Dechen Kelden
Dechen Kelden is a Tibetan and Kalmyk Mongolian storyteller whose work reflects themes of identity, memory, and belonging. Her stories draw from her roots- her father, a former monk of Nechung Monastery, revered as the seat of the State Oracle of Tibet, and her mother, a Kalmyk American whose family was among the first Kalmyks to immigrate to the United States in 1951. Kalmyks, also known as the Oirats of the Dzungar tribe, originate from western Mongolia and trace their ancestral origins to the Altai Mountains. Dechen’s work reflects the complexities of diaspora and the spiritual traditions that shape her worldview.
She produced My Sweet Pala, a short film directed by Tao Okamoto, about a Tibetan American child navigating the tension between her family’s past and her American present. As a cultural consultant at Avatar Studios, a division of Nickelodeon, Dechen collaborates with the original creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender across film, TV, publishing, and gaming.
She has used storytelling and community organizing to amplify the stories of her people.
Upcoming Programs by Dechen Kelden
Sacred Bridge: Uniting the Heart of the Amazon and the Peaks of the Himalayas - Sponsored by Tibet House US
Also With Hushahu Yawanawá, Matsini Yawanawá & Family, Kenewma Yawanawá, Jordão Souza, Tuikuru, Manxyvake, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, Khenzom and Lobsang Tara
There was once a time, deep in the Amazon rainforest, when the great keepers of wisdom—guardians of plants, prayer, and profound spiritual connection—held their knowledge close. For centuries, the sacred teachings of Tibetan Buddhism were also hidden, veiled high in the Himalayas and passed down through silence, meditation, and ceremony. Now, the time foretold has […]