With their language facing extinction, the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation in Northern California is working against time to save it. Loren Me'-lash-ne Bommelyn, the last remaining fluent speaker, leads the efforts to revitalize the language and culture with support from fellow Elders, knowledge keepers, ancestors, and tribal members.
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Director Biography - Dave JannettaDave Jannetta is an award-winning documentary and narrative filmmaker. His documentary feature "Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere” premiered at the Hot Docs International Film Festival and went on to play many prestigious festivals including Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival, DOC NYC, the Bend Film Festival, and The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, where it took the Big Sky Award.
He recently completed a documentary project with the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation titled 'A'-t'i' Xwee-ghayt-nish (Still, We Live On). This film explores the ongoing efforts of the Nation to preserve and revitalize their language and culture after being nearly exterminated at the hands of colonizer settlers starting in the 1850s. Prior to teaching students film production at Cal Poly Humboldt, Dave owned 32-20 Productions where he created commercial and corporate films for a wide range of clients. Early in his career, Dave served as personal assistant to Peter Jackson through North American production of "The Lovely Bones", and spent a year abroad working at Jackson’s WingNut Films in Wellington, New Zealand. Dave holds an MFA in Film Production from Temple University (2019), is a graduate of Penn State University (Finance/Film Studies; 2005), and an alumnus of Werner Herzog’s Rogue Film School (winter 2012). |
Director Statement
During the past 18 months, I've had the honor of working in collaboration with the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation on this important documentary project.
Throughout this journey, my primary aim as a director has been to amplify the Tolowa Dee-ni' community's voices and tell their story. It's a narrative of immense resilience in the face of historical trauma, as the Tolowa community actively strive to preserve and rejuvenate their rich language and cultural heritage.
Every step of the way, numerous dedicated members of the Nation were deeply involved in the creative process, from its inception to the final edit. With profound respect and a deep sense of humility, my aspiration is that, together, we can share and spread their inspiring story.
I'd like to specifically acknowledge my Producer Marva Sii~xuutesna Jones, a language expert and Tolowa community leader, and Me’-lash-ne Bommelyn, whose lifetime of dedication to the Tolowa language made this film possible.
Throughout this journey, my primary aim as a director has been to amplify the Tolowa Dee-ni' community's voices and tell their story. It's a narrative of immense resilience in the face of historical trauma, as the Tolowa community actively strive to preserve and rejuvenate their rich language and cultural heritage.
Every step of the way, numerous dedicated members of the Nation were deeply involved in the creative process, from its inception to the final edit. With profound respect and a deep sense of humility, my aspiration is that, together, we can share and spread their inspiring story.
I'd like to specifically acknowledge my Producer Marva Sii~xuutesna Jones, a language expert and Tolowa community leader, and Me’-lash-ne Bommelyn, whose lifetime of dedication to the Tolowa language made this film possible.