Jessica Paraha

Jessica Paraha is a multi-disciplinary artist dj-ing and telling stories under the moniker taruna. 

She is a Ngati Hine Māori woman living on Cadigal land, and comes from a long line of storytellers and myth-makers. Her art comes from her whakapapa, and through recalling them she pays tribute to her tīpuna and the many lands she inhabits. 

Jessica’s practice is ethically community minded, aimed at engaging and empowering her community to celebrate their voices. She is currently a member of Ante Arts collective, a group of QTPOC DJs carving space for community in the warrang music scene. 

Currently she is working as a facilitator for the Stories of Strength program, a storytelling project committed to encouraging young people in the Western Sydney Region to tell their own stories and engage with the lived experiences of their community.