Saint Explores Divided Reactions

Over Bestowing Sainthood on Spanish Missionary

Later this month, Pope Francis will travel to the U.S. to canonize 18th century Spanish priest Junipero Serra, who founded the first nine Spanish Missions in California. Serra traveled from his station in Mexico to bring Christianity to the Native population of California. The Pope has called Serra "the evangelizer of the West in the United States."

However, the decision to raise Serra to sainthood has sparked controversy among California Indians. Historians speculate that Serra may have intended to convert California Indians, but the Spanish soldiers who populated the missions had other motives.

Many believe Serra allowed Spanish soldiers to commit atrocities against the Native peoples of California; soldiers administered corporal punishment and sexual assault against Natives.

Some see Serra as a saint, while others paint him the villain. Saint explores both sides of the controversy. This film was produced by Vision Maker Media's intern, Charles Perry, as part of his multimedia internship with KVCR/FNX. Watch online

Warrior Women to be Featured at Hubbard Lecture Oct. 1

HUBBARD LECTURE: FIRST PEOPLE OF THE PLAINS

Thursday, Oct. 1

Sheldon Museum of Art, Lincoln, Nebraska

5 p.m. Public Reception; 6 p.m. Warrior Women Program

Q&A with filmmakers to follow

Free and open to the public, thanks to generous contributions from Anne M. Hubbard, M.D., the Claire M. Hubbard Foundation and the Cooper Foundation.

Also Join Us Before & After Lecture - Sept. 30 & Oct. 2:

Wednesday: Meet Madonna Thunder Hawk & Marcy Gilbert - Lincoln Indian Center - noon

Wednesday: Presentation at Southeast Community College (SCC) - Lincoln Campus - 3-4 p.m.

Friday: Brown bag Lunch and Learn at NET for staff and others - noon to 1:30 p.m.

About Warrior Women: This is the untold story of mothers and daughters fighting for civil rights in the American Indian Movement of the 1970s. The film unveils not only a woman's perspective of history, but also examines the impact political struggles have on the children who bear witness. The third annual Hubbard Lecture is host to a special presentation providing a glimpse into the making of this powerful film from both behind and in front of the camera. The film features Lakota activist Madonna Thunder Hawk as she traces the untold history of women's activism in the Red Power Movement, and follows Thunder Hawk as she encounters the major players in events that changed the landscape of Indian Country forever.

PLAN TO ATTEND

Finding Refuge Now Available on DVD & Amazon Video

Alex Sugak (Alutiiq) talks with Isabella Blatchford (Supiaq/Alutiiq/Inupiaq) after they walked across to Refuge Rock, also known as Awu'ak, where Russian fur traders massacred Alutiiqs in the 1780s. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand & Dog Mountain, LLC.

Finding Refuge follows Isabella Blatchford (Alutiiq) as she embarks on an urgent quest to understand her cultural heritage before stage-four breast cancer leaves her too weak to complete her journey. She confronts the violent event over two centuries ago that began the destruction of her people and the shame that colonialism created. More information about: Finding Refuge

Purchase DVD and download Finding Refuge:

Buy on Amazon

Because of Your Support . . .

Rising Voices is a portrait of a culture today, focusing on the myriad conflicts around the disappearing language on the Lakota reservations of North and South Dakota. Pictured L to R: Tiare, Hana, Jesse Taken Alive, and Ben Black Bear. Photo by Meike Zuiderweg.

Vision Maker Media secured 8,543 telecasts for our films on PBS, reaching 80 percent of broadcast coverage across PBS member stations in 41 states. This fiscal year we've raised more than $20,000 in an effort to continue to bring Native stories to life in 2016.

We thank those of you who provided your support this year:

Nadema Agard	Dawn Amory	John Andrews
Gwen Archer	Denile Ault	Brian Bonde
Janet Brown	Brian Bull	Robin Butterfield
Lydia Caros	Rhoda Carroll	Sharie Chickering
David Ciotti	Gavin Clarkson	Rachel Danay
Thomas David, Jr.	George Dech	James Dunn
Judy Eggleston	Ramona Emerson	Kristin English
Nancy Finken Ernst	Calvin W. Fox	Jeffri Frontz
Margaret Gerard	Thomas Graf	Tom Grafton
Glennon Graham	Charlotte Griswold-Tergis	Roberta Grossman
Chereeze Hall	Beth Hames	Colin Hampson
Randy Hansen	Joy Harjo	Laura Harris
LaDonna Harris	Meg Hayes	Anne Helms
Eliud Hernandez	Jack Hoyer	Ron Hull
Walter F. Hunter	Margaret Jacobs	Simon Kilmurry
Pete King	Susan M. Knospe	Mary Ann Koehler
Elizabeth Koopman	Susan Kyle	Paul Lamont
Georgiana Lee	Walter Lehmann	Marion Lipschultz
Patricia Loew	Myron Long Soldier	Peter Lotto
Alison Lotto	Hayley Marama Cavino	Ann McKeighan
Mary A. Medlin	Jean Millican	Marci Moon
Laura Murra	Mary Kathryn Nagle	Alice Nash
Native Heritage Gathering, Inc.	Barbara Nieveen	Robert North
Judith Okulitch	David Onheiber	Amy Den Ouden
James Pagliarini	Princella Parker	Evon Peter
Shauna Pratt	Janet Price	Stacy Price
Joseph P. Ramirez	Zeke Reich	Juanita J. Rice
Patricia Rickers	Henry Rikkers	Kari A Ritter
James Roberts	Gary Robinson	Steve Robinson
Kay Ruckle	Kristi Rudelius-Palmer	Jessica Rustad
Kathleen Rutledge	Scott Sackett	Ron Salak
Barbara Schaffer Bacon	Dan Schiedel	Jonathan Skurnik
Shirley K. Sneve	Maya Solis	Amy Sommer
Sally E. Stocking	Dawn Sudano	Brooke Sween-McGloin
Aimie Taylor	Helen Thornley	Rosee Torres
Mark Trahant	Celeste Tremel	Brandon Verzal
Bill Williams	Jerry W. Wilson	Lisa Wolf Johnson
Laura Lee Woodruff	Dennis Yonemura	Zucchini Toast

We need continued support to inspire more Native filmmakers to create films that share Native stories that can help make a positive generational shift in Native Youth, to encourage them to make wise choices and inspire them to learn, honor and celebrate their tribal identity.

Five Vision Maker Media films airing this fall depict efforts to revitalize a Native language, honor Native military service, encourage Native youth and inspire cultural identity and Native pride. Check Out What's Coming to Your PBS Station

You can help support our efforts, please join us by donating online now.