"There are only so many things a son can do when it comes to following in his mother's footsteps.
Vying for a Miss Navajo crown certainly wasn't an experience Luther Johnson could share with his mother Sara Johnson, who won the title in 1966.
So he did something bigger.
The 32-year-old Navajo filmmaker took the pageant to national television.
After decades of hearing his mother's story, Luther decided to capture the process on film. "Miss Navajo" aired on PBS's Independent Lens program earlier this month.
Luther's documentary followed 23-year-old contestant Crystal Frazier, of Table Mesa, throughout her experience during the 2005-2006 event.
This accomplishment is worth recognizing for many reasons.
Luther's film was shown at the Sydney Opera House, an ice cinema in Norway and the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. That is no small feat, and he should be congratulated for making a film so successful that it garnered time on the silver screen at global events.
Giving the Navajo Nation such a presence on a world stage should be commended as well. Often times the history of Native people gets lost even in our own country and our own state. Giving a positive voice to an old, treasured tradition gives the Navajo Nation reason to be proud."
Get the Story:Editorial: Navajo film shines welcome spotlight (The Farmington Daily Times 11/21) Relevant Links:
Miss Navajo - http://missnavajomovie.com
PBS Independent Lens - http://www.pbs.org/independentlens
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