Video Editor

COMMUNITY PARTNER

Encoded Textiles Collaborative

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP

Duties

The video editor will assist Coded Stories Film Director, Adam Hyman, in editing footage for a full-length documentary, multiple short videologues, educational supplemental video, and other tasks as assigned in part of a larger, language and culture preservation arts and media project.  Previous editing experience or education is required.  Shooting rights and permissions have been acquired and the student will gain the full benefit of working with an award-winning director and crew whose experience runs the gambit of high-end commercial films to History Channel documentaries.  Internship offered in partnership through ASU Project Humanities.

Internship responsibilities/Duties will include:
• Video editing and video documentation.
• Assisting with a documentary film project that is about to go on a national tour as well as other short video projects.
• Viral video distribution via various social media platforms.
• May include establishing a multi-media database and storage system.
• Work with audio editing and graphic design also a possibility.
• Responsibilities will be modified to suit the interests and skills of the intern.

Benefits:
The intern will get hands-on experience with communications strategies in the non-profit sector and their importance in building and supporting endangered languages and indigenous culture preservation.

Population served

The intern will create video shorts and full length documentaries of events and engagements with Navajo Nation tribal members,Peshlakai Cultural Foundation (Native American organization whose work is preserving traditonal Native American culture), The Navajo Nation Tribal Council and tribal agencies, Native American news media outlets, and The Navajo Museum. The intern will also interact with other Arizona based Indigenous communities, Title 1 and general k-12 student base, cultural institutions, PBS audience, and general Arizona populations.

Community need/impact

According to UNESCO 96% of the world’s languages are spoken by approximately 3% of the world’s people, and by the end of the 21st century, 90% of the world’s languages will likely be replaced by dominant languages.  Indigenous languages are increasingly less likely to be spoken by younger generations.  For example according to Golla (2007), in our first engaged community, the Navajo Nation, only 25% of the children are learning Diné bizaad (the Navajo language).  Contemporary society is encroaching on indigenous communities, creating a decline in younger generations’ desire to learn their native language or engage within their culture.  The Encoded Textiles Project will enhance educational and preservation infrastructures and dissemination techniques for indigenous languages, cultures, and traditions through barcoding technologies.

The Encoded Textiles Project will significantly increase the number of resources (e.g. curricula models, literature recommendations, oral narrative collections, videos, etc.) for educators on National Endowment for the Humanities’ EDSITEment website.  There are currently only six, indigenous-specific resources available.  While measuring an increase in language and cultural prestige is difficult, various engagement levels will be examined: access of video resources and documentary distribution, access of educational materials, demand for the traveling exhibit, interest of indigenous communities to be included, and advancement of the technologies for commercial and educational purposes.  Exhibition visitors will be polled, collecting demographic information and determining impact, while ensuring access to targeted generations and traditionally under-served populations, including the indigenous communities. Additionally K-12 educational infrastructure impact will be researched by examining the success of incorporating awareness of indigenous cultures and languages into curriculum while adhering to state standards for education and maintaining or improving students’ state assessment scores.