Meet Isiah Yazzie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isiah Yazzie.

Isiah, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born and raised in Gallup, NM on the border of the Navajo Nation. My earliest memories are making my parents laugh. From an early age I have always enjoyed laughter, whether I’m with my whole family and laughter is bouncing off the walls. Or, when I’m home alone watching one of my favorite comedians on Netflix.

Growing up I witnessed the duality of life. As a Navajo kid who attended a private school I never felt American enough for the white kids and I wasn’t “Native” enough for the Native American kids. But, one thing that helped me was making people laugh.

It wasn’t until after I graduated high school that I really started to think about social issues and ethnic relationships here in America. I attended Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL on a soccer scholarship, where I later found my love for improv comedy. I never knew what improv comedy was, but I knew I was in LOVE and joined the improv team my freshman year. The idea of going on stage, unscripted and creating everything in the moment was exciting. I wanted more! So in 2013, I stopped pursuing my degree in Education and started studying improv at The Second City in Chicago, IL. After being broke and surviving the cold Chicago winters for two years, I decided to move back to New Mexico. Upon arrival I started to perform stand up comedy, opening for James and Ernie and performing under Isiah Yazzie Comedy. This led to performing at more casinos and theaters all across the southwest. Since then I have also emceed events like Navajo Nation Cultural Showcase, Miss Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Queen Pageant, and a few events for the New Mexico Film Foundation and many more.

In 2016, I founded Rez City Improv with the help of Ernest David Tsosie III. We are the only Native American improv duo offering entertainment, workshops, and team building exercises for the youth, community events, and private businesses. We have been offering a free monthly improv show in Gallup, NM for almost a year. Our improv comedy is mostly Native American based which allows us to have an advantage in creativity and consistency.

In 2017, feeling a little rusty, I decided to study long-form improv. In 2017 I moved to LA and started studying improv at The UCB Theater. But later moved back to NM and continued with growing improv on the Navajo Nation and Indian Country.

Throughout the years I have met many people who have helped my creativity and knowledge about filming and producing. I’ve been working on a short film screenplay that I hope to produce in 2019.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I’m a comedian. I perform stand up comedy, improv comedy, and sketch comedy. I love to write jokes, screenplays, and short stories. I create jokes by observing different flaws and issues I find funny about society or topical issues. It helps because I don’t usually see it from a basic American point of view. I see it from my Navajo point of view, which makes it funny.

The motto or phrase that I framework my comedy around is “LIBERATION THROUGH COMEDY.” We all know the stereotypes that American society has set in place. My goal is to break down those stereotypes and tell my stories and my perspectives so people can understand what it’s like to be Navajo in 2019. I want people to know that Native Americans are still here and we still care about water, land, and treaty rights! We have a message and I feel like it’s never heard, so I’m trying to bring those issues to light through laughter. I want people to know that creativity and new ideas need to come from Native Americans as well as other people of color. I want people to know that I create comedy to make people laugh and help you think about issues that aren’t on your mind. I want people to know that I’m not creating my comedy for them. I’m creating it because my stories aren’t only about me, but incorporate lessons passed on from generation to generation. I create my comedy because I enjoy the laughter. I create my comedy because it has a message that many Americans disagree with.

But most importantly, I create my comedy because I love it and it makes me happy.

What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
You won’t know everything! Listen. The people around you want to be heard also. Don’t just speak. You may feel like you’re running out of time. But you’re not, take time to relax and enjoy life. Get to know people and make connections. Memories are a great thing to have!

As a young adult I was eager to perform comedy and make people laugh, but if I could go back I would finish school. I don’t regret any decision I made but trying to balance school and your passion is very difficult as I’ve experienced myself. Hard work always pays off in the end! Keep your mind open to new ideas and always keep creating!

“It’s not about the journey. It’s about the people you meet.”
– Del Close, improv guru

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can check out isiahyazzie.com or come to a live show. I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. I’ll be posting more content for Isiah Yazzie Comedy as well as Rez City Improv. I’m hoping to direct a screenplay I’m working on in 2019. Please stay tuned on the website for updates and information.

Contact Info:

• Website: isiahyazzie.com
• Phone: (505)870-6113
• Email: yazzieisiah3@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/isiahyazziecomedy/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/IsiahYazzieComedy/

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