ARTIST INFORMATION
NAME: | Terry Jones | |
NATION: | Seneca | |
ADDRESS | ||
TELEPHONE: | ||
EMAIL: | cornsoupman@yahoo.com | |
WEBSITE: | www.tornjersey.net | |
DISCIPLINE: | Videographer | |
ARTIST BIO
Terry Jones is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians. He grew up on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation located in Western New York. At age 15, he started attending summer enrichment programs offered through the Johnson O'Malley Program. It was in these summer programs that Terry was introduced to photography, script writing and film making. Throughout Terry’s adult life he has continually documented reservation life through photography and video. Terry has completed two short films entitled Through the Eyes of Clint and What the Hell is Corn Soup?
Through the Eyes of Clint is a first person account of reservation
life from the point of view of Terry’s younger teenage brother,
Clint. Clint discusses the racism and cultural differences he faced
while attending the Gowanda Central School District near the Seneca
Nation. Clint and other Indian children were bussed from the Seneca
Territory to a near-by white school district where Indians got their
first experience of non-Indian society.
What the Hell is Corn Soup? is a short film documenting the preparation
of the traditional Seneca corn soup. Ingredients include dried white
corn, wood ashes, kidney beans and salt pork. It’s an arduous
task to prepare this Seneca delicacy because it takes over 12 hours
to prepare. It is not uncommon for Terry to host a couple corn soup
parties a year where his guests are able to screen the film and taste
the soup. There’s a reason why this soup’s ingredients
and preparation have remained unchanged for the last 200 years.
Terry's most recent film is a full-feature documentary entitled Casino
Nation. Scheduled for broadcast in late 2005/early 2006, the film
documents the Seneca Nation of Indians as they open two Las Vegas-style
casinos, one in Niagara Falls, New York and the other on their Allegany
territory. This film highlights the impact of sudden prosperity on
this small sovereign nation. Will the distinctive culture and identity
of these native people be able to withstand the onslaught of American
culture’s promise of big and easy money? The film explores these
and other issues facing the Senecas during this critical time of sweeping
change. Casino Nation is partially funded by Native American Public
Telecommunications (NAPT) and the Eva and Lucius Eastman Fund. More
information may be found at www.casinonation.net/.
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