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NOTICES Second Annual Four Directions Talent Search Kicks Off Due to the tremendous success of last year’s Four Directions Talent Search, the Oneida Nation and NBC are expanding this year’s search by offering American Indian and First Nations comedians a chance to audition at one of 15 venues across the United States and Canada. The search is not limited to comedy acts. Screenplay and teleplay writers also are being sought. This year’s event will kick off with the first round of tryouts on Oct. 4 at the American Indian Community House in New York City. Tryouts will continue Oct. 5 in three locations: Seattle, University of Washington; Denver, University of Colorado; and Cambridge, Harvard University. The Oct. 6 search will be held in the following venues: Calgary (TBA); Missoula, University of Montana; and Toronto, University of Toronto. Additional tryouts will be Oct. 16 in Kansas City, Haskell Indian Nations University; Phoenix, Arizona State University; and Chicago, University of Illinois. Venues on Oct. 20 will include Norman, University of Oklahoma; Albuquerque, University of New Mexico; and Raleigh, North Carolina State University. Nov. 2 tryouts will be held in Sacramento, California State Uni versity; Minneapolis, University of Minnesota; and Athens, University of Georgia. On Nov. 3, the search will be held at San Bernardino, California State University; Vermillion, University of South Dakota; and New Orleans (TBA). Those chosen at each venue will go on to the semifinals at the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone Casino Resort in Verona, N.Y, on Nov. 16-17, with the finalists going to PSNBC in New York City on Nov. 18. More than 200 American Indian and First Nations actors and comedians tried out at one of five venues last year or submitted written work for consideration. Vanessa Shortbull, an Oglala Lakota and a finalist in the inaugural Four Directions Talent Search, became 16 □ Siletz News □ Alcatraz Is Not An Island to Air Nationally on PBS They eventually were joined by Independent Television Service institutions plus human rights and social thousands of Native Americans in (ITVS) and KQED presents director activism venues. retaking “Indian land” for the first time The occupation of Alcatraz James M. Fortier and since the 1880s. was not just an Indian producer Jon Plutte’s Alcatraz Is Not An Island is the story, it’s a story of one-hour “Alcatraz is not an story of how this historic event altered people seizing control documentary island ... Alcatraz is an U.S. government Indian policy and of their own futures Alcatraz Is Not An inspiration, it is the idea programs, and how it forever changed through social and Island, with Law that you can control the way Native Americans viewed political activism. In and Order star your own destiny, and themselves, their culture, and their these times of re Benjamin Bratt self-determine your own examining the role of sovereign rights. (Quechua) future.” Richard Oakes, The story of the occupation of activism in America, providing voice- Mohawk Alcatraz is as complex and rich as the the 1969 Indian over narration. history of Native Americans. This occupation of Alcatraz Alcatraz Is Not An reminds us that a place for documentary examines the personal Island is the first in-depth look sacrifices, tragedies, social battles, and action exists in the political world at the history, politics, personalities, political injustices many Native and that positive change can be and cultural reawakening of the Americans experienced under made despite overwhelming 1969-71 American Indian occupation the U.S. government’s government resistance. of Alcatraz Island. It won the policies of assimilation, This is an opportunity to “The govern Best Documentary Feature award termination, and educate, to continue a ment did all these at the American Indian Film Festival relocation - all dialogue on these issues, things and sat on in San Francisco,was a Land Grant eventually leading and to inspire the next tribes for so many Award finalist at the 2001 Taos to Alcatraz. generation of activists. years... and yet Talking Pictures Festival and was Out of Al Perhaps most impor still, in 1969, there’s an official selection for the 2001 catraz came the tantly, it’s a chance to still a group of Sundance Film Festival. “Red Power” honor those who have people who were The film will premiere sacrificed so much and movement of the willing to stand up nationwide on PBS on Nov. 7, 2002, dedicated their lives to 1970s, which has and say, we want at 10 p.m. (check local listings), and the advancement of all been called the our freedom. We is a co-presentation of ITVS and lost chapter of free people. want to be Native KQED. Additional funding was the civil rights For thousands of people. We want our provided by the California Council for era. Thirty years Native Americans, the own governments. the Humanities, the Pechanga Band of infamous Alcatraz is 1 after the takeover, We want the right to Luiseno Mission Indians, and the Alcatraz Is Not An not an island - it’s an self-determination. Muscogee Creek Tribe of Oklahoma. Island provides the inspiration. After gener- ; It’s a revolutionary The filmmakers also are working ations of oppression, act.” Wilma Mankiller, first in-depth look at with ITVS to develop a community this historic event, assimilation, and near Cherokee outreach program to bring the film which sparked a new genocide, a small group of directly to reservation and urban Indian era of Native American Native American students and political empowerment and a communities with an emphasis on “urban Indians’’ began to occupy Alcatraz Island in November 1969. cultural renaissance. Native youth, as well as educational the new Miss South Dakota in June, which made her eligible to compete in the Miss America finals Sept. 21 in Atlantic City. Jim Ruel, an Ojibwe from Milwaukee, another of last year’s finalists, landed an invitation to attend a casting call for the NBC series Ed. “It’s time to break the stereotypes of American Indians present in the entertainment industry,” said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Nation repre October 2002 sentative. “Our cultures have been co- opted and distorted by the mainstream media for the entertainment of others. The talent search is yet another way for all of us to help ensure that Native culture remains relevant for today’s young people and for generations to come.” For more information or an application, call 315-829-8399 or visit www.fourdirectionstalent.com. All participants must submit proof of tribal membership.
