Racing the Rez

57 min | Documentary Feature | Brian Truglio

Racing the Rez follows Navajo and Hopi cross-country runners from two rival high schools as they put it all on the line for Tribal pride, triumph over adversity and state championship glory. Win or lose, what they learn in the course of their seasons will have a dramatic effect on the rest of their lives. This documentary feature film moves beyond Native American stereotypes of the past and present by delving deep into the daily grind of these Native teenagers. Over the course of two racing seasons, you’ll witness the boys striving to find their place among their Native people and the American culture surrounding them.

Release: July 31, 2012

Expiration: October 31, 2024

Distributor: APT

NOLA: PREZ 000

Rights: Renewed – Primary: Six (6) releases over four (4) years; Multicast: Unlimited Use/4 Years.

Including 1 Year School Rerecord, Noncommercial Cable rights. Linear Live Streaming

Brian Truglio

Director/producer

Brian Truglio is a filmmaker and editor with 15 years of experience in both film and television. Racing the Rez is his first feature-length documentary. Truglio is a freelance editor and part-time lecturer at Emerson College as well as a former cross-country runner, current distance runner. He has worked and lived on the Navajo reservation.

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.

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.