Dustinn Craig facts for kids
Dustinn Craig is a talented filmmaker and skateboarder from the White Mountain Apache Tribe. He uses his films to share stories about his culture and experiences growing up on Native American reservations.
Early Life and Inspiration
Dustinn Craig grew up in Arizona. He spent his early years on the Fort Apache Reservation. Later, he lived in Window Rock, Arizona, which is on the Navajo Reservation. These experiences deeply influenced his work.
Skateboarding and First Films
Skateboarding has always been a big part of Dustinn's life. As a teenager, he started making videos of his friends skateboarding. This was how he first got into filmmaking! Today, he is even the leader of the White Mountain skate team.
Filmmaking Career
Dustinn Craig's films often explore what it means to be a White Mountain Apache person. He shares stories about life on Indian reservations and the rich history of Native American communities.
In 2003, Dustinn wrote, directed, and produced a personal documentary called I Belong to This. It was part of a PBS series called Matters of Race.
A few years later, in 2005, he received an award for his documentary Ride through Genocide. This film was all about skateboarding on the Fort Apache Reservation. That same year, the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, asked him to create three films. Two of these films were about the Havasupai Tribe and the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Arizona. The third film, called “HOME,” was a special multi-screen documentary that showed beautiful images of the Native Southwest and shared stories from Native people. Dustinn also received the Rockefeller Media Arts Fellowship in 2005, which is a big honor for artists.
In 2008, Dustinn released a film about the famous Apache leader, Geronimo. This film was part of a five-part documentary series called “We Shall Remain,” produced by American Experience. It was first shown at the 2008 Native Cinema Showcase.
Later, in 2009, Arizona Public Television broadcast a collection of his short films titled Our Home, Our Stories: Short Films by Dustinn Craig. Through all his work, Dustinn helps people understand and appreciate Native American cultures and stories.
