NMTD News:
GALLUP — A documentary film produced by the Intertribal Ceremonial Office (ICO) in 2021 to celebrate the history and heritage of the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial was selected for screening at the Māoriland Film Festival (MFF2022), an internationally-renowned film festival for Indigenous Peoples.
MFF2022, which is the largest Indigenous film festival in the Southern Hemisphere, is scheduled June 29 – July 3, 2022, in Ōtaki, Aotearoa (New Zealand). In 2021, the festival featured 120 films with representation from 80 indigenous nations across the globe.
The “Spirit of The Ceremonial”, directed by ICO Executive Director Melissa Sanchez, was produced as a new feature of the 99th Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial in 2021. Through the documentary, ICO preserves the stories, perspectives and culture of various Indigenous Peoples and connect new audiences with the historical significance of the event.
ICO partnered with KOB4 for an exclusive broadcast of the “Spirit of The Ceremonial” Aug. 19, 2021. The documentary is scheduled for an exclusive rebroadcast later this Summer July 24, 2022.
“At the heart of Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial are the stories, traditions, and ceremonies of Native and Indigenous Peoples who have attended the event for the past 100 years,” Sanchez said. “Production of this documentary gave us the opportunity to share that heritage with people around the world in a way we haven’t been able to do before.”
“Executive Director Melissa Sanchez has done a fantastic job with developing creative partnerships that bring Native and Indigenous culture to new audiences,” Tourism Secretary Jen Paul Schroer said. “This documentary is such an incredible resource for future generations.”
“I’m incredibly pleased to see the stories in this documentary receive the recognition they deserve,” Sanchez said. “I’m very grateful for all the hard work from the contributing partners that brought this production to life.”
“The Spirit of The Ceremonial is a heart-warming production that highlights Gallup as a culturally immersed town,” said Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial Queen Amber Ballenger. “Having grown up attending Ceremonial celebrations, I found the documentary very moving and informative. It brings to light the dedication to cultural heritage of generations of Native American people. This documentary is a great way for audiences to discover the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial, a culturally enriched celebration, and come together as a community.”
ICO continues to collaboratively finalize details for the 100th anniversary of the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial, which is scheduled Aug. 4-14 in Gallup.
One of New Mexico’s longest running events, the Ceremonial Centennial Celebration will be a mixture of in-person and virtual events. Founded in 1922 and considered a New Mexico destination experience, the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial is one of the oldest continuous recognitions of Native American culture and heritage and known for attracting an international audience.
As it reaches its 100th anniversary, the event continues to evolve while enshrining the earliest ideas of creating inclusive and diverse opportunities by spotlighting Native American authenticity. This centennial milestone is a cumulation of tributes to the generational event caretakers and the ancestral and present day Native American tribal participants.
Information about the event will be published at www.GallupIntertribalCeremonial.com.