Diné College Guests in Winona

Several guests from the Navajo Nation came to Winona, Minn., in mid-September for the 2013 Navajo Oral History project premiere at Winona State University. At the event, the students who participated in the summer documentary journalism class showed the completed versions of their films focused on Navajo elders. 

Dr. Miranda Haskie, a professor of Social and Behavioral Science from Diné College, and her husband, Vernon, led the group that came to Winona for the reception and premiere. 

The guests arrived at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport on Wednesday, Sept, 11. WSU graduate student Robbie Christiano picked them up at the airport and took them to spend a few hours at the Mall of America before they drove south two hours to Winona. 

On Thursday morning, the students and faculty from the Navajo Nation were guests in Dr. Cindy Killion's Mass Communication Issues and Ethics course at WSU where they discussed media portrayal of American Indians and coverage of news and issues of importance to American Indians.

Later, the Diné College guests and WSU members of the Navajo Oral History Project served as the panel of experts for a news conference in Dr. Tom Grier's News Writing course. The panel discussed the Navajo Oral History Project and the films that were created, which were to be premiered the following evening on campus. 

The Guests from the Navajo Nation enjoyed lunch in The Smaug in WSU's Student Union building then stopped at the WSU Bookstore for some souvenir shopping.

In the late afternoon and evening, the Navajo visitors and lots of Navajo Oral History project students from this year and previous years, enjoyed a cookout and campfire at the home of Robbie Christiano, as guests of Robbie and his parents: Bob and Karen Christiano. This was a fun and casual time with lots of good food, conversation and laughter.

On Friday, Tom and Julie Grier led the group on a hike up Sugar Loaf, the famous rock formation that towers over the City of Winona, Minnesota.

(above three photos by Julie Grier)

(above photo by Michael Ruka)

The Great Dakota Gathering was happening in Winona that day, so the group stopped there for awhile before taking a quick drive to the Garvin Heights overlook for another lofty view of the "Island City."

(above photo by Michael Ruka)

In the evening, the whole group hosted the 2013 Navajo Oral History Project Premiere and Reception to view the student-produced films and to honor the students for their hard work.

WSU's Science Laboratory Center Auditorium was nearly full, with students, faculty, staff, community members, and friends and family of the student filmmakers in attendance. Also attending were several alumni of the program, who came to mark the fifth-year milestone of the project.

(above five photos by Julie Grier)

The films were, of course, excellent, and the students spoke from the heart about the process of meeting the Navajo elders, breaking down cultural barriers, and researching, recording, editing and producing the films that told the life stories of the elders. 

On Saturday morning, the Diné College group returned to the MSP Airport and back home to Arizona. The next day, the WSU group flew to the west to do it all over again, hosting a second premiere and reception event at Diné College on Monday evening. 

(Photos, unless otherwise noted, by Tom Grier.)

2013 Navajo Oral History Project Premiere at Diné College

The life stories of five Navajo elders were featured in documentary films premiered on Monday, Sept. 16, at Diné College, the Tribal College of the Navajo Nation.

The films, part of the 2013 Navajo Oral History Project, were researched, recorded, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University, Winona, Minn., and Diné College, Tsaile, Ariz.

The students and faculty of the program gathered with the five featured elders and their families for a traditional Navajo mutton and fry bread meal and then watched the student-produced films. Following each film, the student filmmakers and the featured elder gave short speeches about the project and the process of working together to record the elder's stories.

The elders featured are:
- Jake Livingston, a Navajo-Zuni Silversmith from Sanders, Arizona;
- Peter MacDonald, former Navajo tribal chairman and World War II Navajo Code Talker from Tuba City, Arizona;
- Nita Nez, a traditional Navajo rug weaver from Rock Point, Arizona;
- Della Toadlena, a retired Diné College English professor from Chinle, Arizona; and
- Baje Whitethorne Sr., a celebrated Navajo artist and sculptor from Flagstaff, Arizona.

Below are a selection of photos from the Diné College premiere event.

The 2013 Navajo Oral History project was the fifth year of the successful collaboration between Winona State University's Mass Communication Department, and Diné College's Social and Behavioral Sciences Department.

The finished documentaries are archived at the Navajo Nation Museum, The Navajo Nation Library, the libraries of both participating higher education institutions, and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian.

Since it began, the program has developed documentary films about 23 Navajo elders. More than 80 students from the two learning institutions have been involved.

The project is directed by Dr. Tom Grier, professor of Mass Communication at Winona State University; Dr. Miranda Haskie, professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Diné College, and Mr. Robbie Christiano, WSU Mass Communication alumnus and current WSU graduate student.

For more information on the project, contact Dr. Tom Grier via email (tgrier@winona.edu).

The Winona State University group got together for a photo just before the premiere reception began.

Pictured (left to right) are: Tom Grier, Adam Maciejczak, Elise Nelson, Robbie Christiano, Darin Strohmenger, Jolene Kuisle and Skylar Ogren. (photo by Julie Grier)

The Toadlena Family.

Pictured (left to right) are: Brent, Leanne, Della, and Leo.

Jake and Jay Livingston.

DC Student Lorencita Willie poses with WSU Students Darin Strohmenger and Adam Maciejczak.

Dr. Miranda Haskie welcomes guests to the premiere and invites them to enjoy a traditional Navajo mutton and fry bread meal.

Trina Thomas, DC student participant in the 2013 NOH project, with her nephew.

Diné College's Vice President Ron Belloli visits with Prof. Miranda Haskie.

Professor Haskie starts the program.

Diné College Vice President Ron Belloli gave a brief speech about the value of learning opportunities like the Navajo Oral History Project.

Abraham Bitok, Diné College's Academic Dean spoke of his support for this program. 

Jay and Jake Livingston enjoy watching the film about Jake's Life.

Following the film, Jake speaks while the students listen.

Pictured (left to right): Darin Strohmenger, Adam Maciejczak, Lorencita Willie, Jake Livingston.

Peter MacDonald (foreground) and his wife, Wanda, enjoy the film.

DC Student Debb Teller (left) and WSU Student Jolene Kuisle (right) listen while Peter MacDonald speaks.

Nita Nez and her family watch the film about her life as a rug weaver.

WSU Student Skylar Ogren (left), and DC Student Lyndzey Barney listen while Nita Nez discusses the making of the film which included translation help from Nita's daughter, DC Alumna Revaline Nez (right).

Della Toadlena and her family laugh during a light moment in the film about Della's life.

WSU Student Elise Nelson (left) and DC Student Lionel Harvey (right) listen to Della.

Baje Whitethorne Sr., watches the student-produced film about his life and his art.

Baje Whitethorne Sr., (left) talks, while DC Student Trina Thomas listens. 

Robbie Christiano, the graduate student assistant to the NOH project wraps up the evening with a heartfelt talk about the importance of the films and the learning opportunity for students.

The elders and students got together for a group photo.

Pictured (left to right): Jake Livingston, Nita Nez, Peter MacDonald Della Toadlena and Baje Whitethorne Sr.

Some of the group looked over silver jewlery made by Jay and Jake Livingston.

Julie Grier (left) and Tom Grier (right) pose with Jake Livingston and the new silver ring on Julie's finger, just purchased from Jake.

Premiering the 2013 Navajo Oral History Project films

We held the first premiere event and reception at Winona State University tonight (Friday, Sept. 13). About 150 people were in attendance, including WSU students, faculty, staff, neighbors and family and friends of the students who produced the films.

In addition, about 20 alumni, representing each of the five years of the project, attended.

It was such a nice event. Several dignitaries spoke including: WSU President Scott R. Olson, WSU's Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Ralph Townsend, WSU's Chair of the Mass Communication Department Ron Elcombe, and, representing the WSU Foundation, William "Chops" Hancock.

This past summer, a group of students from WSU and Diné College, the Tribal College of the Navajo Nation, worked in collaborative teams to create documentary films focused on the life stories of five Navajo elders. The students researched, photographed, recorded, edited and produced the films which were premiered tonight.

After each film was shown, the student filmmakers spoke about the process and the privilege of meeting the elders and helping to preserve their life stories for all time.

The films will be archived at the Navajo Nation Museum and Library, The WSU Library, The Diné College Library, and at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian.

A second premiere event will be held Monday, Sept. 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building at Diné College in Tsaile, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation.

If you are in the Four Corners area on Monday, please come and enjoy refreshments and some really great films.

The faculty that taught the course and advised and supported the students are: Dr. Tom Grier, professor of Mass Communication, Winona State University; Dr. Miranda Haskie, professor of Social & Behavioral Science, Diné College, and Mr. Robbie Christiano, WSU Alumnus and Grad Student-Grad Assistant.

The faculty members agreed that the films are excellently produced and important historical documents. Thanks to all the students involved in this year, and each year, of the Navajo Oral History Project.

It seems like a long time... but they're almost done.

I know it seems like it has been a long time waiting for the 2013 Navajo Oral History project films to be complete.  In reality, it's not that long.  The students finished the fieldwork portion of the project about one month ago (on June 5, 2013).  Then, the hard work of documentary journalism began... the scripting, editing, audio work still photography editing, etc.

On July 6, I received the last of the projects and all 5 documentary teams had turned in all the parts of their projects.

I got the films ready to be burned, and made a master disc -- still called a DRAFT -- and sent that to Prof. Miranda Haskie at Diné College. She'll review the films and let me know if there's anything that may be culturally sensitive that might need minor editing.

Once we hear back from Prof. Haskie, we'll make final edits and the films will be ready for duplication.

At this point, everything is still on schedule to have the DVDs burned and printed and back to us in time for the reception and premiere events in September.

Here, again, is the basic information about the premiere events.

All the members of the 2013 Navajo Oral History project really hope their family, friends, classmates, neighbors, and other interested humans will attend the premiere events to see the films they worked so hard to create.

The first reception is scheduled at Winona State University on Friday, Sept. 13, beginning at 5 p.m., in the Science Laboratory Center Auditorium. The Diné College students and faculty involved in the project will be in Winona for this event and will also visit a few WSU Mass Communication courses and enjoy some local tourism while in Minnesota.

The second reception is planned for Monday, Sept. 16, at Diné College in Tsaile, Arizona, at 5 p.m. (location to be determined). The WSU students and faculty will travel to Arizona for this reception. At this event, on the Navajo Nation, the featured elders and their families are invited. It's quite a moment for student film-makers to watch the elders view the films for the first time.

Both reception events are open to the public. The Navajo Oral History project team hopes family members and friends of the participants will attend to see the films and join in the celebration and appreciation of the student's hard work.

Following the reception events, extra copies of the 2013 DVDs will be available for sale at $20 each... and all the proceeds go directly to a Diné College scholarship fund.