8
MAY 15, 2005
Smoke Signals
Grand Ronde Restoration Film Nominated For
The story of the people of our Tribe nominated in two categories.
By Marty George
The fight was on as one of the
best young actors in Indian
Country took center stage at
the 3rd Annual Native Voice 2005
Film Festival in Rapid City, South
Dakota. Eddie Spears, representing his
family and his people of the Lakota
NationLower Brule Reservation, stole
the show with his stirring portrayal
of "Black Cloud" a Navajo amateur
boxer with a chip on his shoulder and
a knockout punch.
This year's festival was a showcase
for Native talent, like Eddie Spears and
his brother, Michael, as more than 50
films were selected for the event. It was
also an opportunity to promote upcom
ing cinema projects like Turner Net
work Television's "Into The West."
Many of the Native actors who will
star in the epic TNT production were
present at the festival, each represent
ing other movies they had made or
acted in.
j
Emotional Performance At the awards ceremony, Native Actor Michael
Spears (LakotaLower Brule Reservation) sang a lullaby he wrote for his infant son.
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Local Art This statue is
an artistic reminder of the
Native influence in Rapid
City. The historic Elks
Theater (right) in down
town Rapid City served as
home for this year's Native
Voice Film Festival.
"Grand Ronde Restoration," a film
by Tribal member Brent Merrill, was
selected for inclusion in this year's
event.
"Restoration" tells the story of how
the people of many Tribes were forc
ibly relocated to the Table Rock Indian
Reservation and then marched on the
Trail of Tears to the Grand Ronde In
dian Reservation.
The film, which made its debut at
the American Indian Film Festival in
San Francisco in November of 2004,
competed in the Best Modern Cultural
Film and Best Short Subject Documen
tary categories at the festival held May
4-8.
"As a Tribal Council member I felt
it was very important to accompany
our Smoke Signals staff to the show
ing of our Restoration film," said
Valorie Sheker-Robertson. "For the
caliber of people who were present to
acknowledge our film for not one but
two categories of an award, it's an ex
treme honor. It was a special time for
me to represent our Tribe, our staff
and our film at this event and to speak
to the value of what Restoration
means to us as a once terminated
Tribe. Restoration is never to be taken
advantage of, as to us it is a sacred
thing."
"For me, this film brings back all
the important memories of the Tribe,"
said Tribal Vice Chair Reyn Leno.
"This film represents the things we
need to teach our children about our
history."
"We're the Red," said Grand Ronde
Tribal Elder Kathryn Harrison in
Restoration.' "And the world needs lots
of Red because that's strength."
The festival premiered a number of
Native Voice Film Festival Award Results:
B "Building Bridges Special Award" TNT's "Into the West"
accepted by Michael Wright from Turner Television in from L.A.
B Best Animation "Two Winters: Tales from Above the Earth"
by director Carol Geddes.
B Best Traditional Culture Film "Amignikum: on sewing boat
skins" by director Alice Carron in from Barrow, Alaska.
B Best Documentary Double honor to "Tattoo on my Heart" by
director Charles Abourezk and "Team Spirit" from producer Alan
Smithee.
B Best Short Subject Documentary "Video Letters from
Prison" by filmmaker Milt Lee.
B Best Drama "A Thousand Roads" by Chris Eyre, Scott Garon
and Rick West.
B Best Short Subject Drama "Dude Vision" comedy written,
directed and starring filmmaker Jon Proudstar.
B Best Modern Culture Film "Sealhunting with Dad" by direc
tor Andrew MacLean.
B Best Actress Tantoo Cardinal for "Memory."
B Best Actor Eddie Spears for "Black Cloud."
The Public Information Office has
"Restoration" videos for sale.
$15 for DVD - $10 for VHS
For more Information or to place an order,
please call Marty at 503-879-1453.
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