Gene Tagaban (USA)

Gene Tagaban, “One Crazy Raven” is an inspirational speaker, performer, and storyteller with twenty years of experience. He is a trainer and board member for the Native Wellness Institute. He has been a featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, the 12th Annual Storytelling Festival in Kansas City, and the Bay Area Storytelling festival in Berkley. He can be seen on Northwest Indian News and Native Entertainment Network. He is also featured in the films “Shadow of the Salmon” and Sherman Alexie’s “The Business of Fancydancing.” He was honoured to perform with the Dalai Lama in the presence of an audience of 16,000 children at the “Seeds of Compassion” gathering in Seattle and the Nature Conservancies 50th anniversary with Jane Goodall.

Gene’s foremost passion is teaching. Using his gift of storytelling, dance, and music, he travels across the country performing, presenting, and facilitating workshops on suicide prevention, empowerment, leadership, relationship-building, communication skills, self-awareness, spirit and honour to participants of all ages.

Gene’s passion for his work shines through in his polished, powerful yet playful manner of engaging participants. Believing that learning and laughter go hand-in-hand, he educates and entertains through a skilful blend of knowledge, humour, examples, stories, discussion, and activities. His very “real” and genuine approach often turns even the most reluctant attendee into an eager participant. He’s not afraid to get personal. By openly sharing his traditions, culture and past experiences, Gene helps audiences identify and laugh at their own faults while simultaneously sparking in them a desire to improve.

Website: Facebook