While there are many good reasons to host a film series, the impetus for the new Native American Film Series sprang from the desire to help make Native Americans feel more connected to Cline Library.
Cline Library staff approached the Institute for Native Americans, and the institute not only agreed that the idea was inspired, it also offered the funding for the joint venture.
“I am very happy about how things turned out,” said Carissa Tsosie, library specialist who first envisioned a Native film series. “I never expected it to come together this quickly. We hope to have people look at the library as a place not only to come to study Native American issues but to utilize all of our resources fully. The film series is a great way to exemplify Cline Library’s commitment to the Native American population at NAU.”
All of the films were made by indigenous people and were produced in the last seven years. Natives and non-Natives alike may find it interesting to learn that several of the filmmakers in the series are local.
“I’m just hoping that people will see different perspectives from the different directors—their issues and their insights into historical events and their perspectives on what is happening now,” said Jolene Manus, outreach librarian at Cline. “There are a lot of resources now for Native people— film, video, audio. We know how to create and we want to create.”
All films will show at 7 p.m Thursdays in the Cline Library Assembly Hall. The film series will span both the fall and spring semesters, opening with Weaving Worlds on Oct. 9. Weaving Worlds was showcased in the 2007 South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival and examines the world of Navajo weavers and their relationships with reservation traders. The director, Bennie Klan, will be on hand to lead a discussion after the film.
Journals of Knus Rasmussen by Zacharias Kunuk, a Canadian Inuit, will play on Oct. 23, followed by Rocks With Wings by Rick Derby on Nov. 6.
Paatuwaqatsi: Water, Land, & Life wraps up the fall semester on Nov. 20 with director Victor Masayesva present to lead a discussion following the movie.
The Native American Film Series focuses on Native American issues, but all members of the Flagstaff community are invited.
Free parking is available at the Riordan and Knoles covered garage and behind Cline Library.
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