jess.kinser's blog

In an article by Matt Goodlett of Omaha, Neb.'s The Reader, the question is raised of "What is Uranium Mining in Nebraska Doing to Pine Ridge's Drinking Water?"

Elisha Yellow Thunder and her daughter Laila Pettigrew have a very personal reason for their research into the mining contamination. Laila was born with a number of medical anomalies--a cystic kidney, partially developed organs and a deformity in her lower spine. She also has catheter tubing located near her collarbone that is used for her kidney dialysis treatments three days a week.

As the article states, when Elisha was pregnant with Laila, she was living in Loneman, SD, near Oglala--a hotspot for uranium contamination. Elisha began to suspect that the birth defects were due to drinking the contaminated water.

Documentary filmmaker Suree Towfighnia (Standing Silent Nation) --who is shooting a film about Laila entitled Crying Earth Rise Up (image still above from film)--explores the opinions of those who oppose and support the expansion of uranium mining over the High Plains/Ogallala and the Arikara aquifiers in western South Dakota and Nebraska.

Find out more: Read the full article at The Reader

Recently, I was asked to help plan the cultural event for the National Congress of American Indians’ (NCAI) Annual Mid-Year Conference and Marketplace, June 17-20 in Lincoln, Neb.—NAPT’s hometown. It’s been a very exciting experience and I look forward to meeting all of the conference attendees. More importantly though, it is a chance for the community to engage with Tribal leaders and representatives from across the U.S.

As many of you already know and recall from the documentary film Good Meat, presented by NAPT, buffalo meat is not only a traditional food way, but it is very healthy—and sadly, hard to come by in many areas.

At the June 17 cultural event, we’re planning to have a feast and a traditional powwow. Chairwoman Rebecca White of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska also sits on the local planning committee with me, as well as NAPT’s Executive Director Shirley K. Sneve and many other vital members in our Lincoln/Omaha community and neighboring cities.

When we asked Chairwoman White for the donation of a buffalo, we knew it was a big request—literally. Without this donation, we wouldn’t be able to have the feast and more importantly—provide healthy food to our 800+ attendees. When she came back to say that they could make the donation and transport the processed bison meat to Lincoln, Neb., we were ecstatic. Now, our biggest challenge is finding a freezer that can hold it :-). I believe that we all looked at each other with huge smiles and started thinking about summertime BBQ, fresh soup, bison burgers and roast.

If you haven’t had the chance to meet Beau LeBeau (Oglala Lakota) of the Pine Ridge Reservation, be sure to check him out in the documentary Good Meat. In the film, LeBeau follows a traditional diet centered around buffalo meat and exercises regularly while under the supervision of a physician and nutritionist. It’s amazing what traditional, healthy food and exercise did for LeBeau and what it can do for each of us too! Looking towards summertime and the wardrobe that comes with it, I know that I’m ready to embark on a healthier diet…and exercise too. Are you?

Find out more about Good Meat and NAPT’s free online resources on a healthy lifestyle through traditional food ways! 

In 2004, thirteen Indigenous grandmothers from all four corners, moved by their concern for our planet, came together at a historic gathering in Phoenicia, New York. At this event, they decided to form an alliance called "The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers" in response to a prophecy made by their ancestors thousands of years ago.

What can we learn from this film? Plenty of things. A process four years in the making and shot on location in the Amazon Rainforest, the mountains of Mexico, North America and at an undisclosed location with the Dalai Lama in India, you'll be captivated by the vision of these thirteen women. Their visions for healing and a call for change are highly documented in their spiritual journey.

Recently, Indian Country Today Media Network published an article entitled "Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers to Trek Trail of Tears with Australian Horse Trainer." This 800-mile trek from Oklahoma to Montana is nothing but astonishing. Horse trainer Carlos Tabernaberri was discovered by Noqah Elisi (Cherokee) after a man in a vision quest told her that she was to follow in the footsteps of her grandmothers. Elisi told ABC News that she saw a balance of right relationship with Carlos that she hadn't seen in other trainers--that he is a reminder of Cherokee values.

View the Trailer for the Film For the Next7 Generations: 13 Indigenous Grandmothers Weaving a World that Works

Read the article "Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers to Trek Trail of Tears with Australian Horse Trainer"

I just finished reading an article by Cheryl Crazy Bull on behalf of Indian Country Today Media Network. The article, entitled "Education is Key to Prosperity," really struck a chord with me, and I must say that I whole-heartedly agree.

Ms. Bull calls out how many people, after watching the ABC 20/20 special, "Hidden America: Children of the Plains" which depicted the daily lives of young people on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, asked what they could do to help. Pine Ridge is just one of many poor counties in the United States that expresses some of the symptoms of poverty which can include health problems, unhealthy addictions and lack of educational resources to reach full academic potential.

Recently, NAPT with major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting helped fund an episode for Bridge the Gap TV entitled "Bridge the Gap to Pine Ridge."

In the episode, 24-year-old host Chris Bashinelli--of MTV and The Sopranos fame--exposes viewers to a positive, fresh perspective of life on the Pine Ridge Reservation. In the episode, Bashinelli drops in on the day-to-day lives of local residents to find out about life on Pine Ridge, their stories and how they see themselves in the larger context of the world.

Bashinelli commented, "It seemed like the most famous Reservation in the United States, the one that was most talked about on the news, the one that had the most negative stories. I thought, this would be a great challenge, let's flip this negative story on its head, let's put a story of hope out there."

Download the Chris Bashinelli podcast interview

Read the Chris Bashinelli article

Read the Indian Country Today Media Network article

Indian Country Today reported in their August 22, 2011, issue that a shunned Columbus statue may be erected in Puerto Rico.

The controversial statue of Christopher Columbus, built 20 years ago, was intended to commerate the 500th anniversary of his arrival in 1492. Created by Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, the 600-ton statue entitled "Birth to the New World" depicts a colossal Columbus standing in a small boat with three sails. Numerous American cities passed on the opportunity to erect the statue.

This year, NAPT's VisionMaker released the 30-minute documentary film Columbus Day Legacy, which was recently named "Best Documentary" and "Best of Classification: Moving Images (Class X) at NMAI and SWAIA's 11th Annual Native Cinema Showcase. Navajo filmmaker Bennie Klain takes viewers into the quintessential American issues of free speech and ethnic pride against the backdrop of the ongoing Columbus Day parade controversy in Denver, Colorado, asking tough questions about identity and history in America.

I highly recommend that you watch the film Columbus Day Legacy. As  you can see, although not a parade, we are faced with decisions of what to celebrate or honor as depicted in the article about the Columbus statue.

View the film trailer for Columbus Day Legacy.

View Columbus Day Legacy's Online Press Kit.

Purchase Columbus Day Legacy with Public Performance Rights.

Purchase Columbus Day Legacy for your Home.

Read the full article "Shunned Columbus Statue May Be Erected in Puerto Rico."

Lincoln, Neb.: Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT) awards up to $500,000 combined annually to a select handful of production and research & development projects by filmmakers across the nation to produce documentaries for PBS stations.

“The goal of the open call is to increase the diversity of voices available to PBS viewers,” says NAPT Executive Director Shirley K. Sneve (Rosebud Sioux). “We encourage Native Americans to take on significant creative leadership roles, such as director, producer and editor. We want Native voices to have creative control, and not just in an advisory capacity.”

Funding for the projects comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The five films recommended for funding from FY2012’s submissions include:

Roadman
Producers: Bennie Klain (Navajo) & Leighton Peterson
Production Company: TricksterFilms, LLC
Status: Research & Development
A view of the Native American Church (NAC) through the lens of practicing Navajo roadmen, Roadman follows NAC spiritual leaders in Navajo land as they travel to the peyote fields in Texas, dealing with the Federal government and protecting their religious freedom from both Navajo and outside forces.

Apache Scouts: An Untold Story
Producer: Dustinn Craig (White Mountain Apache)
Status: Research & Development
The U.S. Army had little to no success subduing Apache bands of the Southwest until White Mountain Apaches enlisted as Army Scouts. The motive for this service was political strategy to secure homeland for posterity of White Mountain Apaches and had little to do with allegiance to the United States.

Rising Voices
Producer: Wilhelm Meya
Status: Research & Development
A nation-building issue in Indian Country is the rescue and revival of Native American languages. Lakota youth, in particular, are eager to re-appropriate the language and its embedded concepts of place, ethics, action and purpose on their own terms—sometimes in ways that clash with others expectations or the status quo.

My Louisiana Love
Producer: Sharon Hong
Status: Completion
A young, Native American woman returns to her Houma community in Southeast Louisiana to find a man-made environmental crisis threatening her people’s way of life. She must overcome the loss of her house, her father and her documentary partner and redefine the meaning of home.

The Dull Knifes: My Father and Me
Producer: Eli Cane
Status: Production
A mix of observational documentary and animation explore the experience of growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation through the eyes of fifteen-year-old George Dull Knife, over the course of a momentous and difficult year.

About NAPT:
Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT), a non-profit 501(c)(3) which receives major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, shares Native stories with the world through support of the creation, promotion and distribution of Native media. Founded in 1977, through various media—public television, public radio and the Internet—NAPT brings awareness of Indian and Alaska Native issues. NAPT operates AIROS Audio, offering downloadable podcasts with Native filmmakers, musicians and Tribal leaders. VisionMaker is the premier source for quality Native American educational and home videos. All aspects of our programs encourage the involvement of young people to learn more about careers in the media—to be the next generation of storytellers. NAPT is located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. NAPT offers student employment, internships and fellowships. Reaching the general public and the global market is the ultimate goal for the dissemination of Native-produced media.

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Recently, I read a health article about 9 smart ways to keep your relationship healthy at any age.

A few of the recommendations that the website (Health.com) gave that stuck out to me include:

1. Watch your waistline. Just because you're in a relationship, doesn't mean you can skip the gym, taking walks and watching what you eat.

2. Have a financial plan. The study stated that nearly 40% of people have lied to their partner about a purchase. To avoid this, the article recommends discussing and setting ground rules before you tie the knot.

3. Be flexible. Life changes from when you're in your 20s, 30s, 40s and so on. Be willing to be flexible and adjust to changes that life throws your way as a couple.

4. Stay active as you age. The article stated that this doesn't mean just staying active as an individual, but as a couple by engaging in activity that gives you time to socialize and spend quality time with each other, such as hiking a trail together.

5. Be a conscious caregiver. A serious illness could affect anyone at any age. The article stated that partners who assume the role of "caregiver" sometimes feel burdened and thus their health diminishes. The article stated that if you need help, do not be afraid to ask when it is truly needed.

Reading these five statements that will encourage a successful relationship reminded me of Sterlin Harjo's (Seminole/Creek) feature-length film, Barking Water.

If you haven't had a chance to see it yet, I highly recommend that you do. The plot focuses on Frankie (Richard Ray Whitman), a Native man who is first seen leaving a hospital and speeds off in an older station wagon. Irene (Casey Camp-Horinek), is the woman who has loved Frankie for many years, but hasn't forgiven him for the many times before in their relationship when he has left her feeling hurt.

Frankie is making his last journey home to try to make amends, confronting the past, emotions of love and self-discovery. The film interweaves flashbacks to Frankie and Irene decades earlier, putting their lives and this journey through Oklahoma in context. 

A tale of love and relationships, Barking Water is very real and engages you through the pit stops of a fractured relationship.

Click here to watch the trailer for Barking Water>>

Award-winning singer/songwriter Bill Miller (Mohican) will be performing at the Newmark Theatre in Portland, Oregon, tomorrow, July 16. The concert kicks-off at 7 p.m.

In 2010, Miller was featured in NAPT's VisionMaker documentary For the Generations: Native Story & Performance which was co-produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and Painted Sky.The film documents the efforts of Native performers to recast themselves in the 21st century. Examined through behind-the-scenes footage, performances and the artists' own words, the program delves into issues of health, fitness and Native youth.

Haven't seen it yet? Be sure to check it out. Miller is featured alongside the Painted Sky/Northstar Native Youth Dance Company, Jana Mashonee (Lumbee), Santee Smith (Mohawk) and Michael Greyeyes (Cree), Robert Mirabal (Taos Pueblo) and the Women of the Four Winds--Martha Redbone (Choctaw/Shawnee/Cherokee), Tracy Bone (Ojibway), Wayquay (Ojibway/Anishnabe) and Davidica Little Spotted Horse (Oglala Lakota).

Find out more about For the Generations: Native Story & Performance

Find out more about the July 16 concert in Portland

The article “Diabetes is a Killer” was recently covered by NativeNewsNetwork.com. The article discusses how walkers of the Longest Walk 3 entered Washington, D.C. on Friday morning. The walkers formed a circle in front of the White House and held a water blessing ceremony—to represent the unity of people everywhere. Following the White House, the walkers made a brief stop at the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of the American Indian and the National Mall. The walk was to stress the importance of Diabetes as a killer and a major contributor to limb amputations. Prior to the walk—to stress the importance of good health—several dozen American Indians attended the National Diabetes Summit held in Leesburg, Virginia.

NAPT’s VisionMaker released the Emmy^®-nominated documentary Walking into the Unknown recently. The film is a surefire way to kickstart your health. The film will take you into the very personal journey of a Native American physician—Dr. Arne Vainio—as he makes his way through the health care system as a patient going through multiple tests and procedures that he had been avoiding. Director Nate Maydole commented, “Our sincere hope is that we can spread the word that it’s never too late to begin caring about your well-being. The breadth of resources and informational health facts stated in the film are purely to educate, engage and inspire men and women to take action regarding their futures.”

Set to a soundtrack of Native rock music, this documentary is sure to keep you upbeat and provide the motivation that will have you taking advantage of the remaining gorgeous weather this summer and this coming fall to get your health action plan into gear.

Find out more about Walking into the Unknown

Read the article “Diabetes is a Killer” 

Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT) awarded more than $460,000 to seven projects by filmmakers across the nation to produce documentaries for PBS stations.

“The goal of the open call is to increase the diversity of voices available to PBS viewers,” says NAPT Executive Director Shirley K. Sneve (Rosebud Sioux). “We encourage Native Americans to take on significant creative leadership roles, such as director, producer and editor. We want Native voices to have creative control, and not just in an advisory capacity.”