The short subject of chronicling the history and reunion of a small band of CRIT members – mainly children from the four affiliated tribes – who came together under one teacher/singer in the mid-90s to produce an album that pays tributes and honors the spirit and beauty of our community. The album was called Songs of the Colorado River, released in 1995, and saw the debut of several musically inclined individuals who would go on to continue singing and contributing their tribes’ heritage and culture to this day. Each participant in present day (now older and wiser) are profiled about their time making the album, reflecting on the project’s composition based on their tribal backgrounds. The teacher behind the project, Cynthia Haring, highlights the intention behind getting the album professionally produced and wanting to carry on this mission of the band into today, with future generations to join. You can view this film at www.critfilms.org.
This mini documentary showcases the best aspects of short subject filmmaking doing some commendable things with it’s presentation and style/aesthetic. The identity and personality of CRIT is brilliantly portrayed through the use of handheld interview coverage, drone photography, and montage footage of the river and lands we call home. It’s a beautiful looking short, and the subject matter presented in it shines with the inclusion of each profiled participant. They add a grounded humbleness about the story of Rez kids going to a professional Hollywood recording studio to play their songs and fully flesh out their album. It was an opportunity and a blessing that’s still remembered fondly as the musical creation that helped shape the lives of families and future contributors to the public awareness of CRIT. The one spotlight of the film comes in the emotional weight found in the nostalgia of these individuals as they recall and share their experiences tied with the impact and legacy that they’re apart of. The music itself deserves attention from newer listeners and those who wish to embrace and celebrate the songs of our cultures, those who helped usher their families into carrying their traditions, and the community members who were heavily involved in their growth as a multi-tribal group. It’s a project that deserves to be highlighted and showcased with the album and people attached to it, for all the people who wish to discover more about CRIT and our people.