Native Nations, Native Voices: The Movie

[Gordon Bronitsky]

Sorry.

Gordon
On Aug 27, 2004, at 1:34 PM, P. Kerim Friedman wrote:

> 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
>>>
>>>
>