Getting the Word Out — Four Directions Media

In the Oneida oral tradition, many life stories were passed from generation to generation through storytelling.

Today, Four Directions Media, which comprise First Allies Living History Project, Four Directions Productions, Four Directions Talent, Indian Country Today, and Standing Stone Records, allows the Oneidas and fellow American Indians to get their message across through various mediums. Most news of note has been generated by the award-winning 3-D animated short, “Raccoon & Crawfish,” produced by Four Directions Productions. The short was aired at the Cannes Film Festival in May and has netted 14 festival wins.

“It’s very gratifying that the Nation has the foresight and vision to use state-of-the-art equipment in a way that helps preserve our culture and legends,” Dale Rood, Turtle Clan Council Member and director of studio operations at Four Directions, said. “We are introducing new audiences to stories we’ve passed down for generations.”

This year, the Nation’s production house had a very helpful hand in creating a video postcard. Completed in conjunction with the 2008 Syracuse Film Festival, the postcard was designed to introduce students to other cultures and communities.

The Oneida entry, featuring Oneida Members Levi Confer, Wesley Halsey, Chelsea Jocko, Katelyn Jocko, Alexander Steeprock, Cameron Shenandoah, Austin Thomas, Brooke Thomas, and Sage Thomas, was exchanged with a country school located in Pertunmaa, Finland. The students highlighted traditional bead work, lacrosse, and the making of fry bread.

Assisting Kevin Meegan of Four Directions Productions on the piece were Kandice Watson, Ron Patterson, and Lorraine Hennings.

The team kept busy working on other American Indian films, including, “The Art and History of the Lacrosse Stick,” featuring Patterson, “Sweat Lodge”, with narration by Milo Yellow Hair (Oglala Sioux), and “Homelands,” a look at issues surrounding land claims by American Indian tribes.

Other projects Four Directions staff worked on included coverage of the second annual Turning Stone Resort Championship and coverage of the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund Luncheon and Awards ceremony in November.

Indian Country Today marked 10 years with the Oneida Nation in 2008. Since being purchased in 1998, ICT has become a national information source on American Indian people and issues produced by Indian people.

ICT again received top honors from the Native American Journalist Association (NAJA) for Best Online Visual Graphic and Best Editorial. NAJA serves and empowers Native journalists through programs designed to enrich and promote Native cultures.

In the fall, ICT launched its web site (IndianCountry.com). The enhanced functions allow visitors to communicate with ICT’s audience. Upgrades to the site include new design and navigation, advanced media tools for streaming audio, video, and slideshows, reader comment sections, polling, quick links to popular social networking sites, and the addition of “YourICT” and “iTellers” to encourage input from citizen journalists.

Proud of the Oneidas’ role in history, the First Allies Living History Project continued to accurately portray the Oneida story. The group earned a President’s Volunteer Service Award for its work at Fort Stanwix National Monument and other National Park Service sites over the past five years. Presented by Fort Stanwix Superintendent Debbie Conway, the award is given to individuals and groups who have logged at least 4,000 hours of volunteer time. Since 2002, the First Allies group has completed more than 11,000 volunteer hours.

Members also found themselves busy at other sites, including Oriskany Battlefield, Valley Forge, and Saratoga.