Wes Studi
Keynote
Actor, Artist and Musician
Cherokee actor, artist and musician Wes Studi, the first Native American actor to receive an Oscar, will be the keynote speaker at the all virtual 2020 AISES National Conference. Wes will share his experiences on the role of purpose, resiliency and increasing the visibility of Native representation and peoples in the communities that surround us, locally and internationally.
The eldest son of a ranch hand, Wes was born in 1947 in Nofire Hollow, in Northeastern Oklahoma. He spoke only his native Cherokee until he was 5. Wes joined the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. With only 12 months left of his six-year service, he volunteered to go to Vietnam. After an honorable military discharge, Wes returned home with a fire in the belly, and became seriously involved with Native American politics.
Wes first took the professional stage in 1984 with “Black Elk Speaks” and has never looked back. In 1990, Wes portrayed a memorable Pawnee warrior in “Dances with Wolves.” Two years later he landed the role of Magua in Michael Mann’s “The Last of the Mohicans,” the performance that put him on the map.
Throughout his 30-year career he’s won numerous awards, including several First Americans in the Arts awards and the 2009 Santa Fe Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, Wes made history by becoming the first Native American actor to receive an Oscar. In a statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Wes was honored “for portraying strong Native American characters with poignancy and authenticity.” Interestingly, acting was never a goal in Wes’ youth.
Wes has taken a national leadership role in the promotion and preservation of indigenous languages, acting as the spokesperson for the Santa Fe-based Indigenous Language Institute, and working as a language consultant on several films, including “Avatar” and the PBS documentary “We Shall Remain.” He’s also active in encouraging the next generation of filmmakers and performers, providing mentorship and participating in apprenticeship programs.
Lillian Sparks Robinson
Master of Ceremonies
CEO and owner of Wopila Consulting, LLC
A member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Lillian has worked in Washington, D.C., for nearly 20 years, devoting her career to supporting the educational pursuits of Native American students, protecting the rights of Indigenous people, and empowering tribal communities. In 2010, Lillian was appointed by President Obama, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to serve as commissioner for the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans. In this role she worked on programs and policy, including impacting Native languages, education, and social and economic development for American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.
Prior to her service at ANA, Lillian served as the executive director of the National Indian Education Association, where she focused on education policy and appropriations impacting Indigenous students. A former staff attorney at the National Congress of American Indians, Lillian has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being named one of seven young Native American Leaders by USA Today Magazine, one of “40 Under 40” by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, and American Indian Woman of the Year. A graduate of Morgan State University and Georgetown University Law Center, Lillian lives in Baltimore, Md., with her husband, Corey, and son, Connor.
Sage Cornelius
Closing Ceremony Entertainer
Musician
Sage Cornelius is young native musician from Topeka, Kansas, whom effortlessly puts a unique mean spin on the traditional violin as well as his 7-string electric violin. Sage first started playing music at eight years old upon hearing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels and hasn’t stopped since. Since then, Sage has been seen busking on the streets, playing in symphonic orchestras, shredding in metal bands, accompanying mariachi bands, playing alongside hip hop artists as well as completing multiple US and European tours with national recording soul singer Shawn James and most recently collaborating with world renowned internet YouTube vlogger, Jared Dines.
Sage’s catalogue of music embodies multiple genres ranging from classic rock ballads, cinematic movie themes, EDM anthems, acoustic jams, hip hop tributes and heavy metal head-banging originals. He hopes that his musical performances will have something for everyone of all ages that attends his show.
Sage has also spent time as a private music teacher and has done various workshops with native youth over the years over concepts of entrepreneurship and marketing as an independent artist. On his artist page, his mission states, “With the right tools provided, we have overwhelmingly large amounts of potential.” Sage wishes to empower and be an inspiration to all that hears and sees his performances. Get ready to rock!
