Frybread Face and Me

Representation in Cinema

Frybread Face and Me is a 2023 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Billy Luther. It follows the story of a young boy named Benny who comes from San Diego to spend the summer with his Navajo “Dine” grandmother on her reservation in Arizona. There he meets and bonds with his cousin Frybread Face, and the film explores their family’s legacy and their personalities as they try to make sense of the world around them and the people that they may become. Angelina Hilton, Maureen Connell, and Casey Magaris join us on the podcast to discuss complex family relationships, gender, and culture to name a few themes.

Angelina Hilton is an enrolled member of the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, a devoted wife and mother, an emerging artist, and the visionary behind Native Made. At its core, Native Made exists to increase Indigenous visibility. Her initiative offers marketing and other services for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Angelina is on the Indigenous Advisory Sub Committee for Indigenous People’s Day Committee and a volunteer with the Indigenous Health Coalition with Common Ground. She values family involvement and balances work with passions like photography and writing. Angelina's journey embodies cultural ties, family commitment, and advocacy. As a wife, mother, artist, and activist, she inspires inclusivity and positive change. Discover more at nativemadehq.com and connect at [e-mail].

Maureen Connell is Indigenous Mexican and Spanish and is part of the LGBTQIA+ community. She was born in Mexico City, Mexico and moved to Rochester, New York when she was 7 years old. Maureen earned a Master's Degree in clinical Psychology while living in Seattle, Washington where she practiced mental health therapy. She also practiced in Barrow, Alaska, and Lake Havasu, Arizona before returning to Rochester, NY in 2016 where she worked as a dual diagnosis therapist at Evelyn Brandon with a focus on women and trauma. However, after years of working for clinics that did not address Indigenous/ Native American healthcare in a holistic way, in 2017, Maureen stepped away from clinical work with a personal desire to help raise awareness of this inequity. In 2021, along with Casey Magaris, Maureen started the first Indigenous/ Native American Employee Resource Group at Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield. She is also a member of the steering committee of the Indigenous Health Coalition through Common Ground Health Initiative.

Casey Magaris has worked in the healthcare and insurance fields for over 20 years. Along with Maureen Connell, Casey created the Indigenous Employee Resource group with Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield. She is a member of the steering committee of the Indigenous Health Coalition through Common Ground Health Initiative, and a staunch advocate for health equity among the Haudenosaunee. Casey is an enrolled member of the Akwesasne Mohawk tribe and a proud descendent of residential school survivors. In her free time, Casey enjoys time with family, beadworking and crafting.

The Representation in Cinema podcast is hosted by Our Voices Project. We are a production company committed to embracing identity, celebrating resiliency, and promoting visibility through uplifting the voices and sharing the lived experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples through our films, Representation in Cinema podcast episodes, and live panel discussions.

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