Sousa on the Rez

27 Min | Documentary Short | Cathleen O'Connell & Billy Luther

Sousa on the Rez: Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum is a short documentary that sheds light on the little-known Native American marching band scene. When you hear the phrase “Native American music” you may not think of tubas, trumpets and Sousa marches. Yet this rich musical tradition has been a part of Native American culture for over one hundred years. Combining profiles of contemporary bands with fresh historical research,  this documentary challenges viewers to expand their definition of Native American music and broadens their understanding of contemporary Indian life.

Release: January 5, 2013

Expiration: January 5, 2025

Distributor: APT

NOLA: SBDD

Rights: Six (6) releases over four (4) years beginning 1/5/2021; Multicast: Unlimited Use/4 Years.

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

Cathleen O'Connell

Director/Producer
Cathleen O’Connell is an independent documentary producer based in Boston. Her films shine a light on lesser known but important facets of American culture – stories found when you exit the interstate and pull onto blue highways and back roads. Her broadcast credits include non-fiction programming for PBS, Animal Planet, The History Channel and Discovery Channel.

Billy Luther (Navajo/Hopi/Laguna Pueblo)

Producer
Billy Luther is a Native American Independent film producer and director producing documentaries and short films. He currently belongs to the Navajo, Hopi, and Laguna Pueblo Tribes. He is best known for his documentary Miss Navajo which tells the story about woman competing in the beauty pageant of Miss Navajo.

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.