A nine-year old boy makes a journey across the Sonoran Desert with total strangers, to reunite with his parents who fled the fallout of El Salvador’s civl war. Based on the memoir Solito by Javier Zamora, depicted in stark black and white over an original song written and performed by Brad Colerick.

Based on the song “Little Bird (Lost Bird of Wounded Knee)" by Brad Colerick  

This tale of "found & lost" portrays the troubled life of a Lakota baby who survived the 1890 Massacre at Wounded Knee, only to struggle with identity and acceptance in white high society along with the loss of her own cultural heritage and people. Presented in a montage of animated ledger art, vintage silent movie clips and historic photographs set to an original song written and performed by Brad Colerick, it gives voice to one whose own was taken from her. The song “Little Bird" (Lost Bird of Wounded Knee) was written and recorded with a Lakota drum and Native American flute to capture her bold spirit as well as her struggles. The use of ledger art, a genre introduced by imprisoned American Indians and known for child-like simplicity of line and color, is intended to respect a Native American storytelling tradition. We used historic Lakota, Oglala, and Ioway illustrations where possible, (and recreated some where needed,) on top of actual military records, reactionary telegraphs and broken treaties as the canvas for the characters at Wounded Knee.  

The song and film are a posthumous acknowledgement of a terrible tragedy — not just for one life, but for many. Our hope is that people will learn more about “Lost Bird” and the Native American Adoption Law recently upheld by the Supreme Court, and find a place in their hearts for Zintka.

Detailed citations can be found at deepmagic.fun/lost-bird

A tale of love almost-found. A shout-out to cat ladies of all political persuasions. More from Marty Axelrod at partyatmycave.bandcamp.com. Words & music by Marty Axelrod -- Didit Music (ASCAP)