A few years ago, I had the pleasure of talking with a wonderful group of Rotarians at the Rotary of South Puget Sound in Olympia, Washington. The topic then was Sacajawea, The Windcatcher and what led me to write the screenplay.
Recently I was humbled when asked to speak to this group again. This time I wanted to share about Humanity Shines and how it reflects what we’ve learned over the years through the development phase of Sacajawea. This is the essence of the presentation…
ROTARY MEETING – September 15, 2023
Some of you were here several years ago when I spoke about the Sacajawea film project, which is ongoing. I started the story as a children’s book in 1989, soon realizing it was not a children’s story. Eventually, I wrote the screenplay from 2003-2007, with a production budget of $40 million. http://www.sacajaweathewindcatcher.com
This endeavor “so far” has taken nearly a third of my life. And it has been a life-changing experience.
So today, I want to talk to you about what happened to me, how it has changed me, and most importantly, what it has shown me.
What transpired was an awakening of my spirit and my heart, and I could not ignore it.
In 2009-2010, I was the interim first-year president of a startup company in Edmonds, WA. I was beginning to think about what I wanted to do after my involvement there and the thought of a nonprofit company kept coming to my heart. I even had a name picked out, Humanity Shines Organization.
But I didn’t yet understand the focus or the purpose. I didn’t even associate it with Sacajawea at this point.
It was just a seed in my soul.
In 2012, I went to Los Angeles with the determination to get this Sacajawea movie made. The script was done, I thought, and I was ready to put it on the big screen. I had no idea what the budget would be, no idea how I should proceed, I didn’t know anyone working in film who could actually make it happen – but I felt this was to be the very next step.
While there, I did generate interest. I met people who said they could do it, but they could not. I met people who wanted to take the script from me, to change the story, to make her more like Wonder Woman or an Indian princess…
At times it was harrowing.
I was committed to accuracy, authenticity, and my promise to the Shoshone people that I would honor her life. That was the most challenging thing, because most people I met in LA didn’t understand that.
But there were wonderful people, too – some are still with the project today – honest people who told me this was a very difficult dream to achieve for a first-time screenwriter with a major epic production.
I knew in my heart I would never give up.
I believed I was called to tell this story.
Just as the Lewis and Clark expedition was a journey of discovery that took them all across an unknown path and harrowing adventure, so this was, and is, for me in my life.
But it formed the framework for Humanity Shines. It showed me, even in the darkness, that the human spirit is a light. It affirmed to me that life is taking us all on a journey of discovery to remember who we are, and to learn what we are called to do.
I was in California for 2 years while my husband supported me from Washington State. But I wasn’t there to make the movie…
I was there to meet myself, to pour out and to fill up, to spend my “forty days and forty nights in the wilderness.”
I was there to listen because though I had finished the script all those years ago, there was something missing and I had to be ready and able to see it.
At this time, I began noticing cloud formations, like feathers and hearts and wispy ladies dancing in the wind, and heart rocks along my path. I saw eagles, hawks and owls fly over me all the time.
I didn’t know if this was a new occurrence or if I was just not able to see them before.
I began to wake up in the middle of the night at 3 AM, with words on my heart that I had to write down.
I kept a Sacajawea script next to me on the nightstand, and when this happened I would write the words on the back of the pages and the cover.
Then one day I had a revelation – these words were from HER. This was the missing element in Sacajawea’s story… the messages of Oneness, Unity, Love, Respect for the Earth and One another.
I began to edit the script, to bring the essence of Sacajawea’s spirituality to the storyline – something that isn’t found in research books. But it is a part of her tradition, her culture, her understanding of creation and her place in the world. It is the wonder of it all and I never saw it, until that time alone – by myself – in California.
It has truly been a journey of discovery. An evolution of not only the screenplay but also of me.
I was beginning to understand what Humanity Shines meant to me, personally. This powerful young girl from 1805 wanted her story told, and she wanted her spirit to touch us. Over those years several meaningful projects and programs came to life. And they have found a home now in our new entity, Humanity Shines Organization. Here is a brief description of each one:
1) Vision Quest Interns Program –
This internship program for young adults will be a life-changing opportunity and an invaluable experience for their film careers.
Initially the productions include Sacajawea, The Windcatcher; Moon Drake, an anime series for children; Kimama’s Wings, a children’s feature film, and ongoing projects.
All interns will be part of a film production team. They’ll earn a wage, a film credit, a certificate and attend special movie events like film festivals. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, learning directly from professionals in the film industry.
2) Sacajawea Doll Project –
We believe Sacajawea’s message is a powerful foundation for children of all ethnicities and backgrounds. Every little girl and boy can benefit from the lessons of Sacajawea’s love.
Our first Keepsake Storybook, The Grass Maiden, Sacajawea, brings Sacajawea’s words of love to life along with the accompanying doll through this project.
In addition, the doll gives monetary opportunities to Sacajawea’s Shoshone people through their talents and skills. We will hire Shoshone seamstresses to produce the hand-made Sacajawea dolls and other soft toys. Proceeds from sales will go back to the Shoshone Nation. A scholarship for Shoshone young people will also be established.
3) Cultural Program –
It is our humble honor to work with the Agai’dika Shoshone people on this important Cultural Project. We believe the Sacajawea feature film will ignite respect and a greater understanding of the magnificent heritage of the Shoshone Nation.
And it will be our humbled privilege to share their traditions, dialect, and beautiful culture as we strive for authenticity and accuracy in every way possible throughout this timely Sacajawea film production.
We plan to insert actual location footage from all along the Lewis & Clark trail. One of the most important locations is Salmon, Idaho, Sacajawea’s birthplace.
Our production plan is to pay Shoshone labor to build authentic tipis and structures for a nomadic village in 1805. Incorporate Elder knowledge and youth to decorate the tipis and other aspects for authentic replication. Pay tribal extras, old and young, to be in the footage. Pay regalia makers to sew and showcase authentic dress. Pay tribal members to cater food on film days and provide other services.
We plan to leave the village intact so they can use it to teach the children about their heritage and share it with others who visit.
4) Moon Drake Earth Heroes –
The Moon Drake series focuses on the power of cultural and traditional wisdom of indigenous people from every continent. And also, the challenges we face that connect us to each other and the Earth.
The modern-day storylines address human, spiritual and environmental issues of our time, to create anime stories for children to see, hear and learn – and to Unify young hearts around the globe.
Based on this powerful series, we will create teachable products that include collectible Earth Hero action figures, Moondraker digital games & comic books, episode posters and more. Each product comes with an explanation of what children can do to be a part of the solution to our environmental, spiritual and human conflicts.
And children will learn how they can become Earth Hero Ambassadors. http://www.moondrakeseries.com
5) Leaves on the Wind –
This is our literary program, and it will focus on books that share history and our connection to one another. We will be building selections and creating a plan to distribute them to different venues – libraries, schools, nursing homes, halfway houses, daycares, churches, hospitals.
Two of our own books will begin this program. The Grass Maiden, Sacajawea from our Keepsake Storybook series, with the handmade doll and Awakening, Vol. I from the inspirational series: Embrace the World with Love Words and the World will be Changed.
This book was a winner at the BookFest Awards in 2023. It is a compilation of all those inspirational words that came to me in the night.
We will continue to add many more book selections including our Moon Drake series Moondraker Earth Hero Comics.
And finally,
6) Warrior Woman Spirit Campaign –
Sacajawea was one of the many lost, stolen and abused Indigenous young women from the Ages. These women are still being taken, and many are being murdered. We must never forget them.
Through this campaign we want women to come together and share their stories and their wisdom with other women and girls.
At a time when we seem so far apart, we believe women, as nurturers, caretakers and givers-of-life, will help to change the world by creating a spiritual bridge of awareness to these injustices through their own stories. http://www.warriorwomanspirit.com
7) SpiritWind.SHOP, our online store, is where people can help Humanity Shines fulfill its ongoing mission when they purchase products. Profit from every item in this store goes to a nonprofit cause.
It’s been twenty years since I wrote the first word in the script, Sacajawea, The Windcatcher. It’s been through many edits and transitions…
And this year it finally won two amazing awards. Best Historical Script at the ONIROS Script Awards in New York, and Best Feature Script at the Portland Script Awards in Portland, Oregon.
And also, this year, Humanity Shines Organization became a nonprofit entity. I formed it with my husband, Matthew Fitzpatrick and our daughter, Shawna, and her husband Marc Harris.
I’m reminded of the Genghis Khan quote:
“If you’re afraid don’t do it. If you’re doing it, don’t be afraid.“
In closing, I would like to read the final message from the organization’s business description…
We believe humans are reverently and wonderfully made, and the light we each hold is enough to ignite the flame of love.
We must come together, we must share ourselves, we must remember wisdom from the Ages and teach it to our young.
We must open doors and provide opportunities.
We must tell our stories through words and film and reach our arms around the globe.
We must believe in our potential!
For We are the Light we Seek!
Thank you for inviting me to speak, and I really appreciate what you do for your communities.
Jane L. Fitzpatrick
Executive Director
Humanity Shines Organization 