Master Storyteller / Teacher / Singer / Director / Writer / Cultural Consultant
Journeys to the Past is a California Indian presentation that shows the beauty of our culture and ignites others to discover their own!This unique program takes students on a journey into the lifestyle of the California Indian, in particular the Acjachemen Nation, which flourished in Southern California hundreds of years before the Spanish influx. Jacque shares through stories and songs her people's indigenous tools, instruments, games and clothing. She includes how American Indians preserve their culture today by participating in Intertribal Pow wows. The children view traditional dances and even get the chance to participate. Students leave with a wonderful understanding of "environmentalism" and what it means to be "keepers of the earth."
JACQUE TAHUKA-NUNEZ
"Sharing stories that enlighten encourage and empower others!"
Master Storyteller / Teacher / Singer / Director / Writer / Cultural Consultant
Jacque has made a successful career out of sharing her Acjachemen ancestor's story. She prides herself on preserving and passing her culture along through the oral Native American tradition of storytelling.
While attending college at USC, she traveled across the country competing on the National Collegiate Speech Circuit and American Forensic League. She received the Most Outstanding Speaker Award from USC for three years and numerous medals for superior accomplishments, including 1st Place Gold Medal National Speech Competition. After graduating from USC and Pacific Christian College she began to teach in elementary schools, where she enjoyed teaching for over 17 years.
Her storytelling career has become somewhat of a story in itself. She has shared her stories at Disneyland, Los Angeles and Anaheim Convention Centers, hundreds of schools, libraries, non-profit entities and also at several Southern California city events. She is one of the most requested Artists from the Orange Country Performing Arts Center.
Throughout her career she has received several esteemed awards, Lois Wright Memorial Award, Outstanding Service Award - Mayor Tom Bradley, Five Jewel Award for Outstanding Achievement, Outstanding Tribal Community Contribution Award and Most Outstanding Teacher Award.Jacque was also selected to be the First Director of the Veteran's Arts Festival and the Assistant Director of Marlton School of Deaf production of "Cats" performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Jacque has also been given the opportunity to perform the National Anthem at both the unveiling of new United States Postal Stamps and the Angel's Stadium. She has performed her Journeys to the Past on Stage for large venues such as Disneyland, Kavli Performing Arts Center and Special Arts Festival.
While she continues storytelling at schools and large venues she recently taped and performed an original story on PBS Children's Television Show. While creating her original story for PBS she was inspired to create a new series of children's books.
Jacque resides in San Juan Capistrano, California with her husband Ed Nunez and their children.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our goal is to educate and enlighten others to our precious culture while encourageing them to capture their own heritage. People learn with all senses and our programs celebrate everyone's diversity and gifts.
Let Journeys to the Past touch your life!
http://www.journeystothepast.com/kits.html
