Project: Voices of Resistance - Standing Rock with Jane Fonda

In the winter of 2016, I had the profound honor of collaborating with Director Tracy Rector and the venerable Longhouse Media on a project rooted in activism and heart. We journeyed to Standing Rock Sioux Nation, where tensions ran high amidst a burgeoning movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline—a true embodiment of peaceful civil disobedience.

In collaboration with Tracy Rector, we captured the spirit and stories of those standing up for their rights. My camera served as a vessel for their voices, documenting over thirty-five powerful interviews, including one with the iconic Jane Fonda. Her presence and advocacy lent a poignant gravity to our purpose. As time marches on, my alliance with Tracy has only deepened, leading us to craft narratives for organizations like Nia Tero, Running Strong for American Indian Youth, and even a permanent installation at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. This experience at Standing Rock was more than a project; it was a keystone in my path as a filmmaker committed to advocacy for social change.