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Íiná

Dramatic Short | Lonnie Begaye

  • SYNOPSIS

Robert Yazzie, a Navajo teen, confronts many challenges in order to make good on his commitment to bring his ailing grandmother to the Navajo Nation Fair, thus fulfilling her dream of closing the circle by spending her final days in the place where her life began. The film also touches on some coming-of-age moments experienced by Robert and the personal growth he realizes by virtue of the sacrifices he makes for others.

TRT: TBD

Release:

Lonnie Begaye

Producer
LONNIE R. BEGAYE (Diné) is an Actor and Filmmaker from the Navajo Nation. Born and raised in Chinle, Arizona, Lonnie began his film career in high school and elevated his career in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Producing short films as a Director of Photographer, Film Director and writing stories of his own. During his school at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, he learned of many creative ways to make films and tell stories from his eyes. Today, his vision in storytelling speaks upon modern Diné lives, including that of his own.

Leya Hale

Mentor
LEYA HALE (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Diné) is a multiple regional Emmy award winning documentary producer for Twin Cities PBS. Her work brings visibility to Indigenous lifeways and issues impacting her community. She is best known for her feature films, The People’s Protectors and Bring Her Home, both distributed by PBS. In 2020, Leya was awarded the Sundance Institute Merata Mita Fellowship for Indigenous Artists and Bring Her Home was selected to represent the US at INPUT 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. When not producing features, Leya works on a variety of short form content in efforts to highlight underrepresented stories within the upper Midwest region.

Funding provided by:

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Walt Pourier

Vice Chair

Walt is Oglala Lakota and created the logo for Urban Rez. He is Creative Director, owner of Nakota Designs Advertising Designs and Graphics. Executive Director of the Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.

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lynn palmanteer-holder

Lynn Palmanteer-Holder, an Indigenous plateau woman of North Central Washington and member of eight of twelve Tribes of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Lynn recently retired as inaugural Director of Tribal Government Affairs for Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, the state’s oversight agency of 34 CTCs.  She is a highly accomplished professional that spans over 40 years. She is an experienced educator that has a demonstrated history across K12, post-secondary & higher education as a teacher, school counselor, superintendent, researcher, and professor. Also, she has diverse experience as an entrepreneur, Tribal leader and administrator. She is skilled in curriculum and program development, facilitating government to government relationships that led to formal partnerships between state institutions and Tribes developing custom programs. Lynn has served on many boards and has been recognized for various statewide, and national awards. She has several scholarly publications and has done various conference presentations and speaking engagements, at the local, national and international level. Lynn holds a Ph.C. (ABD) in Social Welfare Policy from University of Washington. She earned her M.Ed., with a concentration in counseling psychology from Washington State University and B.Ed., in K12 Education from Eastern Washington University. Lynn is a wife of 49 years, a mother of three adult professional children, granny of 10 and great granny to two. Lynn and her husband are high school sweethearts, and together enjoy time with their 15+ two-legged blessings.