Mending the Sacred Hoop – An Indigenous Artist’s Tale of Healing and Reclamation
Mending the Sacred Hoop – An Indigenous Artist’s Tale of Healing and Reclamation
This short film by Yingna Wu follows Joe Galarza, a multidisciplinary artist from East Los Angeles and a proud member of the Garuatuka Numunu (Comanche) Nation. Rooted in street culture and Indigenous tradition, Joe’s art is a fierce expression of resistance, survival, and reclamation.
Through painting, music, and sculpture, Joe gives voice to the struggles and spirit of his community — transforming pain into power and memory into movement. His work speaks of colonial violence, systemic injustice, and cultural survival, drawing on both ancestral knowledge and lived experience.
From the streets of East LA to the sacred stories of his people, Joe’s art is both a personal and political act of healing — a vibrant piece in the ongoing mending of the sacred hoop.
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Film Maker
Helena Yingna Wu
United States
Helena is a dedicated filmmaker with an adventurous spirit. She has filming experiences across China, Africa, and America. She’s affiliated with the Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) based in Los Angeles.
Born and raised in a small town in China, Helena was a tomboy who enjoyed climbing trees, swimming in rivers, and defending justice. She graduated with an MA degree in English literature from Beijing Foreign Studies University. She worked for China Global TV Network as a documentary director and producer for over a decade.
Helena directed 15 documentaries across China on its people and social changes. She was based in Nairobi, Kenya between 2012 and 2019. In 2015, she directed “ When Chinese Meet Zambians” garnering 2.9 million hits on YouTube. The film was featured in PBS SoCal’s “Global Mosaic” series. In 2019, she directed “ The Island ” on Zanzibar, winning “Best Medium Documentary” at the Heritales Film Festival in Portugal.
While based in Africa, Helena was also the showrunner and producer for a documentary series called “Faces of Africa”, spanning 200 episodes across 30 countries. The series was a Silver Winner at The Telly Awards in 2018 and was recognized by global organizations including UNESCO.
In 2023, Helena graduated with an MFA degree in film from ArtCenter College of Design. She has expanded into narrative filmmaking. Her psychological short film “The Counseling” was a winner at the IndieFest Film Awards and a finalist at the Independent Shorts Awards.