STAR Media Arts Films

An Educational Documentary in which STAR (Service To All Relations) School Students and Staff Demonstrate how Navajo Peacemaking is Taught and Implemented to Create a Compassionate and Responsive School Environment. Made by STAR School Media 7th / 8th grade students Keanu Jones, Kira Butler, Taylor McCabe, and Kristen Jones under the direction of Ms. Rachel Tso. Based on "The Manual for Peacemaking" by Dr. Mark Sorensen and Thomas Walker Jr. This film is an official selection of: The Peace on Earth Film Festival in Chicago, The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show.

Dine' youth explore their, and their community's, relationship with Doo'ko'osliid, the San Francisco Peaks in Northern Arizona. Film made by Dine' youth during the Peace and Film 5 Day Peer Leadership Summer Camp. An example of Place-Based Media Arts. This film is an official selection of: The American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, CA The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA The Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden, CO and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show

STAR School 8th grader William John explores the traditional meaning and reasons for the Ta'Chéé (sweatlodge) ceremony. An Example of Place-Based Media Arts, Directed by William John, Assistant Director Tevin Todacheenie, Mentored by Camille Manybeads Tso and Keanu Jones, Under the Direction of Rachel Tso. This film is an official selection of: The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show

Traditional Navajo Spider Woman story retold through Lightbox Animation by STAR School students Larissa Luther, Taylor Long, Makyla Allison. Story learned through the Voices Native Literature program, "Zinnia: How the Corn was Saved" by Patricia Hruby Powell. Demonstration of integration of Native Literature, Literacy, and Place-Based Media Arts under the direction of Rachel Tso. Youth Mentors Camille Manybeads Tso and Kira Butler. This film is an official selection of: The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles The American Indian film Festival in San Francisco The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show and NAU Native American and Indigenous Film Series

A student made documentary short about Solar and Wind Energy at the STAR School, the country's first off grid, solar / wind powered charter school in the country; located on the edge of the Southwestern Navajo Nation. Filmmaking by 7th/8th grade students, Kira Buter, Joshua Gregg, Donovan Warren, and Tyrail Smith under the direction of Rachel Tso integrating Place-Based Education with Media Literacy. Music by Kelly Hawthorne. This film is an official selection of: AZ Student Film Festival: Winner of 1st place in Middle School Microshort and the Grand Prize for the Middle School Age Division The Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden, CO The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show

STAR School Kindergarten class visits their teacher's cornfield to learn how to make Nitsidigo'i', Kneel Down Bread, a traditional Dine' Heritage Food. Filmmaking by 7th / 8th grade students, Kira Butler, Joshua Gregg, and Keanu Jones under the direction of Rachel Tso integrating Place-Based Education with Media Literacy. Music by Radmilla Cody This film is an official selection of: AZ Student Film Festival - Winner of Grand Prize Grades 6 - 8 and 1st place Grades 6-8 Microshort. The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA Cine Las Americas, Austin, TX The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show

STAR School Preschoolers act out a traditional Navajo Winter Story. Demonstration of integrating Native Literature and Place-Based Media Arts by Rachel Tso.

How to build a sunken garden (421 Views)

A brief description of how to build a sunken garden.

How to make a compost tumbler (162 Views)

A brief description of how to make a compost tumbler for your garden.

Rachel Tso's Thesis Film on Why and How to do Place-Based Media Arts. Chronicles the making of Camille Manybeads Tso's award winning film, "In the Footsteps of Yellow Woman" made as a Demonstration Project of Place-Based Media Arts Education. Submitted to Northern Arizona University in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Master of Arts Sustainable Communities, December 2010.

For more information on Place-Based Media Arts please visit http://tsoinspired.com/

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