GRANITE FALLS, Minnesota, March 14, 2024 - The next episode of Postcards features Raine Cloud, a talented beadworker; Karina Kafka, a young filmmaker from Ortonville; and an excerpt from Pioneer PBS’s new Willmar 8 documentary. “Beadwork, Filmmaker, Willmar 8” airs on Pioneer PBS Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. and repeats the following Sunday at 7 p.m. and Monday at 1:30 p.m.
Raine Cloud has spent most of her life studying and creating beadwork. As a descendant of Taoyateduta, also known as Little Crow, she is inspired by her Dakota heritage and, recently, is most interested in creating beadwork for her daughter’s dancing regalia.
Karina Kafka of Ortonville, Minnesota, made her first documentary called “A Mother’s Love,” which she worked on while studying at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, about missing and murdered indigenous women.
“I really enjoyed getting to know the subject and building that connection…and just learning more about her life, her perspectives,” said Kafka when reflecting about her experience.
“Eight Women Together Alone” is a documentary following the influential women of the Willmar 8 who were eight employees of Citizens National Bank who became a media sensation in 1977 when they walked off their jobs in America’s first bank strike. Their two-year long fight for equal rights and equal pay is still felt today–five decades later. This new Pioneer PBS special revisits the story of the Willmar 8 to see how they are contemplating their legacy.
During an interview Teren Novotny, one of the Willmar 8, said, “Other people gave up on us, or failed us. We never gave up.”
Lee Grant, an Oscar-winning actress and director of the 1981 documentary “Willmar 8,” was interviewed from her New York apartment about these women and their story.
“Their quiet kind of bravery, and this kind of comradery they had was the most important element,” said Grant.
Credits: Executive Producer Dana Conroy, Videographers/Editors Ben Dempcy, Kristofor Gieske
About Postcards
Postcards is an award-winning art, culture and history program, produced by Dana Conroy with videography and editing by Kristofor Gieske and Ben Dempcy. The program is made possible by contributions from the voters of Minnesota through a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The 2024 season is made possible by funding from Shalom Hill Farm, Explore Alexandria Tourism, Lake Region Arts Council, KRAM 96.7, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies and members of Pioneer PBS.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing stories from rural Minnesota with the world. Pioneer PBS is headquartered in Granite Falls, Minnesota, with towers in Appleton, Worthington and Fergus Falls. Pioneer PBS reaches more than a million people in rural areas and small towns in western Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas and northern Iowa. Pioneer PBS is honored to be your television station—the only station in western Minnesota telling your stories and raising your voices into the media landscape. For more information visit pioneer.org or call 800-726-3178.
