Tomás with his grandmother, Paula Juárez López, and his two sisters, Lily and Vanessa.
Tomás Karmelo Amaya, born for the A:shiwi, Rarámuri, and Yoeme tribes, is a creative director, film director, writer and visual artist born, raised, and currently based in the traditional homelands of The O’odham in Phoenix, AZ.
His work focuses on creating opportunities for healing by embracing Indigenous teachings and knowledge systems in his expressions and collaborations. Raised by traditional healers, story tellers, and innovators he views the world through a trauma and healing informed lens in a process he describes as creating visual medicine.
Whether using analog tools or the latest technology, he is particularly interested in celebrating resiliency in all its forms and looks forward to writing more love letters to the future.
He is a co-founder of a media agency and production company KANION, a wellness instructor for The Native Wellness Institute, and a co-founder of The Indigenous 20 Something Project and Native Love Stories.
His work has been published with Vogue, The New York Times, Nike, Apple, CNN, Google, The Guardian, and Outside Magazine among several others.