Native Nations, Native Voices: The Movie

[P. Kerim Friedman]

Excuse me, but this seems like a private conversation and would perhaps
be best continued off-list? I love hearing about the film and how it is
progressing, but I do get the feeling that this conversation is no
longer meant for public consumption. Sorry if I am mistaken.

kerim

On Aug 27, 2004, at 3:26 PM, Gordon Bronitsky wrote:

> You're welcome--but do you know any sources in Brazil to help fund the
> documentary?
>
> Gordon
> On Aug 27, 2004, at 1:01 PM, Anonby wrote:
>
>> Thanks.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>  From: Gordon Bronitsky
>> To: lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu
>> Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 10:26 AM
>> Subject: Re: Native Nations, Native Voices: The Movie
>>
>> Small world! Sure--try jon.reyhner at nau.edu.
>>
>> Gordon
>> On Aug 26, 2004, at 6:20 AM, Anonby wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hi!
>>
>> John help me "publish" my thesis. When I was in Flagstaff, I tried to
>> phone
>> him, but couldn't get a hold of him. Would you happen to have some
>> contact
>> info for him?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Stan
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>  From: "Gordon Bronitsky" <g.bronitsky at att.net>
>> To: <lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu>
>> Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 12:34 AM
>> Subject: Native Nations, Native Voices: The Movie
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I wanted to share with you the good news that we are going to create a
>> documentary film about Native Nations, Native Voices! This is a
>> project I have wanted to do since I began thinking about honoring
>> contemporary Native language writers. Below is the e-mail I just
>> received from Rebecca Jo Dakota, who will be the Director of
>> Photography for the documentary. We have already asked a Navajo
>> filmmaker here in Albuquerque to serve as Associate Producer and of
>> course, we’re hoping she says yes—I’ll let you know.
>> I must confess that searching for funds for film projects is a new
>> experience for me, so I would certainly welcome any suggestions you
>> might have, either for filming the actual Native Nations, Native
>> Voices
>> festival or the segments in the writers’ home communities.
>> In other news, Jonathan Reyhnman at Northern Arizona University in
>> Flagstaff has produced several very successful conferences over the
>> years on the theme of Stabilizing Indigenous Languages. It is one of
>> the few annual conferences I know dealing with Native languages so I
>> asked him recently about attendance. He told me that about 400-500
>> people attend the conference each year so that gives some idea of what
>> might be possible for the festival. I’ll keep you posted.
>>
>> Gordon Bronitsky
>>
>> PS: I will be in Mongolia September 2-13, as I’m touring the Fernando
>> Cellicion Traditional Zuni Dancers from New Mexico and Compagnie
>> Solim,
>> a dance group from Togo (West Africa) to a festival there, so I will
>> probably only have sporadic access to e-mail at best while I’m there,
>> should anyone want to contact me (hopefully with funding suggestions).
>>
>>
>> VISIONS
>> Videography and Consulting
>> Rebecca Jo Dakota
>> rebdakota at aol.com
>> 505.858.1868
>>
>>
>>
>> August 25, 2004
>>
>> Gordon Bronitsky, PhD
>> Bronitsky and Associates
>> 3715 La Hacienda Dr NE
>> Albuquerque, NM 87110
>>
>> Dear Gordon,
>>
>> It was great to meet with you and discuss the Native Nations, Native
>> Voices festival to honor contemporary Native language writers. I agree
>> that a documentary film will be essential and I'm delighted to be on
>> board as the Director of Photography. This festival of Native language
>> writers is crucial, timely, huge. Every language carries its own
>> truths, insights and values - its own culture. When languages are not
>> used, they are lost, and that culture goes, too. We are on the cusp of
>> losing many Indigenous languages.
>>
>> I can see a documentary film, yes, and also shorts for cultural
>> workers to use in sustaining indigenous languages and artists, plus
>> educational pieces for museums such as the National Museum of the
>> American Indian.
>>
>> It is essential that we involve Indigenous people in this creative
>> process, from concept to production and beyond. To that end, I
>> recommend that we immediately engage professionals to join us as
>> Associate Producer, Director and/or Scriptwriter (and I'll begin
>> looking for people who would be interested in working with us). If we
>> can find funding, I want to film segments in the writers' home
>> communities and create an internship in each of the writer's home
>> communities, as well, as we create the documentary. This can provide
>> Indigenous young people in these communities with hands-on experience
>> and skills in digital filmmaking. I have considerable experience
>> working with Native American and other minority youth which I will
>> bring to bear on this project. And of course we'll want indigenous
>> music for the film soundtrack.
>>
>> Thank you for this unique opportunity.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Rebecca
>>
>> Rebecca Jo Dakota
>>
>>
>> "A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head
>> of
>> a poet." Orson Welles
>>
>>