Diné College Premieres Unauthored Film “Nits’áádóó Idahwiil’aah” Featuring Artist Kevin Aspaas
TSAILE, Ariz., September 17, 2025. Diné College hosted the premiere screening of the unauthored film “Nits’áádóó Idahwiil’aah” (“We are learning from you”) at the Ned Hatathli Center, Tsaile campus. The event, supported by the Mellon Foundation, featured the work of Mellon Fellow Shane R. Hendren and offered an unfiltered look into the life of Diné weaver, fiber artist, shepherd, and farmer Kevin Aspaas. The evening began at 5:00 p.m. with a reception, followed by the film screening and remarks from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
The film is the first in a series of unauthored documentaries by Hendren, designed to give Indigenous subjects complete editorial control over their stories. This approach aims to present an authentic voice, free from external agendas.
“What an unauthored documentary is, it is a documentary where the person or people being featured have editorial control over what is produced,” Shane R. Hendren, the current Mellon Fellow, said. “That’s something that almost never happens with Indigenous people… it is the attempt by the filmmaker myself to present the people and or person presented in an authentic voice.”
The film chronicles the life and work of Kevin Aspaas, providing insight into his journey as a weaver and shepherd. Aspaas discussed his deep connection to his craft, which was passed down through his family, and the cultural significance of his work.
“I weave because I want to weave, and I’m consistent with what I want to do,” Kevin Aspaas said. “It’s gratifying to do something that my mom has done… one of the things that I’ve learned is that it’s not me taking care of them. It’s them taking care of me because they’re providing me the whole material realm of all of what I have and what I’m doing right now.”
The event highlighted the Mellon Foundation’s role in bringing these cultural stories to the forefront. The films created through the fellowship will be archived at Diné College, serving as a valuable resource for students and researchers. The screening aimed to bring national individuals back to campus so the community can learn from them, continuing a legacy of cultural preservation and education.
Media Contact:
Kayla Jackson
Mellon Coordinator
kcjackson@dinecollege.edu
