Fort Mojave Tribal Band, Photo Cathleen O'Connell
The Fort Mojave Tribal Band of Needles, CA is featured in a 30-minute documentary film, Sousa on the Rez: Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum, to be released sometime in 2012. The film is the creation of Boston-based independent documentary filmmaker Cathleen O’Connell. It is produced in association with Native American Public Communications and the Center for Independent Documentary.
“The film challenges viewers to expand their definition of Native American music and broadens their understanding of contemporary Indian life,” O’Connell said.
To watch a trailer for Sousa on the Rez, go to http://vimeo.com/36230529.
Another John Philip Sousa style Indian band–the Iroquois Indian Band from upstate New York–is featured along with the Fort Mojave Tribal Band. Also in the film are bands from the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo Indians.
“The phrase ‘Native American music’ may not suggest tubas and trumpets, but march music…has been a part of Native culture for over a century,” says O’Connell.
Commenting in the film, Neil Patterson Jr, President of the Iroquois Indian Band says, “The Iroquois Indian Band playing their instruments just lets other people know that there’s more to an Indian than feathers and furs, and things like that.”
According to a Los Angeles Times article, A Sousa Band of Indians, Dec. 23, 2006, “A century ago, dozens of Indian tribes nationwide had bands that played the music of John Philips Sousa and other patriotic anthems. The bands were an outgrowth of government-run boarding schools that sought…to erase Indian cultures, religious and languages…in the name of assimilation.”
Today, after over 100 years, the Fort Mojave Tribal Band and Iroquois Indian Band are proudly presenting Sousa-style music–a bridge linking American Indian and present-day cultures.
Presently, O’Connell is seeking to raise $5,000 by March 17, 2012, 9:34 PM EDT, through public and private pledges, via the web site Kickstarter. The money will be used to finish the final phases, for release of the documentary film. At this writing, Kickstarter has raised $3,015, from 19 pledged supporters. To participate in the pledge to help with the film’s release, go to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1836272756/sousa-on-the-rez-marching-to-the-beat-of-a-differe?ref=liv. Here, you will find an informative introduction by O’Connell, a window to view the Sousa on the Rez trailer, and a green box “Back This Project,” to click on, should you feel like making a pledge, and becoming a part of the film’s successful release.
Sousa on the Rez also has a Facebook link at http://facebook.com/sousaontherez.
The Fort Mojave Tribal Band represents the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe (Pipa Aha Macave–the People by the River) of the Mojave Desert.
Cathleen O’Connell’s broadcast credits include non-fiction programming for PBS, Animal Panet, the History Channel and Discovery Channel. Some of O’Connell’s projects were the PBS series American Experience, and We Shall Remain. Other music projects O’Connell was a part of were the PBS series Rock and Roll, and Welcome to the Club: The Women of Rockabilly.
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