"you can hear the voice of the cottonwood tree"

[eldritchhobbit]

I have just returned from an exhilarating time in South Dakota, making a documentary on the U.S. West and Native America for Italian television, filmed by Francesco and Massimo Piccioli of Filmaker and hosted by author, educator, and musical artist Giuseppe Festa. For the part with which I was involved, we managed quite a bit of travel, visiting

Comments

[shiny_elfriend]

First of all it looks like a beautiful and successful trip! I am sure the project will have great success.

But second, how in the world is it possible that the Wounded Knee memorial is in that dilapidated state? They turned the hotel where a single man died wrongfully due to racial violence into a museum. It seems Wounded Knee would be given a lot more gravity and respect, though I imagine the state of the place added it's own kind of weight to the experience.

[eldritchhobbit]

Thanks so much!

The state of the Wounded Knee Cemetery broke my heart. The individual graves around the memorial are beautifully kept and obviously visited regularly, if the many (often handmade) gifts around them are any indication, but the fence containing the mass grave of the massacre victims, and the entrance arch and steps, are in terrible repair. In short, the things that take only time and care are being done, but the things that take money are not. It does hard to fathom, considering the importance of the site (good comparison with Memphis!), and it makes what is already a difficult sight to bear even more poignant.

[euclase]

I saw this updated on my flickr page--how oddball am I that I really want to draw a portrait of Giuseppe? Lol!

Anyway, gorgeous pics, dear. Glad it was a good trip.

If there's any way you can get your hands on it, I would love to see the final documentary. :)

[eldritchhobbit]

Oh, Giuseppe would make such a brilliant subject for one of your portraits! Thanks for your kind words. I'm told it will be available commercially on DVD, and I'll get an advance copy, so I promise to share all I can. :) Thanks so much for being interested!

[anonymous]

Amy these pictures are so beautiful. I finished Tecumseh, and seeing these pictures just completes the circle. I can't wait to see the final product:)

Rebecca

[eldritchhobbit]

You are SO kind to have read the book! Thanks a million! *hugs* Seeing these sites on the heels of writing it made the trip infinitely more meaningful for me. I'm really anxious to see the completed film, myself - I think they are aiming for September as a completion date.

Oh, thank you so much for your card! Go you and your new laptop!!! I hope the writing is going very well. I'm sending good vibes your way -- not that you need them, of course. :)

[eldritchhobbit]

Thank you so much! South Dakota was breathtaking, especially while we were there, since we could see the thunderstorms rolling over those big prairie skies.

[beledibabe]

Oh, my goodness! What gorgeous photos!

Looking forward to hearing more about your experience.

[eldritchhobbit]

Thank you so much! I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it all. :)