Chumash Revolt of 1824 Documentary

Haku! Hello!

 

My name is Spenser Jaimes (Šmuwič-Chumash). I live in the village of Syuxtun, which is now called Santa Barbara. Ancestrally, my family comes from the Island of Limuw, which is now called Santa Cruz Island. Since I was little, I've been interested in storytelling and learning about my people's history and culture. As I've been growing up, I have seen how modern ways of storytelling, through books and media, are never done by our own people because we do not have access or the funds to do it ourselves.

 

My first documentary short, "Connected By Water," premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on March 12th, 2022. I am also working on a documentary for Patagonia with Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous People.

 

I am raising funds to make a documentary about the Chumash Revolt of 1824, the biggest organized revolt in California history against the Spanish, Mexican, and Mission occupations.

 

With the 200th anniversary of the Revolt approaching, the time is now, to tell the truth about what happened uncensored.

 

The funds will be used to purchase film equipment and studio time, pay artists and elders for their time on the project and fund the start-up of our new Limuw Productions Company.

 

Getting this equipment wouldn't be just used for this documentary but other documentaries and cultural preservation within our community.

 

For any questions, feel free to email me!