QWOCFF 2018 Closing Night: Indigenous Futures
The evening began with a Native American drum ceremony by the folks at BAAITS, Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits, followed by 7 short films. |
| Tuupash |
L. Frank is among the last descendants of a tribe whose language is all but lost. This short film is an effort to preserve a few of the remaining fragments in the form of a lyrical poem about birds in the sky observing a coyote crying. The animation elegantly captures the animals’ lament, metaphorically echoing the lament of the last remnants of a once vibrant language. MUST SEE.
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| Blue Jade |
This animated short incorporates Aztec, Maya, and Nahua folklore in a story about a blood sacrifice to nourish the earth. Honestly, I got a little lost, but a friend who saw it with me found it deeply resonant. The animation was very well done, and I would probably appreciate it much more seeing it a second time. Highly recommended.
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| Her Journey |
Dancing Fox grew up largely unaware of their Native ancestry, Blackfeet on one side of the family and Crow on the other, mixed with African American. They have reclaimed their heritage and taken on the role of elder, striving to keep alive traditions imperiled by 21st-century life. It’s a testament to individual and communal spirit. Highly recommended.
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| Circles of Care |
The Seattle Indigenous Health Board awarded a grant for a program to bring together various agencies and resources to provide better care for the indigenous population in the Seattle area, thus building an enduring web of connection and coordination whose benefits continue to ripple through the community. It’s a hopeful story well told. Highly recommended.
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| The Indian is Still Alive and the Indian Knows the Songs |
For many indigenous tribes, particularly in the Plains region, a large drum played by about half a dozen people (more or less) is an important element of ceremony and ritual. BAAITS, Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits, now has a drum circle of their own. In this documentary, we learn a bit about ceremonial drums and this circle, and hear a couple of songs. It’s a moving (literally — you may find your hands and feet joining in the beat) tribute to an important part of Native culture and its reclaiming by two-spirits. Definitely a MUST SEE.
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| Mala Fama |
In this music video, two Angelen@s with indigenous roots rap (in Spanish) about destroying the patriarchy. It’s well done, worth seeing even if you’re not a huge rap fan. Highly recommended.
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| The Spores They Left Us |
In this somewhat esoteric allegory, an indigenous person from Puerto Rico reconnects with the earth and plants, as a way of keeping alive the connection to Puerto Rico while living in California. It didn’t entirely make sense to me, but it was interesting and conveyed the sense of relationship with nature, and a Puerto Rican friend found it very moving. Highly recommended.
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