Looking Back and Moving Forward With Music in Our Hearts

Students at Sherman Indian High School examine what role music plays in their lives, their history and interview two contemporary Native music groups, The Miracle Dolls and Jessa Calderon who use their music for activism and run music and poetry programs with Sherman students. This video was produced part of the Indigitize Youth Media Arts and Activism workshop, a collaboration between Sherman Indian High School and Pitzer College students. Sherman students Mikaela Benson, Maryjane Gonzalez, Todreanna Thunder Hawk, Gabe Harris, Rose Manuel, Gracee Francisco. Pitzer Media Mentors: Emma Harvey, Mitchell Allen, Rowen Light-Wills, Connor Smyth. Project producers Lorene Sisquoc and Gina Lamb. Featuring Jessa Calderon and the Miracle Dolls along with Sherman student musicians.

  • Maryjane Gonzalez
    Director
    Sherman Indian High School
  • Todreanna Thunder Hawk
    Director
    Sherman Indian High School
  • Gabe Harris
    Director
    Sherman Indian High School
  • Rose Manuel
    Director
    Sherman Indian High School
  • Mikaela Benson
    Director
    Sherman Indian High School
  • Maryjane Gonzalez
    Writer
    Sherman Indian High School
  • Gracee Francisco
    Writer
    Sherman Indian High School
  • Gina Lamb
    Producer
    Pitzer College
  • Lorene Sisquoc
    Producer
    Sherman Indian High School
  • Jessa Calederon
    Key Cast
  • Desi Doll
    Key Cast
  • Dani Doll
    Key Cast
  • Roger Martinez
    Key Cast
  • Mikaela Benson
    Key Cast
  • Kai Juan Boone
    Key Cast
  • Emma Harvey
    Project Mentors
    Media Arts for Social Justice
  • Mitch Allen
    Project Mentors
    Media Arts for Social Justice
  • Rowen Light-Wills
    Project Mentors
    Media Arts for Social Justice
  • Conor Smyth
    Project Mentors
    Media Arts for Social Justice
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 15, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital MP4
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Sherman Indian High School & Pitzer College
  • Four Corners Film Festival
    Virtual
    United States
    September 15, 2021
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Native Visions Film Festival
    Parker, Arizona
    United States
    October 29, 2021
    In-person North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • American Indian Film Festival
    San Francisco, CA
    United States
    November 5, 2021
    Official Selection
  • LA Skins Fest
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    November 21, 2021
    Los Angeles Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Maryjane Gonzalez, Todreanna Thunder Hawk, Gabe Harris, Rose Manuel, Mikaela Benson

About Indigitize...
Indigitize is Sherman Indian High School’s weekly Media Production and Critique Club. It was established in the Fall of 2012 as a collaboration between the Museum Studies Class taught by Lorene Sisquoc at Sherman Indian High School and Media Arts for Social Justice, a course taught by Professor Gina Lamb at Pitzer College. SIHS student Shane John created the name Indigitize as a way to bridge Indigenous culture and digital media as well as to create a platform for up and coming Indigenous media makers.

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