Indigenous Artist

Kiana Younker, is a descendant of Kitzn Jin jn Ghallahd-a-lu’ee (Miluk Coos) and Gishgiu (Upper Coquille). Her tribal heritage is Coquille, which is a federally recognized tribe. Kiana believes that an essential part of her practice is her indigenous heritage, and letting history and culture inform her art. Born in Eugene, OR and based in New Haven, CT, Kiana is a teaching artist, choreographer and dance practitioner of many forms and styles of theatre and dance. She received her Bachelors in Dance and her MFA in Arts Management at The University of Alabama. Kiana's dance career is heavily based in research movement, and honoring her tribal heritage through dance practice and performance. Recent credits include movement workshops for Lurks Behind Vol. 2 for SDWx, a re-staging of the Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane Dance Company's Power/Full, and various research projects including Provenance by Morgan Jackson, My Fathers House by Derreck Williams, and Sea Legs by Ricky Dieter.

INDIGENOUS ANCESTRY

Other

SELF-IDENTIFICATION

Coquille Indian Tribe