Fort Peck Indian Reservation
Montana
American bison were pushed to the brink of extinction in the late 1800’s, and with them, an entire Indigenous culture was nearly destroyed. Now, the Dakota and Nakoda people are re-connecting their youth to a culture that many thought to be lost forever. In their efforts, they bring hope, healing, and unity to a new generation.
Lame Deer, Montana
American bison were pushed to the brink of extinction in the late 1800’s, and with them, an entire Indigenous culture was nearly destroyed. Now, the Dakota and Nakoda people are re-connecting their youth to a culture that many thought to be lost forever. In their efforts, they bring hope, healing, and unity to a new generation.
Express 2 Speak teams up with MAPS Media Institute to accompany students in the creative process in these MAPS productions
Rising Voices Poetry Club is an extraordinary program at Browning High School, Montana, where students write and perform original spoken word. Students are encouraged to find their own voices in this innovative program, led by Browning librarian and poetry club advisor Amy Conrey Andreas.
Visiting artist Tahj Kjelland of MAPS Media Institute and Express 2 Speak met with students to explore the art of self expression, writing, and performance. MAPS Media Instiute worked with these amazing students to tell their own story on film as well. Students filmed their writing process and performances, and directed “vignettes” to accompany their spoken word. The culmination is this short film, “Rising Voices”. It shows that Browning High School is home to some of the most creative and talented youth that Montana has to offer. As student Hailie Hendersen wrote, “The Seventh Generation is here, and coming on strong”.
Special thanks to the Greater Montana Foundation for their continued support of these programs, and the Browning School District for allowing us to tell this story.
Browning Rising Voices has won the National Student Production Award for Short Form Non-Fiction!
Fort Peck Indian Reservation
Montana
American bison were pushed to the brink of extinction in the late 1800’s, and with them, an entire Indigenous culture was nearly destroyed. Now, the Dakota and Nakoda people are re-connecting their youth to a culture that many thought to be lost forever. In their efforts, they bring hope, healing, and unity to a new generation.
Browning Middle School Browning, Montana
What we achieve can be realized through what is imagined. A science classroom becomes the catalyst for students imagining their dreams. Aisitsimstā is a conceptual work on the power of daydreaming and our ability to work towards our goals. The film was created from start to finish in 5 days by Browning middle and high school students as a part of the MAPS/Montana GEAR Up filmmaking workshop. With a special message at the end from Supaman.
Helena, Montana
EAST follows a day in the life of three teenagers from East Helena, Montana, in a story about a sense of place, hard times, and the bonds of friendship. The film was written and filmed over the course of just four days in 2019, with a crew of young artists, many of whom had never operated camera, audio equipment, or acted. The results are an amazing testament to their talent and commitment.
The film was made possible by the generous support of the Greater Montana Foundation and ArtPlace America. Other supporters include the East Helena Food/Culture Hub, the Treacy Foundation, and the Browning Kimball Foundation.
EAST is the result of a collaboration between the MAPS Media Institute and The Myrna Loy in Helena, Montana. The film project is part of a program run by The Myrna Loy called the East Helena Food/Culture Hub, which celebrates East Helena’s unique identity through food, music, and storytelling.
