Diné filmmakers highlight cultural heritage through new project
Courtesy
The “Holding Hands” filmmakers Shel Ray, Cecil Tso, Deidra Peaches, and Kelley Nez-Belin begin production for the upcoming short film Holding Hands, a story that showcases the landscape and culture of Diné Bikéyah.
By Robert Bettis
Navajo Times
CHINLE – Deidra Peaches, a Diné filmmaker based in Flagstaff, is crafting a legacy of storytelling that bridges generations.
Peaches is Tódích’íi’nii born for Lók’aa’ Dine’é. Her maternal grandfather is ‘Áshįįhí and her paternal grandfather is Tódích’íi’nii.
With nearly two decades of filmmaking experience, Peaches’ journey began in her youth, fueled by creative experiments like drawing comics, making music videos, and watching VHS tapes. Her passion for storytelling evolved into filmmaking after high school, culminating in her first major milestone – a short film about her grandmother selected for a Smithsonian Museum contest in 2008.
Now, Peaches is channeling her expertise and vision into a new project, “Holding Hands.” Co-directed and produced by Peaches, the short film, written by Cecil Patrick Tso, explores themes of survival and intergenerational wisdom. The story follows Christina, a protagonist visited by her grandmother, who imparts lessons about their lineage and the importance of preserving cultural knowledge.
“This story really resonates with me,” Peaches shared. “It reflects the cultural value of transmitting ancestral knowledge and the resilience of our people.”
To read the full article, please see the Jan. 23, edition of the Navajo Times.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow