The 3rd Annual Trading Stories Film Festival is taking place in Chadron, Nebraska this week. We stopped by on opening night to view this year’s key event – the premiere of the Nebraska Public TV production “Medicine Woman”.
Christine Lesiask is co-producer of the documentary film “Medicine Woman”.
“It has always been a desire of mine to study medicine…ever since I was a small girl. For even then I saw the needs of my people for a good physician...” says poet/musician Joy Harjo as she narrates “Medicine Woman”.
The Nebraska PBS film explores the life of Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American doctor in the country. But Christine Lesiask says Doctor Susan’s story grew once she began doing research.
“The whole theme turned into something that I wasn’t expecting in the beginning,” explains Lesiask, “which is when a way of life is shattered and destroyed…or when there’s an attempt to destroy a way of life…it’s often the women who become the healers. It’s often the women who are the resilient ones. And that seemed to prove true in other Native tribes that I studied and learned about and ended up…”
And ended up bringing into her film. “Medicine Woman” includes the stories of a Navajo, a Lakota and an Omaha woman who are all 21st century doctors. And they’re women who are aware of and open to traditional healing.
Marguerite Vey-Miller is spokesperson for the Chadron Public Library Foundation. She says having the opportunity to show “Medicine Woman” at the Trading Stories Film Festival is a major coup.
“It was suggested to us by the Indian Commission of Nebraska,” Vey-Miller recalls. “And...so…they’re the ones that actually got us in touch with Christine to be able to have it here. So…it’s a very big deal for us. We’re very excited.”
Vey-Miller sees the premiere as lending credibility to the relatively new film festival and says it’s already drawing more name filmmakers to the venue…which continues through Sunday.
Medicine Woman is scheduled for national airing on PBS in November.
Related links:
Chadron Public Library
http://www.chadronpubliclibrary.com/274/Public-Library
"Medicine Woman" - Nebraska NET/PBS
http://netnebraska.org/basic-page/television/medicine-woman
Trading Stories, a Movie Festival
Trading Stories is back. Bigger, better, with lots of activities and gorgeous movies. July 6 to July 10, 2016.
Friday July 8, 2016
11:00 am “Native American Flute Performance” by Michael Murphy
Noon and throughout the day: Artist in Residence: Stephanie Sorbel display and sell her
Native American dolls
2:00 pm Animated Film: “GREAT WOLF AND LITTLE MOUSE SISTER”
Children have an Opportunity to Create Native Crafts Following the Film
5:00 pm Tom Swift Bird, Guest Artist “Photography Connecting Lakota History and
Philosophy’
6:00 pm film: “NEW WORLD”
Saturday 9, 2016
Throughout the day: Artist in Residence: Stephanie Sorbel and Guest Artist, Tom Swift Bird
6:30 pm film: “REZ BOMB”
Sunday 10, 2016-
2 Documentary Comedies
1:00 pm Film: “AMERICAN INTERIOR”
3:30 pm Film: “FRY BREAD”
OPEN MIC- (Between movies) your opportunity to be a comedian, we would love to hear you.