Intrepid shadows. Navajo silversmith. Navajo weaver, Alta Kahn. Old Antolope Lake. Old Antelope Lake. Second weaver. Shallow well project. Spirit of the Navajos.
Notes:
Al Clah, Alta Kahn, Alfred Kahn Sr., Susie Bennally, Sam Yazzie. Title from label. Originally released as short films in 1966. "Production of this set of films was made possible by the generous support of The National Audiovisual Conservation Center at the Library of Congress, Penn Center for Native American Studies, Adolf A. Paier and Geraldine Paier... and the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology." "The original seven films of this set vary slightly from the original prints ... A missing sound track of the poem Intrepid Shadows written and read by Al Clah has been married to this version..."--Container.
Contents:
[disc] one. Intrepid shadows (17:58 min.) / by Alfred Clah -- A Navajo weaver, Alta Kahn (22:24 min.) / by Susie K. Benally -- [Second weaver] (8:53 min.) -- The spirit of Navajos (16:30 min.) / by Maxine Tsosie and Mary J. Tsosie -- Shallow well project (14:54 min.) / by John Nelson --The Navajo silversmith (20:31 min.) / by John Nelson -- Old Antolope Lake (12:37 min.) / by Mike Anderson -- [disc] two. Extras. Behind the scenes (11 min) / incidental footage taken by Richard Chalfen and the research team -- Pine Springs then and now (2011 ; 17:57 min.).
Summary:
This group of silent films was made by Navajo Native Americans living in or near the community of Pine Springs, Arizona. They were taught how to use the equipment, and they chose the subjects and aspects of themselves they wanted to express. Intrepid shadows is a highly symbolic look at the role that shadows play in Navajo religion. The Navajo silversmith documents the stages a Navajo silversmith goes through to produce a finished piece. A Navajo weaver follows Alta Kahn as she completes all of the necessary steps to weaving a blanket, from shearing the sheep to the actual weaving process. Old Antelope Lake showcases the various activities that occur around the lake, particularly focusing on a young man who lives near the lake. A third, untitled movie [Second weaver] shows another woman completing the weaving process. Second Weaver was given its title later by the research team and shows the filmmaker's daughter Susie weaving a belt. The Spirit of Navajos depicts the spiritual and traditional healing practices of the elder medicine man or singer called Sam Yazzie. Sam was also a grandfather to the filmmakers, Maxine and Mary Jane Tsosie. This version of the film was edited to remove parts of the sandpainting ceremonies depicted at the request of the Navajo Nation Museum Cultural Consultant Robert Johnson and Archivist Eunice Kahn. Mr Johnson stated that some segments were culturally inappropriate for visual reproduction and potentially dangerous for both Navajo and other audiences to see. For more information on this decision see http://www.penn.museum/sites/navajofilmthemselves/the-films-2/the-spirit-of-the-navajo/ (final paragraph). Shallow well project is about the digging of a water well. The spirit of Navajos is about the preparations for a healing ceremony--gathering plants, making sand paintings, etc., and also shows the ceremony itself. Navajo Silversmith depicts the process of making jewelry, with one slightly fictionalized element. There was no silver in Pine Springs at the time, but still much turquoise. Old Antelope Lake depicts horsemanship and generally the local relationship to the main water source of the area. Behind the scenes consists of outtakes from films shot by the research team, which depict Adair and Worth acting a scene in which they seem to be discussing the project, followed by scenes of Susie Benally teaching Alta Kahn how to make a film. Pine Springs then and now was made in 2011 by Kate Pourshariati, Film Archivist of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and Shapoor Pourshariati, camera/sound, together with Calvin Toddy, who appears in the film. In the first scene Alfred Kahn Sr. Is interviewed in the Navajo Nation Museum about his memories of 1966 when he was filmed in his sister's and mother's films about weaving. In the second half Calvin Toddy takes the crew up to Pine Springs to see where the some of the original films were made and what these places look like today (and in color).
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.