Darrell Robes Kipp: poet, activist, educator, has successfully saved his native Blackfeet language from the brink of extinction (Credit: Charles Moss).Rob Kapilow, a celebrated classical music artist, is commissioned to compose a symphonic work with a specific theme: a reflection of the enduring legacy of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Often referenced as a young Leonard Bernstein, the youthfully energetic Kapilow foregoes his original intent to set the journals of Lewis and Clark to music, choosing to actually re-trace the journey himself as a catalyst for fresh inspiration.
Upon engaging tribal representatives out West in active dialogue about how best to convey their stories, Kapilow finds himself overwhelmed at the crossroads of textbook history and the tangible perspective of the American Indian. Seeking to collaborate with Blackfeet tribal member Darrell Robes Kipp, the innovative artist delves into a sharply alternative — and controversial — avenue of perspective: that of the indigenous storyteller's view "from the river bank, not the boat."
Rob Kapilow, conductor, composer and commentator, powerfully commands the attention of his audience (Credit: Stephanie Berger).Executive Producer Cynthia Newport and award-winning director Hugo Perez bring to the national viewing audience Summer Sun Winter Moon's inherent declarations of truth, proving to be important and timely in what it tells us about ourselves, about our place in time, and about the choices we have to make moving forward. While there are two sides to every story, viewers are left haunted by the words of two storytellers with one story that can only be interpreted by each individual.
Watch a video diary by Jesse Desrosier at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2r4eriN9as about living on the Blackfeet Reservation, attending the Nizipuhwahsin School and dealing with racism.
Please visit the film's Web site at http://www.summersunwintermoon.com/ for additional photos and information about Summer Sun Winter Moon.
Summer Sun Winter Moon's twitter feed can be found at http://twitter.com/illumeprod.
Cynthia Newport of illume productions, http://www.illumeproductions.org/ served as the Executive Producer of Summer Sun Winter Moon.
Rob Kapilow at http://www.robkapilow.com/ composed the Summer Sun Winter Moon symphony. The vibrato was composed by Blackfeet poet Darrell Robes Kipp.
Rob Kapilow at http://www.robkapilow.com/ composed the Summer Sun Winter Moon symphony. The vibrato was composed by Blackfeet poet Darrell Robes Kipp.
Darrell Robes Kipp co-founded the Piegan Institute at http://www.pieganinstitute.org/ to research and archive the Piegan/Blackfeet language.
