BUY THIS ISSUE
above: The NMTN executive organizing committee.
There have been numerous efforts by non-profit organizations to form Native media and entertainment companies, and a few commercial projects, but a coalition is forming that may have the financial resources, personal contacts and industry blessing to really put Native-made television, film, radio and Web-based programming into the global spotlight.
The Native Media & Technology Network (NMTN) includes the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corp., BannerCaswell Productions, the Center for Community Change, Eyapaha Institute, Intertribal Entertainment, Koahnic Broadcasting Corp., MIGIZI Communications, National American Indian Development Corp., Native American Public Telecommunications, the Native Networking Policy Center, Red Crow Creations, SOAR Records and the Southern California Indian Centers. More partners are expected to join.
A project already in development with a major cable television network supplier is an Indian-themed reality show called Native Explorer, produced by BannerCaswell Productions in association with Thunder Mountain Media. Thunder Mountain Media, a pilot initiative of NMTN, is helmed by executive director of Native American Public Telecommunications of Lincoln, Nebraska, Frank Blythe (Eastern Band Cherokee/Sisseton Wahpeton-Dakota), economic and community development consultant Syd Beane (Flandreau Santee-Dakota) of the Center for Community Change, and Lyn Dennis (Lummi), executive director of Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. BannerCaswell Productions consists of Chuck Banner and Ben Caswell, veteran television professionals based in Los Angeles. In addition, Thunder Mountain is exploring other television programming and home video properties, as well as the development of an independent TV distribution company.
In August 2004, NMTN worked closely with Fox Studios Diversity Development on the 4th annual American Indian Summer Institute, an entertainment industry and television training program for Native youth. During the one-week intensive, students study the entire production process—including script writing, camera work, lighting, sound and editing—while simultaneously producing their own project about the workshop itself, using equipment supplied by Southern California Indian Center’s InterTribal Entertainment. Fox Entertainment Group, with assistance from the Oneida Nation of New York, has hosted the event since 2002. This year’s opening keynote speech was delivered by NMTN founding member Floyd Red Crow Westerman. NMTN and Fox are working together to offer two institutes in 2006.
“We are, hopefully, an emerging movement committed to getting the Indian story out into the mainstream, commercial realm,” notes Beane, “where there are more jobs and business opportunities.”
Details: www.thundermountainmedia.com
Lost … and Found
There is, unfortunately, no shortage of stories about criminals ripping off priceless historic artworks and cultural materials from often weakly guarded tribal museums. What is rare are stories of stolen items being recovered. That is the happy tale here.
Baskets displayed at the Cabazon Tribal Museum.
On Jan. 11, 2005, staff of the Cabazon Tribal Museum on the reservation of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, 20 miles east of Palm Springs, California, opened their small facility to discover that nine historic pottery vessels and eight rare baskets had been stolen overnight. The eight baskets had been appraised at a value of more than $100,000; the pots had never been appraised but are “considered old and quite valuable,” explains Judy Sapp, the tribe’s director of cultural affairs. “We were devastated.”
But their disappointment was fortunately brief, as the FBI recovered all but one of the baskets and all but two of the pots in May. “I was pretty astounded,” notes FBI Special Agent Joseph Stuart. “Usually these stolen goods go underground and stay there—there’s a major black market for such works. But in this case, we posted photos of the stolen goods on the Internet right away (on the web site of the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association), and a concerned citizen, who was offered the works for sale, recognized them and alerted us.” While prosecution is still pending as efforts continue on recovering the last few works, “We know who burglarized the facility and we have a full confession,” says Stuart.
The Cabazon museum was launched in May 2002, with collections focusing on objects and artifacts of the nine bands of the Cahuilla people—who were particularly noted for their basketry. Many of their finest baskets are now found in the Smithsonian Institution and European collections, but the museum preserves substantial works. It is also helping to spark a revival in contemporary basketry through classes it hosts, and creating a market for local arts at its popular annual Indio Powwow.
Film and Television News
Despite the difficulties faced by Native filmmakers, lots of projects featuring Native themes and talent are making it into the public realm. Here are some projects that have recently crossed our desk.
Recently out on DVD are two projects written and directed by Paul Winters: Nate and the Colonel, and Red Blood. Both projects are loaded with Native actors, and, while lacking the polish of major studio releases, are entertaining tales with fine to excellent acting. Nate and the Colonel is really a tale about a black man and a white Southerner who assume a new life among a Chippewa band on the Great Plains following the Civil War, but it includes many wonderful scenes involving their adopted families and tribe. Red Blood is set in contemporary times, and features David Midthunder, who plays a tight-lipped comedian on the run from mobsters. Most of the supporting cast is outstanding and funny jokes fly as the hit men try to infiltrate a tight-knit Indian community in Arizona. Winters is now working on a film about the Battle of Little Bighorn told from the Indians’ viewpoint.
A new film, G: Methamphetamine on the Navajo Nation, is making an impact on folks both on and off the sprawling Navajo Nation, offering viewers a startling look at life among addicts and the devastating social impacts of “G” (glass, crank or meth) on users, their friends and families. The documentary also includes health experts talking about the devastating effects meth has on users. Shonie De La Rosa of Sheephead Films directed it, with assistance from Larry Blackhorse Lowe. It is available on VHS or DVD. Details: www.tcrhcc.org (click on Programs, then on Health Promotion), www.sheepheadfilms.com, or 928/283-1300.
Adam Beach will co-star in a new film directed by Clint Eastwood, Flags of Our Fathers, based on the World War II conflict in the Pacific. Beach (Smoke Signals, Windtalkers, Skinwalkers, etc.) will play Ira Hayes, the Pima Indian who helped raise the U.S. flag over Iwo Jima Island, only to die in poverty and poor health a few years later.
A film making the rounds, and winning awards, at film festivals these days, The Reawakening, wraps a tale of murder into the story of an Onondaga lawyer returning home to build a casino. Written and directed by Diane Fraher (Osage), it stars Cree actor Michael Greyeyes (Skinwalkers, Dance Me Outside, Smoke Signals, Crazy Horse), the wonderful Menominee actor Apesanahkwat, Anishinaabe actor Billy Daydodge, as well as Glen Gould, Dawn Jamieson and Chief Irving Powless, chairman of the Onondaga tribe. It includes the music of Shadowyze (Muskogee Creek) and Tracy and Robert Shenandoah (Onondaga).
On the Wind: Honoring
Onawa Lacy (Navajo) was recently crowned Miss New Mexico and is on her way to compete in the spring Miss USA pageant. The 23-year-old University of New Mexico English major graduate reigned as Miss Indian World 2003–04.
The National Museum of the American Indian has announced its 2006 Native Arts Program participants: Edward Ned Bear (Plains Cree/Wolastoqiyik), Kevin “Mooshka” Cata (Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, formerly known as San Juan), Mario Otoniel Chavajay Cumatz (Tz’utuhil Maya), Johnny Bear Contreras (Kumeyaay), Michael Kabotie (Hopi), James Mark Yellowhawk (Cheyenne River Sioux) and Kelly Church (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa Chippewa). Receiving the Youth Mural Project award were Deborah Spears Moorehead (Seekonk/Assonet Wampanoag) and Benjamin Jacanamijoy Tisoy (Inga).
Herman Agoyo (Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, formerly known as San Juan) has received the Spirit of the Heard Award from the Phoenix-based museum for his community leadership.
Nino Reyos (Pueblo/Ute) of Salt Lake City has become a voting member of NARAS, the group that conducts the annual Grammy Awards. He is one of the group’s few voting Native Americans.
The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art of Indianapolis has selected its 2005 fellows, an honor that includes a large cash award, an exhibition and acquisition of works for the museum’s permanent collection. This year’s artists are Marie Watt (Seneca), Harry Fonseca (Maidu/Nisenan), John Hoover (Aleut), James Lavador (Walla Walla), C. Maxx Stevens (Seminole/ Muskogee) and Tanis Maria S’eiltin (Tlingit).
Frank Blythe (Eastern Band Cherokee/Sisseton-Wahpeton-Dakota), executive director of Native American Public Telecommunications, has been honored with an award for his work in media by the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs at the first annual Standing Bear Commemoration Celebration.
Redwing T. Nez (Navajo) won Best of Show for his painting “Journey of White Shell Woman” at the Museum of Northern Arizona’s annual summer Navajo Festival in Flagstaff.
Winners of the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show last summer at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, formerly known as San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico included the following: Benson Manygoats (Navajo), best of show for his stunning jewelry; Jody Naranjo (Santa Clara), pottery; Valerie Namoki (Apache/Hopi-Tewa), up-and-coming potter and figurines; Timothy Roybal (San Ildefonso Pueblo), traditional painting; Renford Koruh (Hopi-Tewa), painting; Marlon Huma (Hopi-Tewa), sculpture; and Lynette Fragua (Jemez Pueblo), youth.
Susie Yazzie (Navajo) was honored in September as a 2005 Arizona Culturekeeper for her years of presenting weaving demonstrations for tens of thousands of visitors to Monument Valley, Arizona.
Zig Jackson (Three Affiliated Tribes) is the first Native photographer whose works have been included in the Library of Congress’ collection, with the institution’s acquisition of 12 of his large silver prints.
Among the works receiving awards at the Indian Summer Film and Video Image festival in Milwaukee this fall were The Gift of Diabetes by Lucie Charbonneau, The Boy Who Visited Muini’skw by Mary Elizabeth Luka, Lakota Workcamp by Jill Orschel, Salt Song Trail by the Cultural Conservancy, Homeland directed by Roberta Grossman, Pulling Together by James Fortier, Black Indians: An American Story by Steve Heape, When I Hear Thunder by Dirk Olson, Spirit Riders by James Kleinert, and A Thousand Roads by Chris Eyre.
On the Wind: Passages
World-famous artist R.C. Gorman (Navajo) passed away on Nov. 3 after suffering a fall in his home in Taos, New Mexico. After majoring in literature and minoring in art at Northern Arizona University, he went on to study art at Mexico City College and San Francisco State University before settling in Taos, where he opened his own Navajo Gallery in 1968. His collectors and friends included Elizabeth Taylor and many other well-known celebrities. A social man famed for his large and often raucous lunch gatherings at his home, as well as for his art, he served as a role model for many aspiring Native artists. His early art was quite diverse and even exacting in detail, but his later work consisted almost exclusively of loose portraits of large traditional Navajo women—a subject he once told me he never, ever tired of. Here’s to you, R.C.
The Indian community lost another major figure on Nov. 13 with the passing of Vine Deloria, Jr. (Standing Rock Sioux) of Fort Yates, South Dakota. The author of the influential and provocative book Custer Died For Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto (released in 1969), he helped provide the intellectual framework for the rise in Indian pride and the Indian rights movement in the subsequent decades through numerous other challenging books, such as God Is Red: A Native View of Religion, and hundreds of newspaper articles and essays, book reviews and speaking engagements. He was a towering figure in Native thought and will be sorely missed.
Former Navajo Tribal Chairman Raymond Nakai, who ushered in the first major economic development projects on the sprawling reservation in the 1960s and fought hard for Indian civil and religious rights, passed away on Aug. 14 at the age of 86.
Della Warrior (Otoe-Missouria), the extremely effective and well-liked president for the past 12 years of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, has resigned her position, effective Jan. 1.
Ron His Horse Is Thunder (Hunkpapa Lakota), president of Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates, North Dakota (see Nov./Dec. 2004 cover story), has been elected chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux.
Joe Garcia (Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, formerly San Juan Pueblo) was elected the new president of the National Congress of the American Indians in November.
The Native American Rights Fund, the important nonprofit legal defense organization, is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
Dr. James Brooks has been selected as the new president and CEO of the School of American Research in Santa Fe.
Jackie Old Coyote (Crow) has been selected as the new program manager of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development “Honoring Nations” program.
On the Wind: Shards
Gus Palmer of the Black Leggings, flanked by the Seminole Nation Colorguard, stops to feed the Everlasting Fire during the Groundblessing of the American Indian Cultural Center. The American Indian Cultural Center is an official Centennial Project.
In November, ground was finally broken on the American Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma City after the state legislature passed a $33 million bond to enable construction. Some 30 years in the making, the center will focus on the history and culture of Oklahoma’s 39 tribes, and will include exhibition halls, rooms for large gatherings, educational facilities, and extensive landscaped outdoor gathering spaces. “This is an exciting moment for everyone involved,” notes Tommy Thompson, who directs the facility’s parent body, the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority.
Pending a successful fund raising drive, the Autumn Rose Canoe Club of the Lummi Indian Nation is bound for the World Outrigger Sprint Championships in Hamilton, New Zealand, March 17–27. To send 35 members of the organization “Down Under,” the team needs to raise some $70,000. Team members range in age from 10 to 58 years old, which helps cement bonds between generations and aids in the transmission of cultural and social values. The club, based in Bellingham, Washington, was launched in 1992. Details: 360/758-7584 or autumnw@lummi-nsn.gov
The National Museum of the American Indian in New York City has begun construction on a new $5 million, 6,000-square-foot performance and exhibit space, the Diker Pavilion. It will increase the Lower Manhattan museum’s public space by one-third and allow more frequent dance, music and storytelling programs, plus serve as a social space for gatherings. It is expected to be completed in spring 2006.
In the fall, members of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Master Chorale of Washington presented the world premiere of a composition titled Iholba (The Vision) by Jerod “Impichchaachaaha” Tate (Chickasaw). The work was commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the NSO, directed by Leonard Slatkin. The work was based on the Chickasaw garfish dance song, with lyrics in Chickasaw. “I am dedicated to spending my life looking for Indian solutions in classical musical composition,” notes the classically trained pianist, vocalist and composer.
A collaborative glass project between Chris Tarpley (Choctaw/Chickasaw/Cherokee) and Nathan Youngblood (Santa Clara Pueblo) is producing some extraordinary work. Tarpley, a glass expert, has joined talents with Youngblood, a renowned potter, to create a series of 25 innovative blown and carved glass vessels featuring Pueblo design motifs. They are finished using Tarpley’s extremely technically difficult electroforming process, which fuses copper onto the cut glass surfaces.
