American Indian Heritage Month
Featured Programs this Month
Maria Tallchief
Sunday, November 1, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
An untold story on the life and artistry of Maria Tallchief, who rose from an Indian community in Oklahoma to become America's first major ballerina while her marriage and partnership with Balanchine ignited the founding of the New York City Ballet. Her own voice and rare archival clips from the 1950s, both in the U.S. and Canada, will guide the story of Wa-Xthen-Thonba, whose Indian name means Woman Of Two Worlds.
Waila: Making The People Happy
Sunday, November 1, 11:00 - 11:30 p.m. & Sunday, November 8, 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Waila music comes from the Tohono O'odham, the native people of the Sonoran desert and the largest Indian tribe of southern Arizona. Waila is an O'odham word that comes from the Spanish word "baile", which means "to dance". There are no words to waila music -- it is only instrumental -- and is played on button accordion, alto saxophone, electric six-string bass guitars and drums. The dances performed in the waila tradition are similar to polka, Scottish folk dance, and Polish Mazurka. All waila dances are performed while moving around the floor in a counterclockwise direction.
Independent Lens 1104 "Power Paths"
Tuesday, November 3, 10:00 - 11:00 p.m.
This program follows the efforts of American Indian tribes as they explore ways to bring renewable energy projects into their communities. From the Sioux tribes of Great Plains in the Midwest to the Navajo and Hopi of the Southwest, tribes are fighting to protect their land, air and water from the harmful impacts of mining and burning coal on their lands. This program documents how young Native leaders formed the Just Transition Coalition and succeeded in a legal battle fo close a large dirty coal plant not far from Las Vegas, which sends electricity to California.
River Of Renewal
Thursday, November 5, 8:30 - 9:30 p.m.
This film chronicles the ongoing battle over the resources of Northern California's and Oregon's Klamath River Basin. For its American Indian filmmaker, this is a journey of self-discovery as he uncovers the elemental bond between California native tribes, the river, and its legendary denizen, the salmon. The hour shows the collision between sustainability and exploitation of our precious and diminishing resources. The outcome may be the largest dam removal project in history and the restoration of a once-vial river.
We Shall Remain: American Experience
Sunday, November 8, 1:00 - 5:30 p.m. & Sunday, November 15, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
This five-part series spans 300 years to tell the story of pivotal moments in U.S. history from the Native American perspective. It begins in the 1600s with the Wampanoags, who used their alliance with the English to strengthen their position in southern New England. And it ends with the bold new leaders of the 1970s, who harnessed the momentum of the Civil Rights movement to forge a pan-Indian identity.
To Brooklyn and Back: A Mohawk Journey
Monday, November 9, 9:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Mohawk men in Brooklyn's Little Caughnawaga helped build the Empire State Building, Rockerfeller Center and the United Nations. Filmmaker Reaghan Tarbell retraces her grandmother's mid-20th century journeys between her home in Quebec's Kahnawake Reserve and her second "home" in Brooklyn's legendary ironworking community in order to tell stories about each of their lives.
Way Of The Warrior
Tuesday, November 10, 10:00 - 11:00 p.m.
This program examines the visceral nature of war and the bravery of Native American veterans who valiantly served in the United States military during the wars of the 20th century, and explores the paradox of these proud veterans who chose to fight for a country that considered them to be outside of the American mainstream.
Six Generations
Thursday, November 12, 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. & Sunday, November 15, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
The story of Ernestine De Soto, the daughter of the last speaker of the Chumash language. She has written down her family's oral history reaching back to the First Contact with the Spanish. The film is formed from Ernestine's performance, interviews, scenes of research at the mission and museum, old drawings, photos, recreations, and scenes from Santa Cruz Island.
Jim Thorpe: World's Greatest Athlete
Thursday, November 12, 9:30 - 10:30 p.m.
This program tells the story of Thorpe's life journey from a log cabin in Indian Territory to the Olympic dais, from the Carlisle Indian school to gridiron stardom in the early years of the NFL. It also tells of Thorpe's life beyond his well-known athletic victories.
Playing For The World: The 1904 Indian Girl's Basketball Team
Saturday, November 21, 9:00 - 10:00 p.m.
In 1902, a unique combination of Indian women came together at a boarding school in Montana. They used the new sport of basketball to help them adjust to a rapidly-changing world. Their travels and experiences led them to places they never imagined. Ultimately, those women played for something much larger than themselves.
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November is the month the United States honors American Indians, the first Americans.
You have scheduled 13 exellent shows but only 13. It would have been great had more been presented. But we are thankful for what you have scheduled.
How can I get a copy of Six Generations, quick, for a college class assignment? I midded the viewing on November 12 due to travel.