Reciprocity Project, Season One
Facing a climate crisis, the Reciprocity Project embraces Indigenous value systems that have bolstered communities since the dawn of humanity. To heal, we must recognize that we are in relationship with Earth, a place that was in balance until the modern industrial age. This short film series and multimedia platform (reciprocity.org) invites learning from time-honored and current Indigenous ways of being. In Season 1 of the Reciprocity Project, storytellers and community partners created films in response to a question: what does 'reciprocity' mean to your community?
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Adam MazoSeries Producers
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Taylor HenselSeries Producers
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Kavita PillaySeries Producers
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Tracy RectorExecutive Producer
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Princess Daazhraii JohnsonDirector
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Brit HenselDirector
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David Hernández PalmarDirector
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Geo NeptuneDirector
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Brianna SmithDirector
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Jeremy DennisDirector
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Justyn Ah ChongDirector
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Jacob BearchumDirector
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Taylor HenselDirector
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Adam MazoDirector
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Chris NewellDirector
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Roger PaulDirector
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Kavita PillayDirector
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Tracy RectorDirector
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Lauren StevensDirector
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Project Type:Documentary, Short
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Runtime:1 hour 8 minutes 7 seconds
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Completion Date:February 1, 2022
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:Colombia, United States, Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Skábmagovat Indigenous Peoples’ Film FestivalInari
Finland
January 27, 2022
Official Selection -
Big Sky Documentary FestivalMissoula, Montana
United States
February 18, 2022
Official Selection -
Cartagena International Film FestivalCartagena
Colombia
March 16, 2022 -
Independent Film Festival BostonBoston, Massachusetts
United States
April 27, 2022 -
Māoriland Film FestivalŌtaki, Aotearoa
New Zealand
June 29, 2022
Southern Hemisphere -
The International First Peoples Festival Présence AutochtoneMontréal, Québec
Canada
August 16, 2022
Official Selection -
Local Sightings Film FestivalSeattle, WA
United States
September 16, 2022
Official Selection -
Hot Springs Documentary Film FestivalHot Springs, Arkansas
United States
October 10, 2022
Official Selection -
Cucalorus Film FestivalWilmington, NC
United States
November 17, 2022
Official Selection -
IDA Documentary Awards
Nominee - Best Short-Form Series -
Capital City Film FestivalLansing, MI
United States
April 5, 2023
Official Selection
Diiyeghan naii Taii Tr’eedaa (We Will Walk the Trail of our Ancestors)
Princess Daazhraii Johnson ( Neet'saii Gwich'in) is Neets'aii Gwich'in and lives with her three sons and partner on the traditional territory of lower Tanana Dene lands in Alaska. She is humbled to serve on the board of Native Movement and NDN Collective and is the former ED of the Gwich'in Steering Committee - collectively, she works to protect the lands, waters, animal and plant relatives that continue to take care of all of us. Princess received a B.A. in International Relations from The George Washington University and a M.Ed. at the University of Alaska Anchorage with a focus on Environmental and Science Education. She has served on the SAG-AFTRA Native American Committee since 2007 and in 2015 she was appointed by President Obama to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Institute of American Indian Arts. She is a Sundance Film Alum, a current Nia Tero Storytelling Fellow and is the Creative Producer and a screenwriter for the Peabody award-winning PBS Kids series "Molly of Denali"
ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught)
Brit Hensel (Cherokee Nation) is a Tulsa-based filmmaker whose work focuses on Indigenous storytelling and environmental justice. Her passion for storytelling first took shape through her work as a screenwriter and co-founder of Selu Productions. She previously directed and produced the documentary films, Zibi Yajdan (2019) and Native and American (2017). Brit comes from the Giduwa people and is a citizen of Cherokee Nation. She has a BA in History from North Park University in Chicago, Illinois, and is a 2019 - 2020 NeXt Doc Collective Film Fellow. Brit currently works as a producer for Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People, an Emmy-winning, documentary-style program featuring the people, places, history, and culture of the Cherokee Nation.
SŪKŪJULA TEI (Stories of my Mother)
David Hernández Palmar (Wayuu, IIPUANA Clan)Journalist, photographer, filmmaker / Curator of Latin American and Caribbean Film specializing in Indigenous Film / Member of the Wayuu People Communications Network / Director of the Indigenous Audiovisual Foundation Wayaakua / Curator and Programmer of the Wayuu Film and Video Showcase / Curator and Programmer of the International Indigenous Film Showcase of Venezuela MICIV / Political Advisor for Latin American Coordinator of Cinema and Communication of Indigenous Peoples CLACPI / Guest Curator for Daupará – Indigenous Film and Video Showcase in Colombia / Former Advisor for special selection NATIVe of the Berlinale International Film Festival / Consultant for the Prince Claus Foundation / Member of The Indigenous Media and Communication Caucus / Member of the Programmers of Color Collective POC².
Weckuwapasihtit (Those Yet to Come)
Co-Directors: Geo Neptune and Brianna Smith
Geo Neptune (Passamaquoddy) is a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe from Indian Township, Maine, and is a Master Basketmaker, a Drag Queen, an Activist and an Educator. As a person who identifies as a two-spirit, an Indigenous cultural gender role that is a sacred blend of both male and female, Geo uses they/them gender-neutral pronouns. When Geo graduated from Dartmouth College and returned to the Indian Township reservation, they began to focus heavily on their weaving, and developing their own individual artistic style. Experimenting with their family's signature woven flowers mixed with natural elements of twigs and branches, Geo began forming what would eventually be known as their signature sculptural style of whimsical, elegant, traditionally-informed basketmaking.
Brianna She/Her/Hers (Passamaquoddy) grew up in Sipayik with a camera in her hand. She is a mother, aunt, friend, youth mentor and photographer, well known for capturing memories of her friends, family, and community. She describes her photography work as being heavily influenced by her upbringing and environment and includes subjects that illustrate culture, community, family, risk & protective factors and resiliency. Her work captures strong, proud indigenous people, while intentionally breaking down negative stereotypes and boxes of what indigenous people are and what people think they should be. Brianna also works as a Youth and Communications Coordinator for Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness, where she advises Tribal Youth Councils, guiding them to find their voices and empowering them to make positive changes in their communities as well as throughout all of Turtle Island.
Weckuwapok (The Approaching Dawn)
Weckuwapok was made by a collective of storytellers with a shared affinity for all beings and uplifting Indigenous voices. We are 8 people creating story together. We are Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Wolastoqey, Cherokee, Walla Walla / Northern Cheyenne, multicultural, and settler. Supporting us is a marvelous and diverse team including educators, program managers, advisers, editors, artists, and more who collectively make up the Reciprocity Project team. Our names are (alphabetically):
Jacob Bearchum, Taylor Hensel, Adam Mazo, Chris Newell, Roger Paul, Kavita Pillay, Tracy Rector, and Lauren Stevens.