Myron Dewey

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

Myron Dewey
Ahu-auh-bud-shoe-knaw-me
Born(1972-07-16)July 16, 1972
DiedSeptember 26, 2021(2021-09-26) (aged 49)
Near Yomba Nye County, Nevada
NationalityWalker River Paiute Tribe
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materHaskell Indian Nations University, University of Kansas
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, citizen journalist, academic
Employer(s)Duke University and Northwest Indian College
Notable workAwake: A Dream From Standing Rock (2017 documentary, co-director)
SpouseDeborah Parker

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. "Obituary – Myron Charles Dewey". The Fallon Post. 2021-09-29. Archived from the original on 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  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. 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. 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. 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. 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. "Myron Dewey | Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University". Duke University. Archived from the original on 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  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. 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. 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. 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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