Who we are
At the Wōrak Horak Youth Organization, we are dedicated to empowering Winnebago youth to share their stories, deeply rooted in our rich cultural heritage.
Our Native-led organization offers hands-on filmmaking workshops that guide young storytellers through the pre-production, production, and post-production phases of creating their own films.
By utilizing Ho-Chunk culture, history, teachings, values, and language, we embrace modern technology to preserve our narratives for future generations.
Our Mission is to nurture Winnebago stories. We aim to empower, inspire and cultivate the next generation of Native storytellers. We're not just educating; we're preserving culture and shaping the future of Native representation in media.
WHY WE DO IT
Through our innovative dual-approach model, we offer an immersive 10-week summer film program alongside professional video production services. This unique structure not only provides hands-on learning for our youth but also generates sustainable revenue to fuel our programs.
We're not just preserving our rich cultural heritage; we're revolutionizing how it's shared. By bridging the gap between Native youth and tribal elders, we're enabling a new generation to capture, share, and perpetuate our stories in ways that are both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition.
Nurturing more than just technical skills; we're fostering creativity, instilling cultural pride, and providing a sanctuary for artistic expression. Our impact reverberates far beyond the individual, as we cultivate a new wave of storytellers poised to return to their communities and rewrite the narrative of Native people in media.
When you choose Wōrak Horak for your video production needs, you're not just receiving top-tier content - Your support directly fuels the dreams of Native youth and ensures the preservation of our invaluable cultural narratives.
Youth Interviews
We believe our youth deserve to share their voices, and we enjoy hearing from them! Our goal is to get our Winnebago youth to think about filmmaking & media as potential career options and how they can apply that to the Winnebago community.
2025 Summer Youth Film Camp: Cohort Interviews pt. 1
During our 2025 Summer Youth Film Camp, we conducted practice interviews with our cohort. They learned about the basic setup for interview lighting, and a two camera set-up. Also being challenged to think critically while being interviewed about the process of filmmaking.
2025 Summer Youth Film Camps: Cohort Interviews pt. 2
Check out these behind-the-scenes interviews featuring a couple of our youth alumni from the 2025 Summer Youth Film Camp! We enjoyed working with this group of kids, and they really enjoyed the animation workshops!
Our Mission
Our Mission is to nurture Winnebago stories. We aim to empower, inspire and cultivate the next generation of Native American storytellers. We’re not just educating; we’re preserving culture and shaping the future of Native representation in the media.
Our Vision
Our vision is to see Winnebago stories preserved, celebrated, and shared by empowered Native storytellers shaping the future of media and cultural representation. We see a world where Native youth reclaim their narratives, honor their heritage, and inspire global audiences through the power of storytelling.