My documentary work on Pro Lakota Productions, a Native American hip-hop and media arts group, is profiled in the annual Best Of issue at the American Society of Media Photographers.
Project Brief
A group of young Lakota media warriors - members of the Midnight Strong Heart Society - teamed up with music producer Manex Ibar (Vurse) to create their own unique blend of beats and rhymes mixed with traditional sounds and stories of Lakota pride. The resulting tracks became a demo record for Pro Lakota Productions, an indigenous multimedia studio - and have aired on radio stations across the United States as well as in Europe. I travelled with Manex Ibar to the reservations in South Dakota to document the creative process and contribute visual media to help build Pro Lakota Productions. The journey was orchestrated by the international cultural non-profit Fifth Season.
Cante Tinza Hancokan Okolakiciye - Midnight Strong Heart Society was originally founded in the 1800's by legendary Sitting Bull and other Lakota Sioux leaders as they fought to maintain their traditional way of life against the United States Government's displacement policy. The Midnight Strong Heart Society is one of the most respected native societies fighting for traditional ways and cultural pride. The Socieity was driven underground with the killing of Sitting Bull and the complete control of Indian Reservations by the U.S. Government. In 1981 the Society was revived while successfully defending the sacred Black Hills from uranium mining. In 2005, The Midnight Strong Heart Society is active again, using media to document, preserve and deliver traditional knowledge, wisdom and hope to the youth and overall tribe. Through media productions, youth learn media tools while documenting their culture as well as their expression. Through music, especially Native Hop, the youth rhyme poetry and liberate deep feelings through their expressions that reflect life on the reservation as well as traditional wisdom.
Media and Links
Video - Six minute documentary by Jack Lenk: Small or Large (Quicktime)
Photos and Interview - the American Society of Media Photographers published an interview with Jack Lenk about this project in their September Best of 2006 issue.
Music - visit the Midnight Strong Heart Society page on MySpace to listen to the songs and connect with the musicians
Artist Management - the music was produced and is managed by Vurse
Cultural Exchange - this journey was initiated and organized by non-profit Vth Season
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