Owner of M.I.T.
Hi, my name is Kayshia Wayka (Kay-shh-uh Way-kuh). I'm an enrolled member of the Menominee Tribe from Wisconsin. I'm also Stockbridge Munsee and Minicounjou Lakota. Wisconsin is my ancestral homeland and home to my heart.
I have a degree in social work and studied screenwriting. I have also always been drawn to the art of film and entertainment. I combined my love of film and entertainment with my passion for advocating for Indigenous people by creating Midwest Indigenous Talent.
My Story
Since I was 10 years old I wanted to be in the film industry. I grew up watching movies and behind the scenes with my father on DVD. I was always amazed at every single part that contributed to the overall project. As I learned more about the industry, I was discouraged by the lack of resources in the Midwest, representation, and competitiveness to really know where to begin. I also was apart of the generation of young natives whos elders instilled in their minds that we needed to get an education and return home to help the tribal community. I've always been a helping soul so I got my degree in social work. I did this for 5 years, and got a job I always wanted in the field. However, I felt like something was missing still, so I decided to pursue a passion of mine and did screenwriting/script editing. In doing so I learned a lot about the film and entertainment industry. With more Indigenous people making moves in the industry today, I felt inspired and told myself "I can help others like me get there." I thought why not combined my skills, knowledge, and passion to do something for this under represented group I'm apart of. That when I decided to establish Midwest Indigenous Talent.