Martin Sensmeier’s journey into acting was shaped by his upbringing in rural Alaska, where he was immersed in his Tlingit and Koyukon-Athabascan heritage traditions. From a young age, he was drawn to storytelling and cultural ceremonies, which sparked his passion for the performing arts.
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Martin’s breakout role came in “The Magnificent Seven,” where he portrayed a young warrior alongside stars like Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. His commanding performance earned him widespread praise and established him as a rising talent.
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He has since continued to captivate audiences with roles in “Wind River” and “Yellowstone,” earning critical acclaim for his authenticity and depth. In addition to acting, Martin is committed to amplifying Indigenous voices and promoting cultural representation in media.
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With upcoming projects like “Cottonmouth,” “Ice Fall,”and “Wind River: The Next Chapter,” Martin’s star continues to rise. Proud of his Indigenous heritage, he remains dedicated to creating opportunities for future generations of Indigenous talent, both in front of and behind the camera.
My name is Brittany Schulman, and I’m the Vice President of Indigenous Leadership & Educational Programs at Native Americans in Philanthropy. As an enrolled citizen of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe, a traditional storyteller, and a results-driven educator, I’m committed to ensuring that Indigenous values are not only included, but at the forefront in every conversation. Today, I want to show you how Indigenous values are essential for reshaping evaluation.
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To say that we, as Indigenous peoples, are the first philanthropists implies that our societies worked similarly to that of our current capitalist system; that there was a need for mechanisms that kept the wealthy wealthy while supporting a charity mindset. Many of our civilizations and societies did not operate from this framework. We had different methods of redistribution, including what were known as giveaways, potlatches, and throws. Many of our ceremonies included processes of resource distribution. It was important and imperative to be a good relative.
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This distinction — wealth as resource versus wealth as relationship — is key when trying to understand how our societies functioned. Indigenous peoples viewed wealth quite differently than Euro-American systems. Wealth was not the acquisition of resources, but something based on relationships. The measure of wealth was based on how many sisters, brothers, clan members, aunts, uncles, and cousins you had and how you interacted with all of them. Were you a good relative?
