Native Lens just wrapped up several Near Bellingham, WA. A small group of youth produced two short videos reflecting on issues of culture and community that are important to them. One video explores the tradition of canoe pulling through interviews with various members of the community who are active participants in this local tradition. The video was inspired by members of the filmmaking team who are themselves canoe pullers. The second video weaves together images from a youth's perspective of life on the rez. These forthright and poignant images illustrate the soundtrack of a hip hop song written and performed by one of the youth filmmakers. For most of these youth, the Native Lens program was their first exposure to hands-on videomaking -- their final videos are a vivid reflection of how hard they worked and how much they learned!

During our recent three month Native Lens Workshop at Muckleshoot, we attended a number of teen gatherings, talking groups and family  health meetings.  We listened to the youth as they voiced their concerns about issues negatively impacting their lives. They expressed concerns not only about the immediate situations happening on the rez but also how distressing it is to always see the news, newspapers, media making violence especially domestic violence look cool or glamorous. Some of the girls felt that the media was directly responsible for so many people staying in bad relationships because all the negative hype makes the abusive situation seem normal!

In the various stories we realized that violence was a root cause or action in much of what was distressing these young persons, everything from peer violence, gang violence, domestic abuse and more. We asked the youth how they felt the violence begins and how they wanted to talk about these stories using digital media. One young man, Stephan, was very clear that in order to break the cycle of violence learning the ways to be in a positive relationship from an early age was the most important step. Also, from the talks most everyone felt that the violence in Native communities were a result of acculturation and from the historical abuse perpetrated by the European colonization and the resulting assimilation into Euro-American cultures, traditions and teachings. From this understanding it seemed clear that the youth had a very important and special perspective to relay to others; violence is not our tradition!

Domestic Violence or intimate partner abuse is a pattern of severe violence, perpetrated over a period of time that results in physical and emotional injury and undermines psychological and spiritual health. Domestic violence has been documented by both Native communities and the dominant culture, to be a relatively new act of abuse in Native American culture. Many tribes indicate that when domestic violence did occur, the community responded. The batterer would be banished or excluded, or retaliation was left to the male relatives of a female victim.

Several factors have accompanied the increase in domestic violence in Native American communities. These include the removal of tribes from ancestral lands, suppressed religious and cultural practices, the introduction of alcohol, the introduction of boarding schools, and a disruption of traditional living patterns. All these factors can be compounded by the historical poverty of reservation life, and a 90% reduction of the Native American population from the time of European contact to the establishment of reservations.

During a series of teen nights we worked with the young producers to create a video called Love & Violence.  I feel that this is an extremely ground breaking and important short work. Not only do the participants eloquently express what violence is in intimate relationships they also describe positive and healthy ways to relate to one another and most importantly the film articulates and makes it clear that violence is not our tradition. Yes, it is present but it is something that was introduced not something that is a cultural practice. Through a holistic approach and outreach the youth felt that the rate of violence in our communities would decrease. The video Love & Violence  was created with this intention, to be a tool for discussion and healing, so our people can begin to reclaim what is rightfully ours…healthy non-violent relationships!

Thank you to the Muckleshoot youth at teen night who have made this video possible!

Native Lens does SIFF again:

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