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Next Generation Spotlight: Isabella Lablanc
February 28, 2010
By Rhiana Yazzie
Isabella Lablanc concentrates on the wording of a project about how the American Indian Movement revolutionized America. A big topic for a 12-year-old? Perhaps not. Isabella is the daughter of former AIM member Tom Lablanc, a poet, musician, and poster child for the movement. Everything indicates that Isabella is following in her father’s footsteps, including having a tendency for the performing arts. She will be performing a monologue about her project this week at a gathering for her entire school. This will not be the first time she has had the spotlight. Isabella may already be living in the imaginations of hundreds of Twin Cities’ school children who saw her in the 2008 lead role in SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development’s Rainbow Crow. [Full disclosure: I am the author of Rainbow Crow, which featured Isabella Lablanc in 2008].
A member of the Sisseton Wapeton Dakota Nation, Isabella walks a fine line between two cultures. Her mother is of German American heritage while her father is Dakota. Like many young Native American people, she is quite aware of what it means to be indigenous in the U.S. today. She says that she has to pay attention to both cultures.
“I can’t go half and half. I have to put my whole self into each culture. You have to put your whole self into life, not split yourself in half,” she said.
In what ways have your parents positively influenced your ideas about being a Native person in Minnesota today?
My dad grew up not knowing his culture; [he was adopted at a young age]. He wants me to be Native as I can be. My mom has let me decide what I want to do, not forcing [her] culture on me. Both are supportive of being Native and proud.
What makes you proud about being Native American?
We did go through a lot [as a people] but we’re still here and practicing our traditions even though people tried so hard to evaporate our culture. Even after 500 years, we survived it. We’re unique how we’re connected to the earth and how we appreciate what we have. Everything was used and nothing was wasted in our culture. Especially with global warming, the world needs to relearn what Native people already know.
How do you see yourself contributing to the Native American community now and in the future?
I am the generation after the American Indian Movement. AIM could have done all this work to help bring back culture but if [my generation doesn’t] carry it on it won’t matter. Dancing, participating, learning from my dad [are ways that I contribute to the community now.] In the future, I want to take my kids to powwows and teach them to dance and to bead so we can keep our culture going too.
What advice do you have for other Native American youth interested in performing arts?
You really have to search yourself as a Native person, not just as an actor. Know you’re a Native actor. It also makes you more intriguing. Make sure when you’re auditioning to tell them that you are Native even if it’s not a Native play. It helps keep you in [producers’] minds and makes you stick out from the crowd.
