An extended interview with the producers of Standing Silent Nation
Special to the Exchange by Shannon Sloan-Spice
There is something remarkable about the White Plume family of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Part of their story is told in the documentary "Standing Silent Nation," but in speaking with the film’s director, it becomes clear the struggle to grow hemp and assert sovereignty is just the tip of the iceberg.
While many filmmakers may be fulfilled simply creating a film and winning awards - including the Audience Choice Award at the Sedona International Film Festival (2007) and the High Times Stony Award for Best Documentary (2008) - director Suree Towfighnia and producer Courtney Hermann have taken the message of their film to another level: activism.
Towfighnia, who lives in Chicago, just finished a three-day weekend of fundraising events for the White Plumes, who recently lost everything they owned when their family home burned down.
She says, despite the awards, celebrating is premature because changes have not been made yet. For the crew, one-third of the film was making it, another third was getting it out there, but the final third is really helping to affect change.
“As the messengers, we felt we couldn’t just send it out there and leave it, but had to offer ways - like these events - to help people get involved in this grassroots effort. It is far more empowering to see people ready to go as we provide something for them to do. And some people have been there right from the beginning, even if they haven’t been out to South Dakota to meet the family. We’re all about the social justice aspect of it.”
While Towfighnia prefers to get in the van and take the message on the open road, Hermann has really pushed to go the academic route - getting the film into universities, schools and libraries. Towfighnia says they were very lucky to have been picked up by PBS and POV Films and to receive national exposure right away. Although it eliminated their ability to be in several film festivals, because of a conflict of interest between film and TV, they were amazed that PBS created a syllabus for social studies classrooms and encouraged educators to teach it. “Kids really get this,” Towfighnia says.
When she begins to speak about the White Plumes, her admiration and deep caring cannot be denied. “Alex has this five-year business plan to help his whole family out of poverty; everyone benefits. They could’ve made millions already with this renewable resource. It would be hard to find another alternative that can help everyone as much or create the same level of sustainability.”
But this is only one way the White Plumes are trying to create a positive effect for the land they love. They are trying to win back 20,000 acres of the Black Hills for the tribe. They are fighting to protect sacred praying grounds from having biker bars built on them. They have a whole initiative, called Bring Back the Way, honoring the old traditions of the Lakota. And they’re in a huge battle trying to prevent uranium mining on the land because of its dangerous affect on the environment and to the people.
Four days after they won a court case to get the drilling to stop, their electrically sound house burned to the ground, and the family lost thousands of dollars in documentation for their case, as well as tribal documents. Their house was the headquarters for other grassroots organizations like the Lakota Film Project, which Prairie Dust Films mentors to give voice to the youth of the tribe. They lost all their footage and equipment. (There is a link to the family's wish list on the Standing Silent Nation Web site )
As the interview closes, Towfighnia says she is just heading out to Pine Ridge to help the family create media awareness about the mining case and to rebuild the Lakota Film Project. She says, “We have so much to learn from the Lakota culture and the strength of their people. When you go out there you see a different life and wonder, ‘Why do we run around so much and never see the beauty around us?' I need to help them.”
Film and Media Links
Prairie Dust Films is a full service production company that specializes in documentaries.
Standing Silent Nation's myspace page
Media Monster is a Chicago-based multimedia production house that has created award-winning documentaries and animations for clients worldwide.
The Independent Media Center is a network of collectively run media outlets for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of the truth.
The Center for Social Media showcases and analyzes strategies to use media as creative tools for public knowledge and action.
Society for Professional Journalists is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty.
Media Rights maximizes the impact of social-issue documentaries and shorts.
Native American Public Telecommunications supports the creation, promotion and distribution of Native public media.
Point of View is public television's premiere showcase for independent, nonfiction film.
Hemp and Environmental Sustainability
Vote for Hemp is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and free market for industrial hemp.
Hemp Industries Association represents the interests of the hemp industry and encourages the research and development of new hemp products.
Global Hemp is a portal to the hemp community.
Hemphasis is the definitive source for consumer information about hemp.
North American Industrial Hemp Council is a nonstock and nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a better understanding of industrial hemp and its implications for the environment and world's economic development.
TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability into the mainstream.
Renewable Energy Access is the most comprehensive and up-to-date source on renewable energy news, information, jobs, events, products, and more.
Lakota/Native
Owe Aku (Bring Back the Way) is a grassroots social change organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the Lakota Way of Life.
Defend Bear Butte is a Web site about defending the Bear Butte sacred site, which sits near a proposed 20,000-square-foot biker bar.
Kiza Park is located on the White Plumes' land and offers year-round events, horse trail rides and camping.
KILI Radio is the voice of the Lakota Nation, and the largest Native American owned and operated radio station in America.
Native American Rights Fund is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Native American tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide.
Native American Journalists Association serves and empowers Native communicators through programs and activities designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures.
Tribal Court Clearing House provides information to people working in Native American tribal courts.
Oglala Lakota College is located on the Pine Ridge Reservation and provides education and training to members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Indian Country Today is a persuasive voice in Native American journalism, leading the way with accurate and timely reporting, incisive analysis and pointed commentary.
Lakota Mall is a Web site with many resources about opportunities and events on Pine Ridge.
Rez Net News is the online student newspaper for Native America and winner of the Native American Journalists Association's 2003 Native Media Award for Best Internet News Site.
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