Myron_Dewey

Myron Dewey

Myron Dewey

Native American filmmaker and journalist (1972–2021)

Myron Charles Dewey (16 July 1972 – 26 September 2021) was a filmmaker and journalist from the Walker River Paiute Tribe.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Dewey was noted for reporting on issues at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation especially for co-directing the 2017 documentary Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock.

Early life

Dewey was born on 16 July 1972, to parents Herbert Dini Jr. of Schurz, Nevada and Cynthia Dewey of Bishop, California.[1] A member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe,[2] his Indigenous name was Ahu-auh-bud-shoe-knaw-me.[1]

He attended Gabbs K-12 School and studied computer systems and business information at Haskell Indian Nations University, graduating with a degrees in each in 2002 and 2003. He later attended the University of Kansas and graduated with a master's degree in Indigenous nation studies in 2007.[1]

Career

Dewey was employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs' as a firefighter working for their Western Nevada One team in Carson City before joining their Black Mountain Hotshot Crew working in the Western United States.[1] He founded Digital Smoke Signals online news service.[1][3] Later, he worked as an academic, teaching film-making at Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies and at Northwest Indian College in Washington state.[4]

In 2016, Dewey filmed the protests at the Dakota Access Pipeline and was a co-director of the documentary Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock.[4][5] While gathering footage, his use of drone filming attracted accusations of criminality form authorities, later dismissed.[6] In 2017 he won an award at the New York City Drone Film Festival in the category of News/Documentary for his work filming police at the protest site.[7]

In 2018, he won an Award of Merit from the University of Kansas Department of Film & Media Studies.[7]

Personal life and death

Dewey lived in Schurz, Nevada, in the Walker River Paiute Reservation. He lived with his wife Deborah Parker, their five children, and his one nephew.[4]

Dewey died near Yomba,[8] Nye County[9] two to three hours[10] after a car crash on 26 September 2021, aged 49.[4] Dewey had been returning from broadcasting at the Fallon bombing range in Nevada when he died.[8]

On June 6, 2023, John Walsh of Nevada was sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter.[11]

References

  1. [1]
    "Obituary – Myron Charles Dewey". The Fallon Post. 2021-09-29. Archived from the original on 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  2. [2]
    "Myron Dewey, filmmaker who focused on Native American fight against oil pipeline, dies at 49". Los Angeles Times. 2021-09-30. Archived from the original on 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  3. [3]
    Vincent Schilling, (27 September 2021) Digital Smoke Signals founder Myron Dewey dies in tragic accident Archived 2023-01-28 at the Wayback Machine Indian Country Today
  4. [4]
    Metz, Sam (2021-09-29). "Indigenous filmmaker and journalist Myron Dewey dead at 49". CTV News. Archived from the original on 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  5. [5]
    Merry, Stephanie (2017-04-13). "A new Standing Rock documentary shows how film can give voice to those who feel powerless". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  6. [6]
    Keene, Adrienne; Hitch, Gregory (2019-11-07). "Drone Warriors: The Art of Surveillance and Resistance at Standing Rock". Edge Effects (Magazine). Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  7. [7]
    "Myron Dewey | Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University". Duke University. Archived from the original on 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  8. [8]
    "Driver of Truck Killing Paiute Journalist Myron Dewey Seeks Plea Deal". Indybay. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  9. [9]
    Thompson, Darren (20 July 2022). "Person Charged in September Fatal Accident of Paiute Filmmaker Myron Dewey". Native News Online. Archived from the original on 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  10. [10]
    Burrows, Kim (2022-07-18). "Driver just charged, accused of killing Nevada activist". KRNV. Archived from the original on 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  11. [11]
    Thompson, Darren (2023-06-08). "Nevada Man Sentenced to 30 Days in Jail for Fatal Car Accident that Killed Paiute Filmmaker Myron Dewey". Native News Online. Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
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