o

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2 months ago

Incredibly excited to announce that Kawá will be premiering at Pathways Indigenous Arts Festival 2026 at Buffalo Thunder Resort. Dreaming and creating this project with the most amazing and talented people was such a dream, and I cannot wait to share it with the world.

The screening is on August 15th with the ‘From The Heart’ shorts block. I hope to see you there!

Thank you to Cole Forrest @cole.forrest.art and Ashley Browning @ybutterfly2. In immense gratitude to you both, wopila <3

Cast:
Elizabeth - Morningstar Angeline @1942morningstar
Kawá -Zoey Reyes @zozoreyes
Grandma- Billie Tohee
Aya- Lily Joy Winder @lilyjoywinder

Crew:
Written and Directed by Anpa’o Locke
Executive Producers - Erica Tremblay @ericajtremblay , Anpa’o Locke, Lejend Yazzie @dogbreeath, Hollie Hirst
Director of Photography - Shaandiin Tome @shaandiin
Producers - Razelle Benally @razellebenally, Charine Pilar Gonzales @charinepilar , Aroonsri Khamsamran @jango_khamsamran, Shaandiin Tome, and Steph Vera @stephviera_
First Assistant Camera - Jazmin Harvey @jazmeener
Assistant Director - Armando Gonzales @mokeyag
Gaffer - Matt Livingston @5_fingered_being
Key Grip - Zechariah Montoya @zechariahmontoya
Boom Operator - Forrest Goodluck
Sound Mixer - Forrest Goodluck
Costume Designer - Noni Miller @noni.celeste
Art Director - Lejend Yazzie
Set Decorator - Lejend Yazzie
Still Photographer - Sonya Burke
Marketing - Steph Vera
Music by Lucaa @lucaaband , TwoLips @twolipsmusic
Production Assistants -Natalie Benally @natalie_benally , Christy Bird, and Sunshine Eaton @_sunshineea_ taken in Santa Fe, New Mexico by @anpa.o

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2 months ago

life’s easy (and cheesy) when ur in love with ur best friend :’) 🫶🏽🌟✨

📷: @kingkhu13 ty for this sick shot taken in Albuquerque, New Mexico by @anpa.o

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5 months ago

bolex baddies 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ 16mm always and forever 🫶🏽

shout out to chauné to being the most beautiful and talented 😘💖 so much fun to shoot 🥹 taken in Santa Fe, New Mexico by @anpa.o

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6 months ago

truly your fave black ndn princess 🙂‍↕️✨🌹

photographer: @gilbert__terrazas by @anpa.o

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7 months ago

went back to oceti sakowin for the welcoming back the thunders ceremony 💖🫶🏽✨ I missed being home 🥺 taken in Black Elk Peak by @anpa.o

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7 months ago