Welcome and thank you in advance for taking the time to learn about the project.
The Indigenous Documentary is a gift-based docu-series being filmed from 2021 onward. The goal is to preserve indigenous lessons, methods and history from being lost and forgotten. Filming started in Sedona and Page, Arizona, followed by an interview with a representative of the Navajo Nation Museum, then 6 regions in Peru (Ica, Colca, Puno, Cuzco, Macchu Picchu, and Iquitos) with the Quechua, Uros, Coleaguas, Guari, Boras, and Yaguas in Peru when funding ran out.
In this docu-series, we look to converse with indigenous communities and native people who still practice the old ways to answer a few specific questions that touch upon categories like healing, music, dance, climate change, external interference, duality, history, and inquiry. These categories will be used as a marker to create a segmented docu-series that will be available to view for free when the project is completed.
Many cultures have shared with us that their ways are being lost as the new generation assimilates to modern society and believes there is no need to remember or practice the old ways. The Indigenous Documentary is about encapsulating that knowledge and information and sharing it with the world so it is not forgotten. Our goal is to help people learn to heal themselves both physically and mentally, naturally and with time-proven methods that have been practiced for generations.
This project is constantly evolving as it progresses, with updates being portrayed on the blog page.
What is indigenous?
Below are some definitions found online.
Definition from Oxford Languages
in·dig·e·nous – /inˈdijənəs/
adjective – 1. originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
example: “the indigenous peoples of Siberia”
Similar: native aboriginal local original earliest first initial ancient
Definition from Merriam – Webster
in·dig·e·nous | \ in-ˈdi-jə-nəs \
1a : produced, growing, living, or occurring natively or naturally in a particular region or environment indigenous plants the indigenous culture 1b : Indigenous or less commonly indigenous : of or relating to the earliest known inhabitants of a place and especially of a place that was colonized by a now-dominant group Indigenous peoples 2 : innate, inborn
Definition from Wikipedia
Indigenous peoples, also referred to as first people, aboriginal people, native people, or autochthonous people, are culturally distinct ethnic groups who are native to a place which has been colonised and settled by another ethnic group.
Who are considered indigenous?
Indigenous peoples claim their lands because they were there first or have occupied them since time immemorial. They are also groups that have been conquered by peoples racially, ethnically or culturally different from themselves.
Reference: https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/defining-indigenous
However, people who are native to the land and practice the old ways are also considered indigenous. Let us not forget nomads, that may have recently moved into a new area yet practice the old ways are also considered indigenous as they practice indigenous and ancient methods of healing that are beneficial to many people.
If you would like to be part of the documentary and are of indigenous descent and would like to schedule a time and place where we could interview you please contact us on the contact page.
What is the Indigenous Documentary?
The Indigenous Documentary is a donation-based docu-series through the eyes of a knowledge seeker. The filmmaker Mayra Perdomo will travel to 17+ Countries over 6 continents to converse with indigenous communities and native people who still practice the old ways.
Filming has begun in Sedona, Arizona then Peru, and is now active in New York. Next will be Connecticut and possibly adding a few other states that have an indigenous and native populations practicing the old / tradtional ways. The bulk of the filming will be from August 2021-December 2024 in various countries depending on how Covid-19 is affecting travel in those countries.
Many cultures have shared with us that their ways are being lost as the new generation assimilates to modern society and believes there is no need to remember or practice the old ways. The Indigenous Documentary is about encapsulating that knowledge and information and sharing it with the world so it is not forgotten. Our goal is to help people learn to heal themselves both physically and mentally, naturally and with time-proven methods that have been practiced for generations.
The purpose is to educate in addition to donating to indigenous charitable causes which are better explained on the About page.
All donations are used to further the progress of the documentary by covering travel expenses, filming and editing costs, donations to interviewees. Any excesss donations will be used for charitable causes discussed in the about page.
The second thing that makes this project different is that the filmmaker Mayra Perdomo is documenting herself making the documentary so she can teach future filmmakers to make their own documentaries. We would like to help others learn how to share their stories.
Donations are essential for the progress and completion of this project. Every donation received is greatly appreciated. To make a donation please visit our donation page.
Thank you for your time and we welcome you to join us on this journey.
Below is a teaser of the first interview. If you enjoy it and would like to see this project move forward to include various indigenous regions please kindly donate in whatever way is easier for you.