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A Spiritual Return to the Kiowa Way

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The Documentary

Vanishing Link is part documentary, part narrative and all spiritual.

In the beginning, it was to be a historical chronicle of my Plains Indian tribe, the Kiowas. It was to be told by Kiowa Grandparents sharing oral traditions as they have done through the ages.

It took an unexpected turn.

Vanishing Link is told through first person narrative weaved together with riveting stories from Tribal Elders brought to life through stirring traditional Kiowa art, dances, songs, and crafts.

Watch the trailer

"I returned to my Plains Indian tribe, the Kiowa to help them preserve precious oral traditions. But they gave me the most valuable gift of all."

Kiowa Tribal Elders send a modern Kiowa grandchild on an unexpected quest.

“It’s about the journey, has never been truer than during the life changing experience of creating Vanishing Link.” - Donna Rowell

Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma

Kiowa Storytellers

Kiowa Elders share stories, art, songs and oral traditions so that as Kiowa Singer, Georgia DuPoint expressed, “Some child in the future, even with just an ounce of Kiowa blood, needs to hear these songs and stories. He needs to know about the Kiowas. He is still Kiowa.”

Each of our storytellers gave the gift of oral traditions to make sure the Kiowas are not forgotten.

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Joe Big Bow
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Kenneth Coosewoon
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Georgia DuPoint
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Phil “Joe Fish” DuPoint
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Virginia S. McGilbray
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Atwater Onco
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Martha Perez
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Bernadine Rhoades
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C.E. Rowell
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Carrie Sahmount
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Max Silverhorn
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Fred Toosdle
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Sammy “Tone Kei” White
The creative team behind the scene

Writer & Film Crew

While it truly took a tribe, family and friends to make this documentary, without Janie, Scott and Greg, Vanishing Link would not have happened. Each gave endless hours to make the documentary a reality. They made preserving many of these precious Kiowa stories, songs, art and dances possible. I and the Kiowa Tribe are forever grateful. Ah-Ho!

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Donna Rowell
Producer, Writer, Director

My passion to preserve Kiowa oral traditions started at an early age. My Grandfather, Kiowa Artist, Historian and Tribal Elder, C. E. Rowell inspired me. His paintings, stories and songs spoke of the Kiowa’s rich culture and past. Through him and his brother and sisters I learned about being Kiowa. It is also from them that I was passed the great responsibility to preserve our oral traditions, to not break our multigenerational chain, to make sure the Kiowas are remembered.

With Vanishing Link, I strove to capture the experience of learning about the Kiowas directly from Kiowa Elders as a young grandchild would. Many of the Storytellers were raised by the last of the "free" Kiowas those that lived before Reservations. 

I’m now sharing more about the Kiowas, our culture and spirituality through writing a Kiowa Country murder mystery series. Learn more about, My Name is Mud here.

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Scott Bayer
Editor, Director of Photography

Scott was a member of the first crew shooting for Vanishing Link and the last. He has shot numerous hours of interviews with Kiowa Tribal Elders, experienced an impromptu blessing and survived a sweat. Every experience was greeted with excitement and the greatest of respect.

Scott brought his experiences to the editing suite, adding amazing depth and thought to the finished piece. He has spent over 170 editing hours bringing Vanishing Link to life. Scott’s unique vision added immensely in capturing the story.

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Greg Norman
Creative Director, Camera

Greg has spent hours behind the camera shooting in triple-digit heat at dust-stomping Powwows and moving interviews with Tribal Elders, Greg has come to understand the Kiowa and their Spirit. He brings this understanding to the documentary in simple, yet powerful scenes for the Kiowa Creation Story and Cut Throat Gap.

Greg is also responsible for Vanishing Link’s powerful, consistent image. He designed the web site, the DVD and its cover, the movie poster and all necessary marketing tools.

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Trenda “Janie” Rowell
Production Assistant

Janie truly made Vanishing Link happen. She reached out to find willing Storytellers, carted the crew and gear to the right places at the right times and picked up all loose ends.

Janie was Production Assistant Extraordinaire.

On Location

Kiowa Art

Donna Rowell's childhood was full of Kiowa stories, music and art. Rowell's Grandfather and his sisters shared their culture with all the grandchildren that surrounded their homes. The family was rich with storytellers and art, though no storyteller could surpass her Grandfather, C.E. Rowell. His stories were rich with powerful images brought to life through his traditional paintings. From her Grandfather's art, Rowell knew at a glance the traditional clothing and look of the Kiowa people. Within every painting, C.E Rowell expressed aspects of the Kiowa spirit and heart, insights into the Kiowa culture.

Most of the art seen in Vanishing Link was created by C.E. Rowell.

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For more information about Vanishing Link, write to:

D. M. Rowell

dmrowell@gmail.com

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