Her Giveaway A Spiritual Journey with AIDS

Her Giveaway

A Spiritual Journey with AIDS

A film by Mona Smith

1988 | 21 minutes | Color | VHS | Order No. 99146

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SYNOPSIS

Carole Lafavor (Ojibwe), activist, mother and registered nurse, is a person with AIDS. In this candid and moving portrait, Lafavor relates how she has come to terms with AIDS by combining her traditional beliefs and healing practices with western medicine. HER GIVEAWAY is more than just basic information—it is an inspiring example of how we can all learn from the Native American philosophy of illness. Produced by Smith (Dakota) for the Minnesota American Indian AIDS Task Force, this film confronts the “official” invisibility of women, Native Americans and lesbians with AIDS.

PRESS

"Offers rare insights... Tremendously useful."

Media Network

"This frank, open, intimate portrait presents basic facts while dispelling many of the myths surrounding AIDS."

Library Journal

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Mona Smith

Subject Areas

AIDS Health LGBTQI Native American

Honored by the Moon

In this upbeat and empowering film, Native American lesbians and gay men speak of their unique historical and spiritual role. Within the Native American community, homosexuality was traditionally associated with the power to bridge worlds. Interviews with leading activists and personal testimony attest to the positive and painful experiences of being Native and gay. Produced by Smith (Dakota) for the Minnesota American Indian AIDS Task Force to raise issues of homophobia within the Indian community, this ground-breaking documentary is also an important contribution to culturally sensitive discussions of homosexuality. With gratitude to the Moving Image Archiving and Preservation program at NYU, a digital preservation copy of this film now available for exhibition! Please contact [email protected] for more information.

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