Backbone of the World: The Blackfeet Experimental Documentary Gives the Blackfeet Perspective on Homecoming, Environmental Peril, and the Quest for Tribal Survival in the 21st Century Television audiences rarely have an opportunity to see contemporary Native American stories. This November, in honor of Native American Heritage month, the Independent Television Service invites you to experience an unusual view of Native culture. Photo: Courtesy of ITVS Set amidst the breathtaking splendor of the northern Rockies, BACKBONE OF THE WORLD: THE BLACKFEET is the story of one man's journey home and his tribe's crucial struggle to heal and forge a new identity. Under director George Burdeau's guidance, a team of young Blackfeet filmmakers use a mélange of documentary, experimental and cinema vérité formats to join the ancient legend of "Scarface" with contemporary stories that parallel the Native American experience. BACKBONE OF THE WORLD, produced by Pamela Roberts/Rattlesnake Films Productions, is a presentation of the Independent Television Service (ITVS), with funds provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Literally backed up against a wall, the Blackfeet reservation lies in the great shadow of the Rocky Mountains - known to the tribe as "the Backbone of the World." The Badger Two Medicine, a 130,000 acre tract of treaty land, has recently been opened for oil drilling by the U.S. Forest Service. An important spiritual retreat for the Blackfeet people, the Badger Canyon region is now threatened by water contamination and the inevitable destruction of plants used for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Producer Pam Roberts and director George Burdeau developed a four-year working relationship with the Blackfeet community, collaborating with tribal elders, government officials, and local Blackfeet videographers. Like the elders before him, veteran filmmaker Burdeau took on the role of mentor by teaching his craft to three young Blackfeet - Joe Fisher, Darren Kipp, and Jay LaPlante - enabling them to pass on tribal stories with a fresh perspective. BACKBONE OF THE WORLD gives a new voice to the Blackfeet saga by weaving together the ancient tribal story of "Scarface" - whose healing journey gave the Blackfeet people their religious traditions - with a contemporary community dilemma. The film makes clear that today the Blackfeet live in two worlds - modern America and the Blackfeet Nation. At risk is the language, religion, art and remaining tract of land belonging to a Native tribe who are now besieged by the encroachment of western culture. The inevitable alienation of Blackfeet youth from their roots is also prevalent. As one elder recounts, "Youngsters don't know the wilderness, just downtown." In examining the issues of modernism vs. tradition and nature vs. commerce, Burdeau and his team of modern storytellers find ways to preserve the sacred land of their ancestors for current and future generations. About the filmmakers: Director - George Burdeau (Blackfeet), a veteran film and television producer/director, worked with PBS for over 20 years. His PBS credits include Forest Spirits and Surviving Columbus and the television series Colonization of the Pacific. He directed the Plains Indian segment of The Native Americans series for TBS and recently co-directed a short film on the history of the Pequot Tribe, as well as Cherry Tree, a story about a Cherokee community, for public television. Burdeau is currently a producer/director for the Alaskan Native Heritage Association, as well as consulting producer for the Pequot Tribe. Producer - Pamela Roberts produced and directed Ishi, the Last Yahi, a one-hour documentary for Rattlesnake Productions and the National Endowment of the Humanities. Ishi was nominated for an Emmy in 1994 and broadcast nationally on The American Experience. Her awards include the John Grierson Award for Best Film for a First-Time Director at the American Film & Video Festival in New York; the Chicago Film Festival Golden Plaque and Gold Hugo Awards; the San Francisco International Film Festival Silver Prize; and Audience Award for Best Film at the Munich Film Festival. Roberts is founding president of Rattlesnake Productions, a non-profit organization dedicated to producing educational video, film and written materials that promote ethnic diversity and cultural preservation. Editor - Phil Lucas (Choctaw) has been involved in documentary film and video for over 20 years. His award-winning work includes Images of Indians; Walking with Grandfather; A Voyage of Rediscovery; and Lookin' Good. He served as co-producer on the TNT feature The Broken Chain. Blackfeet filmmakers\video camera and sound Joe Fisher (Blackfeet) directed and edited Seven Stars, a short documentary based on a Blackfeet legend, and Tom Yellowtail, Crow Sundance Chief. Fisher also co-directed the Blackfeet documentary Transitions: Destruction of a Mother Tongue and served as videographer on Cherry Tree. Darren Kipp (Blackfeet) collaborated with George Burdeau as videographer and sound technician on Cherry Tree. He recently served as location scout for the Interscope feature film What Dreams May Come, starring Robin Williams and Cuba Gooding, Jr. Jay LaPlante (Blackfeet/Cree) studied creative writing at the University of Montana while living on the Blackfeet reservation. He holds a degree in counseling and currently resides in Portland, Oregon, where he has developed a diverse career with Indian people. About ITVS Independent Television Service (ITVS) funds and presents award-winning documentaries and dramas on public television, innovative new media projects on the Web and the weekly series Independent Lens on Tuesday nights at 10 P.M. on PBS. ITVS is a miracle of public policy created by media activists, citizens and politicians seeking to foster plurality and diversity in public television. ITVS was established by a historic mandate of Congress to champion independently produced programs that take creative risks, spark public dialogue and serve underserved audiences. Since its inception in 1991, ITVS programs have revitalized the relationship between the public and public television, bringing TV audiences face-to-face with the lives and concerns of their fellow Americans. ITVS is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. Contact itvs@itvs.org or visit www.itvs.org. ITVS is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American People. This website: Copyright © 2004 Dream World Media, LLC. / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those of Urban Mozaik Magazine and the publisher cannot be held responsible for them. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.