Films are complete... Premiere events in mid-September

The 2015 Navajo Oral History Project films are complete. Four teams of student journalists from Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona) spent nearly three weeks not eh Navajo Nation in May-June 2015, then spent the rest of summer working on documentary films about the lives of Navajo elders.

Their films are now complete and will be premiered at both higher education institutions in mid-September.

Put these events on your calendar, and invite anyone you think might be interested in attending:

2015 NOHP Premiere at Winona State University

Thursday, Sept. 10
- 5 p.m., reception and refreshments, Science Laboratory Center Atrium
- 5:30 p.m., program, Science Laboratory Center Auditorium

2015 NOHP Premiere at Diné College, Tsaile, Arizona, Campus
Monday, Sept. 14
- 5 p.m., reception and Navajo meal, 4th Floor Museum, Ned Hatathli Center
- 5:30 p.m., program, 4th Floor Museum, Ned Hatathli Center

2015 NOHP Premire at Diné College

This year's films focus on:

- Louva Dahozy a community leader, educator and broadcaster from Ft. Defiance, Arizona; 

- Tony Goldtooth Sr., a Navajo language and culture professor from Shiprock, New Mexico; 

- Peggy Scott, a retired teacher and community activist from Chinle, Arizona; and 

- Bill Toldeo, a Navajo Code Talker during World War II, from Torreon, New Mexico.

The films are very well done. The involved students can be proud of their efforts. The films will stand the test of time and be important historical documents. Following the premiere events, the films will be archived at the Diné College Library, The Winona State University Library, The Navajo Nation Museum and Library, and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian.

The Winona State University students involved in the 2015 Navajo Oral History Project are:

Jordan Gerard, a journalism major from Spring Grove, Minnesota

Jacob Hilsabeck, a photojournalism major from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 

Reagan Johnson, a transmedia major from Randolph, Wisconsin

Kacie Mann, a public relations major from Maple Grove, Minnesota

Tobias Mann, a journalism major from Thief River Falls, Minnesota

Nate Nelson, a computer science and mass communication major from Corvallis, Oregon

Taylor Nyman, a photography and digital imaging major from Monroe Center, Illinois

Casie Rafferty, a journalism major from Winona, Minnesota

Kim Schneider, a journalism major from Roseville, Minnesota

Samantha Stetzer, a journalism major from Holmen, Wisconsin

Ben Strand, a journalism major from Burnsville, Minnesota

The Diné College students involved in the 2015 Navajo Oral History Project are:

Kyle Brown, Lukachukai, Arizona

Kaitlyn Haskie, Lukachukai, Arizona

Anna Shepherd, Chilchinbeto, Arizona

Brandon Tayah, Chinle, Arizona                                

Stephanie Tsosie, Low Mountain, Arizona

Shelly Wheeler, Lukachukai, Arizona

The documentaries were part of the sixth year of a collaborative project led by Dr. Tom Grier and Robbie Christiano of Winona State University and Dr. Miranda Haskie of Diné College. To date, students in the program have completed 23 documentary films on the lives of Navajo elders, including nine World War II Navajo Code Talkers.

Plans are already underway for the 2016 Navajo Oral History Project, which will take place in May-June of 2016. Student participants in the program earn three college credits and a lifetime of experience.