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Hawaiian Kale Wraps
Sabrina S. (original recipe)
I helped edit a film about a Native American holy site in South Dakota (it won an award at the South Dakota Film Festival). I was pretty proud and it was supposed to get my film career started but my film career didn't really go anywhere after that. My computer died (and my life fell apart) while I was re-editing it for South Dakota PBS which is a shame because I stumbled upon extra footage that would have made it even better. Incidentally, one of the directors hates my guts because I tried to hold my 12-year relationship together instead of being professional. I understand where he's coming from but not really his degree of passionate ire. It makes me sad because he was a cool guy before he lost his cool.
I didn't realize until this morning, but you can watch the whole film on YouTube:
Mato Paha: Rally to Save Bear Butte
YouTube links can be a little fickle so if it doesn't work just search the title and it will come up.
I was prepared to discuss some of the issues that I learned about working on this project, but instead I will suggest you watch the film! How I got involved in it: My girlfriend at the time and I were living in Montana, where she was enrolled in a graduate program for scientists to learn filmmaking. The film was already half-finished but two other students in the program passed on it because they said it was too much of a mess. One suggested they re-shoot it which obviously would have been impossible. I met with one of the directors (the one who now hates me... the other is still friends with me on Facebook) and I watched the film. I totally saw his vision, what was working and what could be improved, and said, yes, I can work with this. I'm especially proud of the Eagle's Flight sequence, which has something like 4,000 views on YouTube. I added the eagle footage, cleaned up the sequence a lot, and suggested we start the film with it instead of ending the film. I think it really sets the tone, as opposed to feeling kind of out of place at the end.
The other significant sequence I suggested was the history crawl during the liquor license hearing. I put it together on my own and the director liked it. He rewrote it a little but it's pretty much what I pitched and I think the sound editing is pretty slick. Before I made him angry he was very impressed with my work and invited us to visit him on the reservation in South Dakota (he is not native but his wife is). Then of course everything fell apart for me. I do feel guilty but I went through hell and I'm lucky I didn't let down more people. I thought maybe after time he would forgive me but I was wrong. If you're out there, I'm sorry. But please do not contact me.
Added somewhat later: It's called Bear Butte because, let's guess, some white person saw a bear there once. But there are no bears in South Dakota today! Can you believe that? Move aside habitat fragmentation, it's because they were all killed by white people, because the government put a bounty on them, to eradicate them. I didn't know this and I thought the footage of the eagle/bear same-shot was pretty awesome. Mr. Hates-me told me, no bears in South Dakota, and suggested we make it a Spirit Bear. That's why I did some fancy editing to have it disappear, if you watched it, and I can't lie and say the end credits ain't sexy too. F*** us. I'm so sorry. I've never shot a bear but I am so sorry. You lived here millenia and we show up and kill all your bears. Put a price on that.
I re-watched the film for the first time in more than 10 years and the film itself and the memory of my experience working on it have me pretty emotional, which is fitting. South Dakota is my final stop on this 11-month journey across America. I'm ready to be finished and head home (or to D.C.?) but it is also a strange feeling. I started it on a whim but worked pretty hard to get it all done. I haven't been everywhere IRL but I've seen a lot of America and even though we have some major problems to contend with, this project makes me realize how much affection I have for the places I've been, the people I've met, the life I lived before it all came crashing down.
My parents took me around the world as a kid but I've only been outside the country three times in my adult life, and once was Canada when I was 19. Now I don't have a passport and I don't think I have the documentation to get one, so I am pretty much stuck here. I want to thank everyone for your hospitality and putting up with my tough love. I doubt I'll receive a single vote but I'd like to point out I ran a 50-state campaign (plus territories that can't even vote in the election) without manufacturing any short-lived yard signs or burning any fossil fuels or spending any money aside from what I needed to get by as it is. I'm proud that I made time for each of you, did my best to pander, relate my heart-felt feelings or else to learn about you if I didn't already know you.
The radio reminds me to thank Michelle Obama. I'm not a historian so I can't say "ever" but probably the coolest 1st Lady of my lifetime. I'm sorry your husband failed to shut down the Guantanamo Bay prison and all it symbolized. At least you didn't raze the Rose Garden. (Or take the solar panels off the White House, Nancy! On your watch!)
Most of all, I want to thank the kids. I know you're not kids any more and I have no idea what you are like today, if you'd agree with me on the issues or get my jokes or if I offend you by veganizing your recipes. But I could never have done this without you, I never would have bothered, and it wouldn't have been interesting nor nearly so fun. For what it's worth, this is me giving back to you for entertaining me through a difficult time 8 years ago, bringing levity to that stressful election season and to this one now. There is a worst-case scenario for the election outcome but for people like me, the best case isn't that great either. I don't know who agrees with me but if you do, I implore you to hold onto hope. I may not be the best role model in this regard, but you've got to hold on as long as you can. Dr.MLK Jr. teaches us, the long arc of history bends toward justice. One caveat. We must be the ones to bend it. It doesn't bend on its own. Be the change, die trying, hope lay in our madness back when hope was all we had.
To the reader, thank you for accompanying me on this long journey. I will sign off with my favorite Pink Floyd song, Fearless:
You say the hill's too steep to climb, chiding
You say you'd like to see me try, climbing
You pick the place and I'll choose the time
And I'll climb the hill in my own way
Just wait awhile for the right day
And as I rise above the tree line and the clouds
I look down, hear the sound of the things you said today
Fearlessly, the idiot faced the crowd, smiling
Merciless, the magistrate turns 'round, frowning
And who's the fool who wears the crown?
Go down in your own way
And every day is the right day
And as you rise above the fear lines in his brow
You look down, hear the sound of the faces in the crowd
Wrap
- 1 package Seitan*, chopped
- 1/3 cu. red Bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cu. Pineapple, chopped
- 1/3 cu. Cabbage, shredded
*I like our local brand and especially the sun-dried tomato flavor. When I get around to
making this, I will make a nationally-available product recommendation.
Sauce
- 1/4 tsp. toasted Sesame oil
Preparation
Check back later!
Discussion
**WARNING** I have not yet made this recipe and so I can't vouch for the results.
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New Mexico
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South Dakota
Covered by a shallow sea 70 million years ago
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