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Since our founding in 2016, we have prioritized the following: celebrate and educate about contemporary Indigenous arts and culture, create opportunities for Indigenous artists, and provide positive and accurate representation for Indigenous peoples. In the four years Seeds has been in existence, staff has joined the organization in the areas of programming, marketing, development, and production. Together we produce cultural events, programs, and workshops that celebrate and support Indigenous arts and artists throughout North America. 

TAILINH AGOYO
Director 

Tailinh Agoyo has worked in public relations, marketing, and design for over 25 years. In her early career, Tailinh was Head of Design for the international firm Monitor Group's West Coast offices. She then moved to SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market as Director of PR, Marketing, and Programming. Leveraging both traditional and social media outlets, SWAIA received international attention for Santa Fe Indian Market resulting in record 175,000 visitors for 2013. Along with two colleagues, Tailinh founded Indigenous Fine Art Market in 2014 and managed marketing and creative services for the national non-profit organization until April 2016. In May 2016, Tailinh produced EAST, an Indigenous art show in Connecticut in partnership with the Pequot Museum and Northeast Indigenous Arts Alliance. Since 2016, Tailinh has served as the director of We Are the Seeds. In its fifth year, We Are the Seeds has produced over 140 celebrations of Indigenous arts and culture and art education programs. Tailinh is also an artist and an actor. Her photography work is focused on capturing the vibrancy of Indigenous people today. The Warrior Project, a collection of photos of Native youth and their commitment to environmental stewardship has received international attention and continues to be impactful. She is the mother to four wonderful children.

​Tailinh is the Tomaquag Museum's 2020 Eleanor Dove Entrepreneur Award Recipient! Watch the honoring celebration here.

LESLIE ZAMORA
Creative Director and Program Manager

Leslie Zamora graduated from the University of Baltimore in 2017 with a B.A. in Digital Communication, with a concentration in Media Design and Production. During her time at UB, she worked in public relations and graphic design for various cultural organizations on campus. Leslie has been an associate with We Are the Seeds for two years, and continues to dedicate her work to organizations that amplify and strengthen voices that often go unheard. She works in marketing with a focus on graphic design and web design. She also manages We Are the Seeds programming and facilitates expanding community outreach. 

ZACHARIAH JULIAN
Digital Media and Artistic Producer
Zachariah Julian has produced the We Are the Seeds stage since its inception. He curates programs that are diverse, balanced, interesting, and entertaining. A musician and performer, he is knowledgeable in production and stage management. He has lived on the Apache Nation for 19 years and has been playing piano for over 20 years. Zachariah started composing when he was 16 and attended University of New Mexico majoring in Music Theory and Composition. He has just released a record called Oblique.

TCHIN
Artist Facilitator

TCHIN is an internationally known, multi-award-winning artist, specializing in silverwork. Inspired by his heritage, Tchin interprets tradition, culture, and history into undeniably contemporary, sophisticated, wearable art. He has been featured in Vogue Magazine, collaborated with Cartier, and received numerous national awards for his metalwork. His jewelry is dreamed, designed, and made by him. In addition, he is an accomplished author, flutemaker, educator, lecturer, folklorist, musician, entertainer, and clothes maker. He attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico and graduated from Rhode Island School of Design.

STEPHANIE BURSESE
Development Manger / Grant Writer

Stephanie Bursese/ Development Manager and Grant Writer (White) is working to fortify the funding opportunities and development of Seeds overall presence as a cultural leader in Philadelphia. She is an artist, teacher, activist, and overall organizer who is deeply committed to shifting perspectives on social justice issues through interaction with artists.

CASSIE ROSE MITCHELL
Community Engagement Coordinator

Cassie Rose Mitchell (Modoc/Klamath) has worked with her tribe focusing on outreach and prevention. She is also versed in marketing/communications. Cassie is an environmental advocate and artist who incorporates her peoples' ancient Indigenous designs with deep meanings into her work. Raising awareness about water and land issues on her Indigenous homeland in the Pacific Northwest has been a lifelong priority. She believes that art and awareness go hand in hand, because artwork can speak to people across the world and have a lasting impact for generations to come.  

MICHELLE ST. JOHN
Content Producer / Documentation

Michelle St. John is an established artist/producer with forty years of experience in film, television, radio and music. Michelle is a two-time Gemini Award winning actor, writer, singer, producer and director. As an actor, Michelle has appeared in Where the Spirit Lives, Smoke Signals, E.N.G. CBS’s Northern Exposure and more. Michelle was a Co-Founder of Turtle Gals Performance Ensemble, a Native women’s theatre company based in Toronto. Michelle worked with Aboriginal Voices Radio as the Host and Producer of Red Tales, a weekly Indigenous literary show. As Co-Artistic Director of Red Diva Projects, she has collaborated with playwright/director Marie Clements on several theatre, film and music productions including acclaimed live productions of The Road Forward. For several years she worked alongside filmmaker Shane Belcourt, producing several works including the short film, Apikiwiak, the documentary series Urban Native Girl and AMPLIFY, two Heritage Minutes -- Naskumituwin & Chanie Wenjack and the feature film Red Rover. As director and producer, Michelle’s documentary, Colonization Road has screened the world over and garnered a Golden Sheaf Award from the Yorkton Film Festival and a Canadian Screen Award nomination for the Donald Brittain Award – Best Social/Political Documentary. ​
Follow us at @wearetheseeds_art
Press
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance: Member Spotlight
​WHYY: From Santa Fe to Philly, We Are the Seeds wants to make indigenous artists more visible
Philadelphia Inquirer: A new festival modeled on Santa Fe's comes to Philly on Saturday
Artsy: How Native American Artists Are Getting the Market Boost They Need
​Santa Fe Reporter: The Indigenous Arts Market We Deserve
​Pasatiempo: Footloose: The fancy dancing of Sherenté Harris
​Pasatiempo: Growing Native Art
USALA Media: Thinking Constellationally with Stephanie Sena
​Santa Fe Reporter: SFR Picks
​​Pasatiempo: In bloom: A new showcase for Native art + 10 artist profiles
​Santa Fe New Mexican: Native events take off on weekend of arts and culture
​Pasatiempo: Nurturing narratives: Seeds showcases the contemporary indigenous experience
​Railyard Art Project- Allan Houser Sculpture Garden at the Santa Fe Railyard Park
​Gallup Independent: Acoma designer delights crowd at SEEDS
​Gallup Independent: Local recaptures power, identity through poetry at SEEDS

U.S. based "Native American" and/or "Indian" artists that sell artwork at We Are the Seeds events are in compliance with The Indian Arts and Crafts Act (Act) of 1990 (P.L. 101-644). These participating artists are "defined as a member of any federally or officially State recognized tribe of the United States, or an individual certified as an Indian artisan by an Indian tribe."

​We Are the Seeds is a project of CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia, a charitable 501(c)(3) trust supporting diverse cultural practices in the Philadelphia region. CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia provides a charitable home and affordable shared management resources for arts and heritage programs of diverse disciplines and cultural traditions. ​​