FLAGSTAFF — CFproductions LLC in Flagstaff is proud to announce the premiere screening of “Why Do Navajo Men Have Long Hair?” (working title), a short 8-minute documentary starring Steve Darden, Makaius Marks, Makairyn Marks, Darrell Marks, and directed by Cherylee Francis, at the historic TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood on November 19, 2022, 3PM – 5PM.
“Why Do Navajo Men Have Long Hair?” is about MAKAIUS & MAKAIRYN MARKS, two Navajo (Diné) brothers ridiculed for keeping their
long hair as they choose to carry on the Navajo
traditional hairstyle, the Navajo (Diné) bun, called a tsiiyééł. Aware of the treatment of his sons’, DARRELL MARKS (father), travels with his children to visit Navajo (Diné) Cultural Expert, STEVE DARDEN, to gain valuable traditional teachings on why Navajo (Diné) men have the right to have long hair.
The LA SKINS FEST is a Native American film festival that takes place every year as part of the City of Los Angeles Celebration of Native American Heritage Month. For more information about the film festival and to buy tickets to screen “Why Do Navajo Men Have Long Hair?” at the TCL Chinese Theater on November 19th, visit LA SKINS FEST!
ABOUT PRODUCTION COMPANY — CFproductions LLC is an Award-Winning Video and Audio Pre- to Post-Production Company with 20 years of experience primarily working with midsize to corporate firms and organizations. We create authentic promotional, marketing and advertising commercials designed to place our Indigenous peoples and stories at the forefront of mainstream society. CFproductions LLC is a Native American, Woman-Owned Video/Audio Production Company. Visit https://www.cfproductions.us for more information.
MORE INFORMATION:
WORKING TITLE: WHY DO NAVAJO MEN HAVE LONG HAIR?
FILMMAKER: Cherylee Francis, (520) 975-2565 | Email: filmmaker@whydonavajomenhavelonghair.com
LOGLINE: A short documentary addressing the cruel treatment of two Navajo (Diné) youth who choose to carry on their Navajo (Diné) traditional hairstyle and find support from an elder who explains why Navajo (Diné) men have the right to have long hair.
SUMMARY: It’s shocking how Indigenous boys and men are still shamed for having long hair in the 21st Century. This long history stems back to when Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to Indian Boarding Schools in the United States (1869-1960s), where their hair was often cut short in an attempt to assimilate them.
MAKAIUS & MAKAIRYN MARKS are two Navajo (Diné) brothers ridiculed for keeping their long hair as they choose to carry on the Navajo traditional hairstyle, the Navajo (Diné) bun, called a tsiiyééł. Aware of the treatment of his sons’, DARRELL MARKS (father), travels with his children to visit Navajo (Diné) Cultural Expert, STEVE DARDEN, to gain valuable traditional teachings on why Navajo (Diné) men have the right to have long hair.
Steve opens by saying, “We are still a proud Diné peoples who, sadly to this day, still suffer discrimination, racism and prejudice. So, a lot of our young people today, they have a desire to continue on what their forebears [lived by] … what they believe and what we call our values or mores, our belief systems.” Steve learns from Makaius how he is treated by his peers.
Makaius: “At the high school, the people there view me different, especially with long hair. They often mistake me as a woman or call me names, right? Being “savage” is one of them. A lot of people make comments like, “He’s bringing his savage ways here.”
Throughout the film, Steve and Darrell share their traditional knowledge with the next generation of Navajo (Diné) men. In a profound statement, Steve provides the audience with a wise perspective, with pictures of the Navajo (Diné) imprisonment at Bosque Redondo (1864-1868), the Navajo language was used to defend this country (USA). Steve’s final ask of the audience is: “If you see and look at my hair, you have something to say about it. Come ask me about it. Come ask my nephews about it, don’t ridicule them. Ask simply. That’s a wonderful way to open the door to bridge that gap, cultural gap in a way you can see that we are still here.”
MAIN CAST:
STEVE DARDEN, Navajo Cultural Expert MAKAIUS MARKS, Navajo Youth MAKAIRYN MARKS, Navajo Youth DARRELL MARKS, Navajo father