{"id":7883,"date":"2018-02-20T20:03:09","date_gmt":"2018-02-21T04:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=7883"},"modified":"2018-02-20T20:03:09","modified_gmt":"2018-02-21T04:03:09","slug":"american-indian-film-institute-founder-president-michael-smith-passes-away-66","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2018\/02\/20\/american-indian-film-institute-founder-president-michael-smith-passes-away-66\/","title":{"rendered":"AMERICAN INDIAN FILM INSTITUTE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT MICHAEL SMITH PASSES AWAY AT 66"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 (<\/b>aifisf.com<\/a>)\u00a0<\/b>Michael Smith,<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>the Relocation-era Sioux man who founded the American Indian Film Institute and the American Indian Film Festival, passed away on Wed., Feb. 14,\u00a02018\u00a0in San Francisco. He was 66.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Growing up watching non-Natives play Natives, perpetuating stereotypes and disseminating inaccurate, often offensive portrayals of American Indians onscreen, a 20-something Smith started the American Indian Film Institute in 1975, in Seattle. It took zero persuasion on Smith\u2019s part to recruit two of his heroes \u2013 Mvskokee actor Will Sampson (\u201cOne Flew Over the Cuckoo\u2019s Nest\u201d), and Canada\u2019s Coast Salish actor and tribal leader, Chief Dan George (\u201cThe Outlaw Josey Wales;) \u201cLittle Big Man\u201d) \u2013 to become founding board members of AIFI. A couple of years later, Smith helmed the first-ever American Indian Film Festival; and, in November 2017, AIFF marked its 42nd<\/sup>\u00a0year of creating countless filmmakers, screening hundreds of films by, for and about Native peoples, and shattering stereotypes around the globe.<\/div>\n
In marking its milestone 40 years, the American Indian Film Festival naturally reflects on the themes, forces and faces who inspired new generations, broke through barriers and set the bar for cinematic achievement, against the dramatic backdrop of civil and American Indian rights, a cultural revolution, and cutting-edge films. Will Sampson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo\u2019s Nest; Buffalo Bill<\/i>) , and Coastal Salish actor Chief Dan George (The Outlaw Josey Wales; Little Big Man<\/i>) broke into mainstream feature films, forging their future as icons, and inspiring a young Sioux visionary to establish a forum and showcase from an indigenous perspective. From relocated urban Indians to rural reservations storytellers, new filmmakers from all corners of Indian country stepped up and spoke up, made movies, and shared them with the American Indian Film Festival.<\/div>\n
\u201cBoth Chief Dan George and Will Sampson were my heroes, and ultimately became founding board members of the American Indian Film Institute,\u201d Smith said in 2015, as AIFF marked its 40th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary. \u201cSeeing these formidable, funny Indian actors onscreen illuminated the void of authentic portrayals, complex characters, and three-dimensional Native life, in the movies. They were unforgettable presences in my life, and at the festival. The American Indian Film Festival gave us a voice, 40 years\u00a0has\u00a0flown by, and we\u2019re looking forward to the next 40.\u201d<\/div>\n
As tributes pour in for Michael Smith \u2013 the visionary Sioux man who changed audiences\u2019 POV of America\u2019s indigenous people and their culture \u2013 his family vows to continue his work and honor his legacy.<\/div>\n
\u201cThe impact of my father\u2019s\u00a0work,\u00a0and the American Indian Film Institute\u2019s history will remain immeasurable,\u201d noted Smith\u2019s daughter, Mytia Zavala \u2013 who grew up with a second, extended family in the tight-knit community of Native cinema, and has continued in her father\u2019s footsteps. \u201cMy Dad would want us to carry on the institute\u2019s vision and mission, and in his honor, we will.\u201d<\/div>\n
\n

# \u00a0 # \u00a0 #<\/b><\/p>\n

The Smith\/Spencer family is trying to raise funds to help with medical costs, funeral arrangements, and funds to bring his family and remains back to Poplar, MT. where he will be laid to rest. All funds go to his daughter Mytia Zavala who is in charge of the arrangements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Friends and family are welcome to attend the funeral services for Michael which will be held in Poplar, Montana or join us in celebrating his life in a Memorial Celebration which will be held in San Francisco Bay Area.<\/div>\n
The family is currently in the process of arranging the details and will return with an update with dates, locations and time.<\/div>\n
Any amount is greatly appreciated and know that any contribution makes a huge difference.<\/div>\n
Thank you for your continuous prayers and support.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
GoFund Me Campagin<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 (aifisf.com)\u00a0Michael Smith,\u00a0the Relocation-era Sioux man who founded the American Indian Film Institute and the American Indian Film Festival, passed away on Wed., Feb. 14,\u00a02018\u00a0in San Francisco. He was 66. Growing up watching non-Natives play Natives, perpetuating stereotypes and disseminating inaccurate, often offensive portrayals of American Indians… Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7883"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7883"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7884,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7883\/revisions\/7884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}