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Waaki (Sanctuary)

Victor Masayesva, Jr.

Waaki (Sanctuary)
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About

Renowned Hopi filmmaker Victor Masayesva, Jr. explores the centrality of corn for the Hopi, Nahua, and Maya, tracing the role of corn from creation stories to today's struggles against climate change. The film presents complex interrelationships between humans, plants, food systems, animals, birds, ceremonies and the cycles of the earth, sun and moon within the universe from a Hopi, Maya, and Nahua perspective. By tracing the lineage and mysterious origins of corn, we gain a deeper understanding of the ancestry of communities that transcend borders.

Masayesva writes, "The idea of sanctuary in our time is colored by the politics of human immigration. As contemporary media consumers, we are saturated with threats and security measures originating from alerts about immigration into our neighborhood. Today state borders have restricted and closed the numerous routes blazed by migrants and only wild birds and animals move freely without visas but nonetheless restricted to wildlife refuges.

Humankind has been in constant movement since the emergence, intent on leaving an oppressive order, seeking a better life, seeking sanctuary. For our age, sanctuary cannot be only within familiar beliefs and borders but beyond in the hope we carry in our soul. Sanctuary is the best we can be at the moment, and in the future."

"Waaki presents Hopi knowledge with a self-assured visual sovereignty." 
– Dorothy Christian, Simon Fraser University
 
"The film is a fascinating blend of genres - part ethnographic, part documentary and part animation." 
– Vicky Westover, Hanson FilmTV Institute Director, U of Arizona

Indigenous Studies:

Regions:

Keywords:

Credits

Waaki (Sanctuary)


Our gratitude to the Hopi, Maya, Nahua, Otomi communities for sharing their knowledge


Hopi Community

Abbie Talashoma, Story teller

Ross Macaya, Storyteller

Piivayouma, Lloyd Masayumptewa, 

Lyle Balenquah, Hopi Archaeologist

Victor Masayesva Sr. and family


Maya Community

Sra. Dona Maria Aguilar Demeza

Sr. Don Bartolo Estrada Jimenes


Children on stage

Carlos Daniel Estrada Rivera

Diana Lucero Rivera Estrada

Maria Natalia Estrada Rivera

Bartolo Eduardo Estrada Rivera


Field Worker

Sr. Don Eduardo Rivera Soria


Nahuatl Communities (Acatlan, Chiepetepec)

Sr. Niceforo Travieso

Sr.Delfino Calzada Néjapa

Sr. Luis Vázquez Herculano

Sr.Camilo Marcial Ayala

Investigación

José Luis Matías, Ojo de Tigre Communicacion

Rosalba Díaz Vásquez


Otomi Communities (Tultepec, Florida, Veracruz)

Sr. Mindahi Bastida Munoz

Sra. Ermila Muñoz 

Sr. Lucas Bastida, 

Sr. Ralph Bastida

Dr. Luis Pérez Lugo 

Niña: Deni Dashi Mérida Petronilo

Muchacho: Ramón Oliver Petronilo

Abuelo :Ángel Petronilo Bonilla

Señor: Juan Mérida Secundino

Mapuche: Geraldine Patrick


Executive Producer/Director

Victor Masayesva Jr.


Producer/Director

Mariano Estrada Aguilar

Bachalon Tzeltal


Producer

José Luis Matías, Ojo de Tigre Comunicación


Associate Producer

Robert Warrior, University of Kansas

Jorge Garcia, University of New Mexico


Field Producer

John McKinn, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign


Camera

Victor Masayesva Jr.

Mariano Aquilar

Daniel Campos

Ronyk


Supervising Editor/Colorist

Brad Stoddard


Sound Design and Master Mix

Kathleen Edwards

Tor Kindon

Hear Kitty Studios


Music

“Tekanatsyaslith” and “Kalunyaha Wi” performed by Joanne Shenandoah. 

Courtesy of Silver Wave Records. www.silverwave.com


Sound Score

Richard Dancu Trifan


Narrators

Vanessa Vance

Beatrice Norton

Amalia Cordova

Andrea Lopez

Eljean Joshvaema


Interviewees in order of appearance

Lyle Balenquah

Lloyd Masayumptewa

Gary Nabhan 

Dr. Francis E. Smiley, Professor of Anthropology NAU   

Professor Kelley Hays-Gilpin, Northern Arizona University               

Professor Jane Hill, University of Arizona                     

Polly Schaafsma Research Associate, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

Glenn Roberts, Anson Mills

Denise Costitch-CYMMT, Mexico 


Graphics Design & Illustrations

V. Masayesva Jr.

Carl Onsae

Ronyk

Marcial Ayala


Globe Animation

Courtesy of Chronicles Group


Translation Tseltal to Castilian

Mariano Estrada


Translation Castilian to English

Axel Kohler


Our heartful thanks to Friends of Corn

Linda Cordell

C. Elliott

Matt S. Gilbert

Joanna Hearne

John McKinn

Tona Osher

Godfrey Reggio

Jason Silverman

Melanie Walker (in memory of Todd Walker)

Phillip Tuwaletstiwa


This program is made possible with the generous support of non-profit groups

The Christiansen Foundation

Indigenous Media Foundation

Tewa Women United

Black Mesa Trust

Hanson Film TV Institute, University of Arizona

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, Harvard University



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