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 five 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
Executive Director
|
Tailinh Agoyo is the co-founder and director of We Are the Seeds of CultureTrust, which has produced more than 175 public programs, including From Here, With a View: A We Are the Seeds Philadelphia Podcast. She is also co-founder of Project Antelope, an Indigenous-led online marketplace supporting Indigenous artists through community-driven, ethical commerce.
Her work centers on elevating opportunities for Indigenous artists, building connections, and creating platforms that honor Indigenous cultures through storytelling and creative expression. Tailinh previously served as head of design for a global consulting firm’s West Coast offices and as director of public relations, marketing, and programming for SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market. She co-founded Indigenous Fine Art Market, and produced EAST, an Indigenous art show in partnership with the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Northeast Indigenous Arts Alliance. Through her work, Tailinh has developed an expansive view of how to support and lift Indigenous artists and communities. |
ZACHARIAH JULIAN
Director of Artistic Production
|
Zachariah Julian has led We Are the Seeds Philly stage programming since its inception, curating diverse, balanced, and engaging performances. He has composed original music for From Here, With a View: A We Are the Seeds Philadelphia Podcast, Project Obtuse (the 2024 immersive multimedia performance exploring color, sound, and movement in response to historical injustices), and other Seeds productions.
In addition to his work as a composer, Zachariah produces and hosts From Here, With a View, develops content across We Are the Seeds’ social media channels, and maintains the organization’s podcast archive. A musician and theater maker with more than 20 years of experience, he brings deep expertise in production, sound design, and stage management. Zachariah began composing at age 16 and studied Music Theory & Composition at the University of New Mexico. His 2021 album Oblique features tracks such as In Braid, Paper Ghost, Tattoo, Symphony, and the title track Oblique. In 2024, he released the single Skin (feat. Brian Burton). His evolving body of work spans genres, continually pushing the boundaries of composition and performance. |
MICHELLE ST. JOHN
Managing Director of Content and Production
|
Michelle St. John is the Executive Producer of From Here, With a View: A We Are the Seeds Philadelphia Podcast, which centers Indigenous perspectives on life, art, and community. She supports We Are the Seeds’ strategic decision-making, grant writing, team management, and developing Seeds programming, creative content and special projects.
An award-winning artist and producer, Michelle brings more than 40 years of experience across film, television, radio, theater, and music. Her acclaimed documentary Colonization Road earned a Golden Sheaf Award from the Yorkton Film Festival and a Canadian Screen Award nomination for the Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary. Michelle’s storytelling practice reflects a lifelong commitment to dismantling colonial narratives, honoring Indigenous continuance, and ensuring representation that is both truthful and transformative. |
TCHIN
Education and Cultural Programs
|
Tchin is an internationally known, multi-award-winning artist, educator, and cultural leader whose wisdom and experience have helped guide We Are the Seeds since its founding. His dedication to the organization continues to shape its direction, and we are profoundly thankful for all that he brings to our work.
He plays a key role in shaping educational programming and strategy for We Are the Seeds, helping to develop opportunities rooted in Indigenous knowledge for learners of all ages. As an elder and educator, he continues to share knowledge and inspire the next generations through workshops and mentorship. Tchin teaches jewelry at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and regularly leads workshops in flute making and playing, corn husk doll making, basketweaving, storytelling, and other traditional arts. As a master silversmith, Tchin creates contemporary jewelry that reflects his ancestors, each piece dreamed, designed, and handcrafted by him. His work has been featured in Vogue Magazine, he has collaborated with Cartier, and honored with numerous national awards. He studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. |
CASSIE ROSE MITCHELL
Community Engagement Coordinator
|
Cassie Rose Mitchell is an artist, environmental advocate, and key member of the We Are the Seeds team. She contributes to program development and public events, supports public relations, and leads social media coordination and strategy for the organization—helping to amplify Indigenous voices and bring greater visibility to our work.
Cassie has worked with the Modoc/Klamath Tribal Nations, focusing on outreach and prevention. A dedicated environmental advocate, she works to raise awareness about critical water and land issues affecting her Indigenous homelands in the Pacific Northwest—a cause that has been central to her life and activism. She believes that art and awareness go hand in hand, and that creative work can speak across generations and geographies, making a lasting impact. As an artist, Cassie incorporates her peoples’ ancient Indigenous designs and deep cultural meanings into her work, honoring tradition while helping to shape a more just future. |
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.
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.
|
|
|
|