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Show Thursday, December 7, Teen actors learning about heritage MARY TOLAN Arizona Daily Sun By - TUBA CITY, Ariz. ( AP) Spending time in the shadow of cottonwood trees, dwarfed by towering red rocks of the Navajo Reservation teen-agcan bring a peace and sense of self That's not always possible in the helter-skeltpace of a major metropolitan area. Inner peace is one of the themes of "The Secret of Lizard Woman," a special being filmed on the Navajo Reservation. For two Native American teen-agein the production being shot near Tuba City, the experience has been a way to reflect upon their heritage. er er rs Alan Sacks, executive producer of the shoot, said the story mixes mystery with a search for oneself. "I read the script and wanted to do this because A, it's educational and B, it's entertaining. It's a mystery, an adventure," said Sacks, of Alan Sacks Productions. "But the underlying story is dealing with culture finding roots and educating the viewer about Native Americans, especially Navajo values." "The Secret of Lizard Woman," written by Matthew Ball and Mark Greenhalgh is being shot this week about seven miles west of Tuba City, near Moenave. Lizard Woman is played by Geri Keams, a Navajo storyteller whose book, "Grandmother Spider Brings the Sun," was published by Flagstaff's Northland Publishing. Alan Sacks Productions also used a variety of locals, including hiring several Navajos to apprentice in various production positions. "For the main character, along the way he gets involved and he gets to know himself," Sacks said. "For the actor himself, he's also learning his heritage." Bradd Bufanda, 12, plays the part of Todd, a ful one for him, too. "Even though my family lived in L.A., my father always showed us the way as we were growing up," Fred Bufanda said about Navajo traditions. His father was half Navajo and half Apache, and his mother was Mexican. Fred Bufanda married an American of Italian descent. "Over the years I learned a lot about my heritage. I read a lot of books, but it wasn't until my son got involved in projects like this that I really could look at it in a different way. "I guess there is a full circle. I tell my son, 'This is part of you also."' For another young actor, the experience young Navajo who is being raised by his mother in Los Angeles. When he starts to run with a tough crowd, she sends him to his uncle on the Navajo Reservation. Her wish is to get Todd back in touch with his roots. When Todd arrives in Arizona, his uncle is nowhere to be found, and so begins a kids' kind of Tony Hillerman mystery. According to Bradd, he fits the character perfectly. "My attitude is I'm down and cool and nothing really matters," Bradd said while on a break from the shoot earlier this week. Behind him, has also been positive. "This story is so real. It's the best show I've done," said Crystle Lightning, 14, a Cree Indian who lives in L.A. and plays the role of Keah, a Navajo girl. "It's not like all the movies about stories from a long time ago, like Geronimo. It's about Native Americans, but it's set today. It's what people want to know." In the show, Keah goes through a Kinaalda ceremony, which celebrates a girl coming into "For the main character, along the way he gets involved and he gets to know himself. For the actor himself, he's also learning his heritage." Alan Sacks, executive producer womanhood. And Crystle will have a real Navajo Kinaalda not long after the shoot. "I've had a Cree Kinaalda, and I've been invited to have a Navajo one, too," she said. While Crystle and Bradd play a vital part in the filming, that doesn't mean they get away without doing their school work. "Whenever I'm going on a production, I always get all my school work in advance," Crystle said. The two child stars and their understudies work with the production teacher, a woman whose job is to keep them on task with their school work, as well as to make sure they are treated well and protected from negative other actors in traditional Navajo garb were surrounded by tall microphone booms, makeup artists and prop folks. Bradd said he usually can be found in L.A. "But today I'm wearing the traditional Navajo outfit and I like that," Bradd said. "Like Todd, I'm starting to think about some e. stuff." Bradd, who is part Navajo, wore a traditional Navajo ribbon shirt, jeans, black western hat and boots for the final scene of the movie. Bradd's father, who traveled with his son to Arizona, said the experience has been a power- - 1995 THE DAILY HERALD, Provo, Utah Page B9 Plan to expand resort draws ire of activists He EnviVAIL, Colo. (AP) ronmentalists are criticizing the U.S. Forest Service for its handling of the proposed 1,000-acr- e expansion of Vail Mountain. Rocky Smith, forest ecology coordinator for the Col- said identifying the expansion as "the preferred alternative gives people something to comment on." He said he did the same thing in dealing with the proposed expansion at Snowmass, but substantially changed the plan after orado Environmental Coalition, said he is "angry at the way the Forest Service has handled this so far. Vail public hearings. "That was based on public input, not on new scientific information," LaSalle added. His decision to deny the Aspen Skiing Co. summer use of Burnt Mountain has put the ski company's expansion plan on hold. LaSalle's decision on Vail will be announced this spring. Public meetings will be held Wednesday and Thursday in Vail. "All alternatives brought up by the environmentalists have been examined," he said. already is the second largest ski area in North America, but they won't be happy until they have runs on the moon." The expansion, scheduled to open for the 1999 World Alpine Championship, would increase the likelihood of bowl skiing early and late each season. Lying opposite the 2,700-acr- e Back Bowls, the "Super Vail" area faces north, holding the snowfall better than bowls. the existing south-fac- e $20-milli- Gene Lorig, president of Concerned Citizens of Eagle County, warned, "The issue of growth in the county has to be looked at in all its ramifications, whatever the project." The town of Vail has endorsed the expansion on condition Vail Associates take, steps to make sure it doesn't draw more skiers during peak periods when the area's infrastructure is overtaxed. would The expansion increase the resort's skiable terrain by 25 percent. Environmental groups say the agency essentially has approved the plan by saying it is the preferred alternative of several proposed for the area. Sonny LaSalle, White River National Forest supervisor, said no decision has been made. 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