"Navajo Highways": An Interview with Creator Pete Sands
- FLAPPER PRESS
- 15 hours ago
- 9 min read
By Elizabeth Gracen:
When my great friend Linda Miller told me about her work as a producer on the new children's educational series Navajo Highways, I knew instantly that it was a project she was proud of. After a quick look at the series' trailer, I asked if I could reach out and interview the show's creator, Pete Sands, to talk about his passionate pursuit to bring multi-generational connection to the Navajo Nation to learn from and preserve their language and history.
Pete Sands is a multi-talented creative force with a focused mission—a singer-songwriter, musician, filmmaker, and actor born and raised on the Navajo-Indian reservation in southern Utah. His creative roots run deep, his endeavors are varied, with a passionate belief in "connection" between people, with the earth, and with cultural history. Named one of Time Magazine's 2020 Guardians of the Year for his work in helping the people of the Navajo Nation during the pandemic, Sands's innovative curiosity and open-hearted approach continue to power his artistic expression no matter the medium. With a music career that originated from acoustic performances at open-mic nights, he soon recorded his first EP, "Dirt Dance Floor," with his band The Drifters. Catching the eye of writer/director Taylor Sheridan, Sands wrote music and made cameo appearances in the wildly popular series Yellowstone. Whether directing powerful film projects such as The Hurting Song (a documentary about MMIW—Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women), returning to the studio to create more music for film, or tackling the multi-generational language gap in the Navajo Nation, Sands is just getting started, his eye ever on the horizon, his heart full of love and appreciation for the indigenous people of this country.
I reached out to Pete Sands to talk creativity and his latest endeavor, Navajo Highways!
Please Meet Pete Sands of Navajo Highways!
Elizabeth Gracen: Pete, thank you so much for taking the time to tell Flapper Press about your outstanding new project, Navajo Highways. I’ve read that the idea for the series came to you by way of a couple of fortuitous experiences that really started your creative wheels turning. Your crusade to educate and preserve the language and culture of the Navajo Nation through this series is personal and powerful. Could you briefly share with our readers the inspiration for the series?
Pete Sands: There were many things the COVID pandemic taught us about ourselves as a nation, but most importantly on the Navajo Nation it showed us that our Diné language was in more trouble than we realized. “Stay at home” orders brought together elders with their grandkids, bringing out the language obstacle that had been cloaked for quite some time. Elders who mainly spoke the Navajo language couldn’t communicate with the younger generation, many of whom can’t speak nor understand the language. That is the concern I soon realized. I thought to myself, how can I do my part in helping jump start the interest in young ones wanting to learn the language once again? So I thought, “Puppets!!!”
EG: Of course! You can't go wrong with puppets! So, Americans, in general, are relatively ignorant of this country’s history, both good and bad. The communication gap that you witnessed between generations in the Navajo Nation is indicative of the bigger picture of human beings dropping the important links that bind us together. We don’t learn from the past, and we don’t grasp the importance of the valuable wisdom that exists in those layers of history that can inform our lives and our futures. Why do you think that cultural education is just as important as general education?
PS: Cultural education is rooted with the earth, and we have lost touch with the earth. In that sense, it’s much more important to cultivate our relationship with nature. We can’t keep misusing our natural resources, because it's a finite source. We will run out of it. And in our desperation for minerals and energy, we forget that humanity can survive on much less or just enough.
EG: Yes, at this point, there are so many problems facing human beings. Problems of our own making—the climate crisis and the depletion of natural resources sit firmly atop the list. The issues are so big that it's easy to feel helpless. I'd say that your keen observation about the generational language gap in the Navajo Nation, and then your swift action to create Navajo Highways, is an inspiring example of how a passion for doing something positive and helpful is possible. From what I've read about you, that applies to everything you do! How do think (hope) Navajo Highways will step into the gap to bring the generations together and help impart the invaluable wisdom that needs to be passed on?
PS: Humor and humanity. Got to remind ourselves we are a spoke in the wheel of many others, but the wheel can’t turn unless we all hold it together and keep us moving forward. A good laugh can cure a bad day. Remembering that we are all just humans, but it was humans who built pyramids and temples. We are capable of creating extraordinary things no matter where we come from. The Navajo people have endured many hardships, but we have endured. Being able to laugh and talk to one another. Remembering why we have things the way they are. The female traditional home is round like a woman’s stomach when she is pregnant. It represents the cycle of life. The circle of communication. Represents the mind of the human, round so thoughts go round and round so we don’t get stuck in one place. We must keep moving forward.
EG: How important are role models, and do you consider yourself one?
PS: Role models offer hope. To strive beyond our means. To reach for things that once seemed impossible. They show us that nothing is unattainable. We need role models to show us that we can change. That even the hardest storms will pass and a brighter day is always on the horizon. My puppets are role models. I don’t consider myself a role model. I hope Navajo Highways inspires real role models to come up and lead the way for our younger generation.
EG: When my kid was small, they really enjoyed watching Mustard Pancakes, which aired on PBS. It was a simple production populated by a houseful of puppets who learned some of life’s basic lessons through their experiences. When I saw the trailer for Navajo Highways, I immediately thought of that series’ innocence and easy accessibility for young, formative minds. There’s something about a puppet that does the trick! Can you share a little about how you developed the characters of Sadie, Grandmother Sally, Cousin Ash, Uncle Al, and any of the other characters who move through the episodes? Are any of these characters based on people in your own life?
PS: They are all based on people in my real life. Grandma Sally is based on my mom, who is also named Sally. She is the single biggest supporter I have had since day one. Without her, there would be no Navajo Highways. Uncle Al is named after my dad, who was named Albert. Sadie is based on an older sister of mine. Ash is short for ashkii, which means "boy" in Diné. The Trading Post owner, Old Storm, is based on an old man I once spent time with when I was a child. He was a real tough nugget, but taught me a lot. His grandson, Charlie, is based on a school bully I had as a kid.
EG: Your majority-Indigenous production team created six episodes for the first season of Navajo Highways, and you received funding from the Navajo Nation and the New Mexico Public Education Department. Coming from an independent production background myself, I know the very real challenges of working with a small budget and the time constraints that exist to make the magic happen. I’m sure there were a lot of lessons learned! I’d love for you to talk a bit about the process of bringing Navajo Highways to life and the nuts and bolts of puppetry creation and the team who helped you do it. Shout outs to everyone you want to mention!
PS: It was tough. I had been on TV and film productions before and had seen the stress that the directors, producers, and writers had during and after production. I now understand the lengthy and tiresome process of it all, but I also know the rewards of seeing it all come together. Which is a feeling like none other.
I started Navajo Highways as a web series. Making short videos for the internet. In 2019, I learned about a puppet maker who lived in Los Angeles. After trying to make a few puppets of my own, I realized I needed a professional, so I reached out to her. And thankfully, she took me up on my offer and made me my first four puppets. I then soon started presenting in schools on the Navajo reservation. From there, it started to gain traction. Daryl Begay, an old friend of mine from my time on Yellowstone, had always believed that I had a story to tell. So when he saw my work with the puppets, he immediately understood what I was going for. So he told me to keep working at it, and he would find a way to help me turn this into a TV show. So I kept at it and soon enough, Daryl reached back out and said he found a way to make the TV show. Long story short, the New Mexico Department of Education and the Navajo Nation helped us bring the show to life. Then we brought on producers Linda Miller and Director of Photography Harrison Reynolds. They both have years of experience in filmmaking, and I owe a lot to them for making this process as easy as it could be for a first-time director like me. I learned a lot from them both, as I did from the entire film crew. Everyone taught me something, and they all contributed to bring my vision to life. And for that, I owe everyone on the film crew, production crew, post production, to the community members who offered up their homes and land for us to shoot on. There’s just so much to be thankful for, and I’ll never stop being grateful. We all made something special, and I’m very proud that I got to do it with this crew.
EG: The series targets pre-K through third grade. I know it’s hard to get into the mind of a young kid, but what do you hope your young viewers take away from the series—or anyone else who sees it?
PS: What I hope the young ones get from it is that they understand that there is a place for them in this world. That being Navajo still means something special and powerful. North America is indigenous. There are deep cultural roots all around us. Footsteps from our ancestors are all around. Culture is important because it helps maintain your society and keeps a record of your history. We all come from tribal and cultural backgrounds. We all originated from a specific place at a specific time for an unknown reason we came to be. But the question is not why we are here.
The question is what do we do with the time that we have? Do we spend our lives hiding from one another? Do we spend our time hurting one another? Do we spend our time trying to impede our will upon others simply because we don’t understand him or their ways? We all have a purpose here. Puppetry and storytelling is mine. What is yours?
EG: I read somewhere that you have aspirations to expand this series into a larger concept of Native Highways. Please share your ideas about widening the lens of your ideas to connect and educate more people about different tribes in the Native American community.
PS: Navajo Highways has the opportunity and potential to reach beyond the Navajo Nation. There are many other indigenous tribes that faced the dilemma that we are facing. And indigenous peoples' roots are steeped in storytelling. That’s how we keep our history. So they can reach beyond Navajo borders and help inspire other tribes. Then we will have gone beyond anything I had ever dreamed of for Navajo Highways. I have maybe one more season in me before I hand off the reins to others who can push for Navajo Highways to keep on going. It was never my intention to keep this for myself. It’s always been for the people, because without the people, none of this would work.
EG: I’ve just been watching some of your Youtube videos from your debut album, “Dirt Dance Floor.” Fantastic! Your music has been featured in several episodes of Yellowstone as well, so I’m hoping that your director/producer role hasn’t slowed down your music-making. Are you still writing and performing?
PS: I have not performed in a very long time. Music is what got me started in the film business, so I owe a lot to my guitar and my songwriting. I still write songs from time to time. Mostly for Navajo Highways and my daughters. But that itch to return to the stage is always there, and you never know. You might see me grace the stage one more time at some place.
EG: What’s next in your music career?
PS: My music career is aimed at making music for films. I would like to get into the studio once more and record an album—which I think I will do this year with some friends of mine in Alabama. It’s time to get back in there and make some more magic. Music is always there with me. I owe a lot to it. I can never truly walk away from it because it was the first thing that made me believe in myself.
EG: Pete, thanks so much for your time, and good luck with all of your ventures. Please share any news and information about how people can find out even more about you and your new series. Thank you!
PS: Well, you can find Navajo Highways on all the socials, and keep a lookout for new music and new film projects on the horizon. Be good to one another.
Elizabeth Gracen is the owner of Flapper Press & Flapper Films.
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