Dechen Kelden
About the Teacher
Why study with them?
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.
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.
