Tonia Jo Hall
Tonia Jo Hall
Laughter is a form of medicine and our Goddess feature this issue has brought so much good medicine when it has been needed the most. If this is your first introduction to Tonia Jo Hall then we must share that she is so much more than a comedian, although she does that job really well. Tonia is a mother, a pow-wow dancer, an artist, motivational speaker, a storyteller, and a GODDESS.
Tonia is Lakota, Dakota, and Hidatsa and grew up in in what is known as Fort Berthold in central North Dakota on the land of the Three Affiliated Tribes: the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, as well as on the Standing Rock Lakota Nation in what is known as South Dakota. Tonia grew up dancing in Pow Wows across both communities as a jingle dress dancer. Her mother was a champion fancy dancer and taught her the songs and movements. Tonia shared that “the movements, the jingle dress, and the drums are healing.”
Tonia has embarked on a new venture in the Tea with Tonia podcast and in her first episode she shares so much about the uncertainty of her youth and what her experience was like with parents who were alcoholics. Her vulnerability in her storytelling is so special and sparks the sincerity that our community needs more of. Her laughter as she reflects on her family and the lessons she learned from them is infectious. Many of us, I imagine, can relate to the complexity and confluence of laughter and pain and healing. By coming out of the shadows of her past, Tonia is lighting the way for our younger sisters and daughters. Ahéhee' to our sister Tonia for making it easier to share our stories and to find the humor.
Photo from Native Max Magazine
Follow Tonia on facebook at ToniaJoHall
on instagram @toniajohall
you can view more of her videos on Youtube at youtube.com/user/toniajohall
“In 2011, I started making videos. I didn’t have a fancy phone or camera. I was a broke college kid with two babies in Pampers. I just wanted to make my people laugh. It was my way of giving back, even if I only had two likes at the beginning. My goal was to reach the little kids to the elders. I wanted our people to have access through a screen from the comfort of their homes and see a woman with brown skin, black hair, and a Rez accent. I wanted our people to understand ourselves and be proud. We are a strong nation. We love to laugh and have fun. Going viral wasn’t on my mind. Making others laugh was the goal. ”
Photo from Powwows.com