Project

Tsenacommacah

Ethan Brown
Federico Cuatlacuatl
Caleb Hendrickson

Synopsis

Tsenacommacah, is what the Powhatan called their territory of Tidewater Virginia. Roughly translated as, “densely inhabited land.” An experiential recall takes form through the spiritual symbology of the region in this sensory short film. Ahone the Creator, who sometimes took the form of a Great Hare, comes from the rising sun. But there were other spirits as well—Okee, the trickster of Chaos and ruler of the underworld. A dance unfolds between them. USA, 2020, 9 minutes.

Directed by Ethan Brown, Federico Cuatlacuatl, and Caleb Hendrickson

Sound Design by Joshua Rodenberg

Press

Tsenacommacah Press Kit

Related Project

Pamunkey: Fractures and Reconstruction of Memory

 

Project Contributors

Ethan Brown

Ethan Brown

Artist

Ethan Brown is a Pamunkey artist working in multiple mediums. He resides on the Reservation in Virginia. Ethan’s work is led by intuition and takes inspiration from Pamunkey history and culture, Virginia’s flora and fauna, spirituality, and dreams. Tsenacommacah is Ethan’s first foray into exploring film as a medium.

Federico Cuatlacuatl

Federico Cuatlacuatl

Assistant Professor, Digital Art

Federico Cuatlacuatl is an Indigenous artist born in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. He received his MFA specializing in Digital Arts at the Bowling Green State University. Federico’s work is invested in disseminating topics of Latinx immigration, social art practice, and cultural sustainability. Building from his own experience growing up as an undocumented immigrant and previously holding DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), Federico’s research is primarily concerned with pressing realities in current social, political, and cultural issues that Latinx undocumented immigrants face in the U.S. Federico’s independent productions have been screened in various national and international film festivals in Mexico; USA; Canada; Finland; Athens, Greece; Delph, England; Lucknow, India; Paris, France; and the Azores Islands off of Portugal. As founder and director of the Rasquache Artist Residency in Puebla, Mexico, he actively stays involved in socially engaged works and binational endeavors.

Caleb Hendrickson

Caleb Hendrickson

Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion, Carleton College

Caleb Hendrickson received his PhD in religious studies at the University of Virginia in 2020. His work focuses on issues in religion, art, and visual studies. He is currently Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

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