Resource Madness

"All the work we do is geared toward helping native peoples gain more control over their resources," explains Jeanne Rubin, organizer of the Indigenous Film & Arts Festival. "And stories are a resource. These people should be in control of their stories and how their histories are told, because when...

By Amber Taufen

October 4, 2007

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"All the work we do is geared toward helping native peoples gain more control over their resources," explains Jeanne Rubin, organizer of the Indigenous Film & Arts Festival. "And stories are a resource. These people should be in control of their stories and how their histories are told, because when it's left to outsiders, it's no longer your story and it's no longer your history."

The IFAF kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. at Tennyson Gallery, 4369 Stuart Street, with To Cross an Ocean, an exhibit by New Zealand-based Maori artist Natasha Keating featuring images on authentic New Zealand wood. "She's trying to separate the myth from the legend of the Maori people," says Tennyson's Trina Hoefling. Afterward, the Academy Award-nominated short Maori film Two Cars, One Night screens at the Oriental Theater, 4335 West 44th Avenue. The exhibit and film are free, though a $10 donation is suggested. Other highlights include work by Boulder artist Bunky EchoHawk, jazz singing by Canadian Andrea Menard, Hawaiian hula performances and a plethora of film, complete with intelligent, thought-provoking discussions afterward. "One of the things we do that's a little different is, while we bring in filmmakers, we sometimes also bring in people who are featured in a movie or who can talk about the issues raised in a movie," notes Rubin. The festival runs through October 14; for a full schedule, visit www.iiirm.org.
Mon., Oct. 8, 6-8:30 p.m., 2007

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Amber Taufen has been writing about people, places and things in Denver since 2005. She works as an editor, writer, and production and process guru out of her home office in the foothills.

Contact: Amber Taufen

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