Urban Navajo

Purely from an aesthetic POV on this doc, I like the composition very much, the shots and images are really great, the voice over is really cool too, however, I think it would make the piece even better if you had Anthea talking also on camera at some point(even early in the piece and have her come back a couple of times), it would give her more presence in the piece, and she would stand out even more; she is very interesting and honest.

The title is appropriate for the story.

Thank you all for the excellent feedback. I will be sure to pass this along to Alicia and Anthea because I know they want to do more with this. Many thanks!

Here is another one from one of my Navajo students if you'd like to check it out:

http://current.com/items/76468262_navajo_weaving

From a purely technical point of view, I enjoyed the story - well edited, well narrated, good images and music
.
But my reaction is more to the feelings that emerged as I watched.

Your seem to struggle to find your past yet enjoy the modern conveniences - and that can be done.

I don't understand why you can't related to your cousins - or is it they who can not relate to you.
I liked the documentary because it was honest.

But it has left me with several questions.

I could have watched another segment better explaining why you can't relate to your family, why you can't start using native tongue again - isn't it like riding a bike - easy to pick back up?

If it means a lot to you - you could find someone who also knows a little Navajo and you could each help one another to practice your native language once in a while.

Also - I detected an accent but you said you don't talk like your relatives. Maybe their accent is stronger but you have not lost your native sound.
I don't think you sound "Chinese" - but you did not give an example using native words which I would not have recognized anyway.

You can enjoy the modern technology and life in the city, but why does that stop you from visiting your relatives? You stated you don't go back to the rez.

If you are interested, maybe you could find others in the city who share your respect with the past and could help bring some of the culture into the city.

I presume your are welcome in you relative's homes on the rez and I hope they don't hold against you the desire for modern life.
I found it interesting that even some of your younger relatives are timid and scared of anything modern.

If you are not welcome in their homes on the rez, it is their prejudices - not yours - and maybe you can slowly get them to be honest with you.
But is it your prejudices that prevent your from visiting - a fear you won't or can't leave?

Are you too caught up in the modern hustle and bustle to make time to visit your family?
I know that with only two weeks off a year and today's hectic workpace can leave one too exhausted or with too little time to visit relatives.

It sounds like you'd like to take a summer off and reconnect with your past - but yet still be able to return to the city.
Maybe that is not possible due to the commitments of modern life and bills that have to be paid.

As a low-paid journalist, one advantage is I have quit jobs just to take time off and reconnect with my inner-self - for me it's quietly floating on a lake relaxing and fishing - and watching the wildlife.
I have always enjoyed writing, but figure if I am going to be low paid I might as well enjoy my work and stop when I am not happy.

As a young teen (about 1971) I hauled lots of water for four months while living in a remote Alaskan village deep in the tundra with no electricity - and it was not a life I'd want to chose. But looking back it was a great experience.
My mom's cousin married an Eskimo and their home was the only one with a generator - tho the school was getting electricity.

Ar age 28, I moved from a bigger city to remote northern Michigan so I could reconnect with my Swedish/American past - a little bit slower lifestyle without losing modern conveniences. I am one-quarter swede - the rest is German, Canadian and Scottish.
That was 20 years ago and I have no left northern Michigan.
These are just the reactions of one white guy with a history shooting, editing and reporting documentaries and TV news plus lots of newspaper experience.

Very simple and honest. Anthea is very much like many Americans - it tells much about the struggle many go through trying to respect their cultural heritage while being American - a mix of many cultures and able to live with modern conveniences. You can honor and keep your culture alive through art and humanities (education) without feeling guilty that you don't wish speak the language or adhere to certain beliefs. We are all moving faster toward the globalization and melting of all cutures into homogenous humanity. We can support those people who feel compelled to keep their cultures alive (family or strangers) by giving them our respect and support - just don't put yourself down for not being a preservationist yourself. (But this video is form of preservation so Alica and Anthea are doing something for the culture.

Dear Crystal Moon,

Well put.

One thing I regret about being born into this generations is we get so busy we forget what's important.
Even the technolgy is not respectful of heritage - I love my digital camera but most digital photos will be lost to time.
The old 35mm camera forced us to print a photo - old photos in shoeboxes in a closet will soon not be there to be discovered by a child.

No matter what the culture or heritage - life is too short not to reconnect with your family - even if you don't share the same interests.

I hope that a difference in ways of life don't stop Anthea from connecting with her family - and I hope they (her family) are receptive.

Christal Moon,

I think it is because American demands assimilation instead of incorporation. What I mean by this is that our culture here in the US of A demands that we abandon our heritage and embrace being American, even speaking English. The pressure is there for people to do this, even though in writing through our Constitution and laws we try to say that we practice equality, which should mean that all cultures and heritages are equal.

The only true Americans are the indigenous people of America. Everybody else is a foreigner.

I think it is sad that we can't accept and cherish the diversity of cultural expressions, it seems more and more these days if you don't fit the mold then you are the "other".

Reply to Yoopernewsman,

You are so right. It would be a tragedy of epic proportions not to have those special things for kids to discover about their past.

One big magnetic burst from the sun and all our bits and bytes could be gone forever, the only data that would remain is what was left on film, paper, or stone and wood.

We should all cherish our past and docment it for future generations in a form that will stand the test of time; what is that form? hmmm

Cosmo, thank you so much for turning me on to your song. You are quite a craftsman of words and you have clever rhymes.

I think you did a fine job of illustrating the attitude of the "stereotypical" American these days. The sad thing is that the stereotype is becoming a black whole and sucking a bunch of really well meaning people. It is so amazing to me to see that people don't see it.

Remember when we were kids, of course I don't know how old you are, I am 46 now, but when I was say 10, we used to have this saying "that's bad"; but what really meant when we said that was "that's good!" The only thing is that to say "that's good" wasn't cool. And everybody wanted to be cool, so we said "that's bad!" And if it was more than special we would say, "that's bad ass!" And if it was orgasmic, we would say "that's fucking bad ass!" (Now the point is I am not cursing in this post, I am using a curse word in a metaphoric way.)

Well my point is that the same thing is happening now. Everything has been turned upside down and inside out. Good is bad, right is wrong, left is right, up is down, clean air means toxic air, no child left behind means no child left a dime; stuff like that. How did this all happen? How did people get to be so mixed up? When did we start disconnecting completely from reality?

My students will really be inspired by this discussion... you've really captured the struggle they deal with every day. They struggle between culture and society pulling them in two different directions. I wish I could say it is easy for them to be a part of the US and Native cultures both, but it's not. I really admire the students who work to be a part of both worlds when the worlds aren't always in alignment.

what a great conversation here! I have nothing much to add. Most of what I was thinking was said. emotionaly,,, this makes me sad. And that may be exactly what this video should do. the honesty is wonderful. the struggle and reality is sad. It really would be great to have a moment to see the speaker on camera. just a moment would do.

I don't know if she'd be willing to appear on camera or not... I will ask her. I'm glad her sister got a picture of her in there. Originally she didn't have one but I think she realized it was important to see her... at least a picture. But I know what you mean about seeing someone... you can learn a lot about a person from seeing them... their expressions, body language, etc.

Interesting, there are ways for people to stay in touch with their culture. My family has lost their ancestral language and oral traditions to time in the four hundred years they spent in the Kentucky foothils (I am sure that is an opening for a joke about loosing langauge skills in Kentucky but lets be serious folks this is a good thread!) The last person in my family to speak any Creek or who could dance in a Pow Wow circle, Do bead work needed to create regalia was my gret grandfather. For a while he even used his tracking skills as a cattle hurder and wrangler. He is a point of pride within my family, our ignorance however is not. I hope you do not loose your culture! It's important that we all try and hold onto it while it still exists. You don't have to give up convenience for culture, native cultures have contemporary art and culture as well. Thanks for this beautiful piece.

i have faced many of the same issues that you have faced. i did however spend a great deal of time as a child on my reservation but spent much of my adult life away. i still try to make it back for ceremonies when i can but its just not the same. native people living in two worlds is a difficult thing. trying to maintain a proud rich heritage yet also trying to make a living and survive in the modern world has made things complicated. i respect your honesty and i appreciate your point of view. i only hope that you continue to maintain who you are and remember where you are from. there's a lot to be learned from your navajo side that helps to make you the unique person that you are a strong educated native woman. stay strong keep up the good work and i look forward to seeing more videos.

Reply to jubal: I don't think being American demands assimilation, unless you feel that speaking English means assimilation. If you live in any country you should speak the common language - I think its our inability to communicate with each other that's driving wedges between peoples. The feeling that learning English means you're being forced to conform is really unfortunate. Ok, so I don't know how to speak Russian or Yiddish, and my son doesn't know how to speak Spanish. From a cultural preservation point that's sad, but that's our choice - no one forced it on me.is My grandparents (and my in-laws) came to this country and learned to communicate and didn't feel that this was a detriment to being Ukranian American or Cuban American. I don't see that "America" is forcing anyone to give up their language or mandating abandonment of heritage - anymore. The truly sad thing was that the Native Americans were supressed and anihilated - they were the victims. Today, we realize this mistake. Today, being American means you've contributed a different culture into a society that accepts freedom of expression and beliefs. At least, that's what its supposed to mean. I'm in my mid-forties as well and I remember times when my first grade teacher tried to get me to write with my right hand (fortunately she failed). THAT'S assimilation. We don't do that anymore - we're so much more inclusive of differences in people. However, there are still racist and prejudiced people in America who judge people by how they look, and the right wing moral majority wants you to believe the way they do and frankly, if our governmental policies would stop repressing cultures in other parts of the world we might even get the world to believe we mean it. I can see how we're all so down on ourselves. However, we really have to make sure that these perceptions don't dictate negative American sentiment - there's too much disinfranchisement among us and we need to work towards greater acceptance of EVERYONE. To be American means to be native / european / germanic / baltic / african / asian / indian / mediterranean / latino / hispanic / christian / jewish / muslim / athiest / buddhist / old / young / abled / disabled / right handed / left handed / blue eyes / brown eyes / green eyes / fat / skinny and, unfortunately, right and wrong. Carry yourself with pride, be an individual, treat others with respect, become educated, make a contribution and along the way preserve as much of your heritage as possible- THIS is what it should be like to be an American.

I know many Dine'Navajo who make the effort to get back in contact with their culture.

She should not feel as though she is and oddball, as many were raised off the Reservation. Take a little time, go and visit some Grandparents for the weekend perhaps? This summer spend some time at Sheep Camp and learn some things. I'm a white guy that married into the Navajo, and have learned many things over the years from exposure to the culture. My Daughter is half Dine' Navajo, she lives in a town but regularly attends festivities and family functions on the Rez. She is 16 and learning the language from her elders. It's up to the young people to carry on with the language, and not something that Schools are going to teach for the most part.

Good Job on the production, and I look forward to more of your work guys.

JC Johnson

As others have already said and I agree, the strength of this pod is Antheas' honest narration of her story. The images and music are very effective as well. But as a story teller and filmmaker we must have a little more structure to be effective at telling that story. A good story always has a beginning, middle and an end.
This pod has a great story but it lacks a beginning and an end. That is the film makers job, to tell a whole story. The beginning needs to introduce the subject and characters that will be in the story. The end either draws a conclusion or reminds us and raps up what we have just heard.
Alicia, your story telling instincts are good. You found a great story to tell and that is the hardest part of being a film maker. Film is an art form, and good art is a process, both personal and public. I strongly recommend you continue with yours. Nice work.

I will be in Candy Kitchen in the end of January, filming with Leyton and his wolves and would love to stop in at the Grants school for a visit. I noticed you have a previous pod on the sanctuary up on current too.
Here is the link to mine:
http://current.com/items/87641961_wild_spirit_wolf_sanc...

great point of view. it's rare to find real honesty in a voice over. thanks!

We have a lot of work to do in our lives to become happy with who we are. We did not decide much of what happened to us growing up or to that of our ancestors, but we have all the power to choose a good path in life for ourselves. The loss of language and culture weighs heavy on the hearts of many Indigenous peoples. Let's see what we can do so that our children can be whole with who they are. The knowledge we attain is what we can pass on to them. Thank you for an honest expression.

I like it! It is a simple documentary by a real "native" and its concerns for his own history, tradition and costumes. It shows her preference over technology and I see nothing wrong with that. The only issue I have with technology is "bad technology." Other than that technology can bridge and even help one couple with traditional believes and costumes. Yes she cut short and it just leave us to wonder about her "relatives" and some other issues. I believe she wants to keep that "short" to meet the film time constrains for the medium here. However she can do other clips exploring many of her comments. Good work! Keep on going!

really sad
i came across this piece attached to a Leonard Peltier piece, 1st was really bummed it was the only comment left for a person who would cherish a just a day spent back on his res...and yet here's another Dine saying shes got her family's back, but never goes to visit them.

Thanks again to everyone who commented on Urban Navajo. We're going to go back and do more with this project soon. Anthea, the subject of the documentary, is going to visit her family on the Navajo Reservation for this project and do some reconnecting. It should be neat. Please let us know if you have any more thoughts as to what you'd like to see this documentary become.

It would be interesting to know who in the family is intent on cultural preservation and from which generation they come. It seems that *generally* speaking, as one becomes older, cultural preservation becomes more of an interest or focus. Thus it becomes a role of the elders to pass down the "stories" to the younger generation.

Crystal, you really took the words of my mind as I was thinking almost the same thing yesterday.
Natives Americans has almost been wiped out because of the rapid development of America's social infrastructure post industrial revolution.
North American natives have a rich and fantastic culture that reflects on history, costumes, arts and crafts. Only those that understand that know to not to take these valuables assets for granted and do everything in their Spirit, Knowledge and Power to preserve it for the future generations. Being a third generation native mix of many cultures as Europeans, Americans and Africans, I do admire natives from South and North America and I also collect some of their arts and crafts. Let me tell you, there is nothing like North American natives arts and crafts that could be compared out there. If you are in power to do so, You should attempt to preserve it with a teeth.

You have just dragged what our forefathers have worked hard for down the toilet. They are rolling over in their graves.
This is sad! More and more natives are going thru this. How can your first language be spanish if both your parents are from the rez?
You can hardly speak english as it is. Gurl you are sad! I went to palm springs ca because there are no jobs on the reservation and i am truly intact with my culture. I yurn to know more about all the traditional beliefs. I speak navajo fluently and can write it. I have navajo friends in the city and always nice to chat with them. People are interested in us for who we are.
you are what the elders warned us about and the immigrants or the white people have won in your assimilation.

As an urban Cowboy Indian (Danzig) I think You got a better (john)accent then I do, and I've only live in sf,ca 3 years. Maybe because I'm from tuba city where they don't give a dung,(speak fluent john) but me I would like to stay full and not deluded but the european americana.(timid my shame blood, sister) Dine Way!Love yourself not your laziness.walk in beauty; not in lazy.(sense everybody wants the be Indian here in the city(cherokee this Cherokee that!)(obama). Lone Wolf, cali (think about the Navajo Genocide.Read!

It's good(movie pod footage address more of the truth because it will prevail); and God is the true creator, althrought life.