fbpx
 
ETHEL, a New York-based group, premieres “Strings on the Rez” to benefit Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund. (Photo by Tim Black)

NEW YORK — An acclaimed string quartet is digitally releasing a documentary called “Strings on the Rez” in an effort to help raise funds for Navajo and Hopi families during COVID-19. Strings on the Rez, a 2011 documentary directed by Molly McBride, features the members of ETHEL, a New York-based string quartet. The film was shown at the Grand Canyon Music Festival and the Black Bear Film Festival, but will now be available online. The music-filled flick, filmed by McBride from 2006-2008, was shot in and around Tuba City, Ariz. and at the Grand Canyon. It tells about the group’s collaboration with guitar-playing high school students from the Navajo Nation. ETHEL and the young musicians meet in “tradition and modernity, discover a new flow of communication and share a heartfelt human exchange,” according to the filmmaker. 

The online premiere is set for Sunday, June 21 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time and can be viewed via ETHEL’S YouTube page. Dorothy Lawson, co-founder and cellist of ETHEL, said the successful Navajo and Hopi COVID Relief Fund on GoFundMe, which has raised more than $5 million to date, sparked the idea. “In solidarity with our friends in Navajo Nation, where the pandemic has hit with a vengeance, ETHEL invites all of our followers and supporters to participate in the fundraiser-premiere of this documentary,” Lawson said in a statement. “ETHEL is releasing the film for the first time digitally to bring our fans’ generosity to bear on the grassroots Navajo-Hopi COVID-19 Relief Fund. They are providing effective, timely support under monstrous conditions.” As for ETHEL, the New York-based contemporary concert music group, which formed in 1998, is internationally known for its genre-blending style that the New York Times called “indefatigable and eclectic.” Over the course of nine studio albums, ETHEL has performed in 250 cities, 45 states and 14 countries. The group has won both a Native American Music Award and a Grammy Award with jazz legend Kurt Elling. The group’s 2010 LP, Oshtali, presents a collection of short string works by student composers from the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy in Norman, Oklahoma. Strings on the Rez (digital premiere) 

Sunday, June 21, 2020 5 p.m. EST Watch the stream at ETHEL’s YouTube channel

 

Donate directly to the Navajo & Hopi COVID-19 fund via GoFundMe

 

More Stories Like This

Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act Reintroduced in Congress
Man Charged in Rape of 11-year-old Girl in Bemidji
Eliot Neal Named New Missing or Murdered Indigenous Person Assistant United States Attorney for the Southwest Regions
Native News Weekly (October 1, 2023): D.C. Briefs
Geoffrey Blackwell Named NCAI's General Council and Chief of Staff

Stand with us in championing Indigenous journalism that makes a difference. Your support matters.

Support our Indigenous-led newsroom as we shed light on critical issues, such as the painful history of Indian Boarding Schools. To date, we've published nearly 200 stories dedicated to this important topic, providing insights and awareness to a global audience. Our news is freely accessible to all, but its production demands resources. That's why we're reaching out to you this month for your generous contribution.

For those who commit to a recurring donation of $12 per month or more, or make a one-time donation of $150 or greater, we're excited to offer you a copy of our upcoming Indian Boarding School publication. Additionally, you will be added to our Founder's Circle. Together, we can ensure that these vital stories continue to be told, shared, and remembered.

About The Author
Native News Online Staff
Author: Native News Online StaffEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at [email protected].