“Lost Nation: The Ioway” Documentary Film Event in Los Angeles Brings Southern California and Midwestern Native American Nations Together for the First Time
Award-winning documentary explores the dramatic saga of the Ioway Nation
Los Angeles, CA, February 16, 2010 --(PR.com)-- History will be made in downtown Los Angeles when the award-winning documentary "Lost Nation: The Ioway" makes its West Coast debut and brings together for the first time members of the Ioway Nations of the Midwest and the Los Angeles Gabrielino/Tongva Nation. The special free event begins at 7pm on February 25, 2010 at the “Bringing the Circle Together” Native American Film Series located at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.
A vivid journey into America’s Native past and present, "Lost Nation: The Ioway" tells the nearly forgotten story of the small Ioway Tribe that once claimed the territory between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, from Pipestone, Minnesota to St. Louis. What was a quest for survival in the past became a struggle to retain a unique Native American culture and language in the present.
Filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle were invited to present "Ioway" at “Bringing the Circle Together” by organizer Lorin Morgan-Richards who believed the story of the Ioway was similar to that of the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles basin, the Tongva people.
The special screening and ceremonial event will honor the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, and the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation. In a momentous ceremony, Tribal Elders and members of the Ioway Tribes will be welcomed by the Tongva people, and the Ioway will present the Tongva with a sacred Eagle Dance to honor them.
“When we started out in 2005, literally walking the paths of the Ioway, I don’t think that either one of us, or the Ioway people expected that the film would come this far,” said producer Tammy Rundle.
“Ioway’s success has mostly been by word of mouth,” said director Kelly Rundle. “To have the film invited to screen in Los Angeles and the Ioway recognized and honored, tops off an incredible journey.”
The documentary has won several top awards at film festivals and is an Official Selection at the Archaeology Channel’s International Film Festival in Eugene, Oregon in May. The film was released nationally on DVD in 2008, and will be broadcast on Midwestern PBS stations in the fall.
This historic screening event will take place on Thursday, February 25th, 7:00pm at The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 North Central Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. A Q&A discussion with the Rundles, Southern Ioway Tribal Elder Joyce BigSoldier and Northern Ioway Tribal Member Sarita McGowan will follow the 1-hour documentary. In addition to the special ceremonial presentations that evening, the program will also feature a display of items related to Ioway history and culture, and the making of the film. Admission is free to the public.
The program is sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs, The Japanese American National Museum, The American Indian Community Council, SCIC-InterTribal Entertainment, Hecho de Mano, and Nahui Ohlin.
"Ioway" was funded in part by Humanities Iowa, the Kansas Humanities Council, the Oklahoma Humanities Council, Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
"Bringing the Circle Together," a free monthly Native American Film Series, was established to provide quality documentaries by and about Indigenous cultures of the Americas, and bring together a central gathering place where discussion and awareness of issues can be shared with the Native community and its supporters.
The Rundles are the owners of Fourth Wall Films, an award-winning independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles and now based in Moline, Illinois. Visit IowaMovie.com for more information.
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A vivid journey into America’s Native past and present, "Lost Nation: The Ioway" tells the nearly forgotten story of the small Ioway Tribe that once claimed the territory between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, from Pipestone, Minnesota to St. Louis. What was a quest for survival in the past became a struggle to retain a unique Native American culture and language in the present.
Filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle were invited to present "Ioway" at “Bringing the Circle Together” by organizer Lorin Morgan-Richards who believed the story of the Ioway was similar to that of the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles basin, the Tongva people.
The special screening and ceremonial event will honor the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, and the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation. In a momentous ceremony, Tribal Elders and members of the Ioway Tribes will be welcomed by the Tongva people, and the Ioway will present the Tongva with a sacred Eagle Dance to honor them.
“When we started out in 2005, literally walking the paths of the Ioway, I don’t think that either one of us, or the Ioway people expected that the film would come this far,” said producer Tammy Rundle.
“Ioway’s success has mostly been by word of mouth,” said director Kelly Rundle. “To have the film invited to screen in Los Angeles and the Ioway recognized and honored, tops off an incredible journey.”
The documentary has won several top awards at film festivals and is an Official Selection at the Archaeology Channel’s International Film Festival in Eugene, Oregon in May. The film was released nationally on DVD in 2008, and will be broadcast on Midwestern PBS stations in the fall.
This historic screening event will take place on Thursday, February 25th, 7:00pm at The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 North Central Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. A Q&A discussion with the Rundles, Southern Ioway Tribal Elder Joyce BigSoldier and Northern Ioway Tribal Member Sarita McGowan will follow the 1-hour documentary. In addition to the special ceremonial presentations that evening, the program will also feature a display of items related to Ioway history and culture, and the making of the film. Admission is free to the public.
The program is sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs, The Japanese American National Museum, The American Indian Community Council, SCIC-InterTribal Entertainment, Hecho de Mano, and Nahui Ohlin.
"Ioway" was funded in part by Humanities Iowa, the Kansas Humanities Council, the Oklahoma Humanities Council, Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
"Bringing the Circle Together," a free monthly Native American Film Series, was established to provide quality documentaries by and about Indigenous cultures of the Americas, and bring together a central gathering place where discussion and awareness of issues can be shared with the Native community and its supporters.
The Rundles are the owners of Fourth Wall Films, an award-winning independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles and now based in Moline, Illinois. Visit IowaMovie.com for more information.
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Contact
Fourth Wall Films
Kelly Rundle, Producer-Director
309-797-0544
www.FourthWallFilms.com
Kelly Rundle, Producer-Director
309-797-0544
www.FourthWallFilms.com
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