A well known Yosemite climber and speaker, three movies and a Native American storyteller will be featured this fall supporting the popular One Book, One Campus program. The program that began in 2009 continues this year with the reading selection Flight by Native American author Sherman Alexie. The film series begins August 30 and runs through October 4, 2011. All programs are free and open to the public.
Sierra Nevada College’s One Book, One Campus program was inspired by the popularity of book clubs and a growing number of college campuses adopting common reading programs. The idea of a common reading selection rests on a simple idea: that reading the same book brings people together as a community by creating a common ground for discussion.
Sierra Nevada College Native American Film Series
Saturday, August 30: Ron Kauk presents Return to Balance – A Climber’s Journey, 7 – 9pm
Return to Balance, combines the Yosemite climbing experience with Native American cedar flute music and commentary. A deeply stirring, visual and emotional experience, combining the rare talents of a world-class rock climber and Patagonia ambassador Ron Kauk and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Sterling Johnson, and the musically gifted Jeff Ball Ensemble.
Tuesday, September 13: Film – Smoke Signals, 7 – 9pm
Smoke Signals was produced from Sherman Alexie’s book, The Lone Ranger and Tonto First Fight in Heaven. Critically acclaimed as one of the best films of the year in 1998, Smoke Signals was also a distinguished winner at the Sundance Film Festival. Though Victor and Thomas have lived their entire young lives in the same tiny town, they couldn’t have less in common. But when Victor is urgently called away, it’s Thomas who comes up with the money to pay for his trip. There’s just one thing Victor has to do: take Thomas along for the ride.
Tuesday, September 20: Film – Miss Navajo, 7 – 9pm
This wonderful not-to-be-missed documentary reveals the importance of cultural preservation, the role of women in continuing dying traditions and the surprising role that a beauty pageant can play. Follow 21-year-old Crystal Frazier, a not-so-fluent Navajo speaker and self-professed introvert, as she undertakes the challenges of the pageant.
Tuesday, September 27: Film – American Outrage, 7 – 9pm
American Outrage is another award winning film. Two Western Shoshone sisters, Carrie and Mary Dann, endure terrifying roundups by federal marshals in which thousands of their horses and cattle are confiscated, for the crime of grazing them on the open range outside their private ranch – even though that range is recognized by the US as Western Shoshone land. After being sued by the government for trespassing, their dispute went to the Supreme Court, and eventually the United Nations.
Each of the free North Lake Tahoe events take place at Sierra Nevada College – TCES Room 139, 999 Tahoe Boulevard, Incline Village, NV. For more information on the film screenings or on the Common Reading Program, please contact Library Director Betts Markle at 775.881.7511.