FX '30 Days' show to feature Navajo Nation

<i>Courtesy photo</i><br>
Morgan Spurlock (back row, second fron left) sits with his Navajo host family, the Dennisons. Top row (left to right): Kyle, Morgan Spurlock, Deborah and Karl. Bottom row: Kassidy and Devyn.

<i>Courtesy photo</i><br> Morgan Spurlock (back row, second fron left) sits with his Navajo host family, the Dennisons. Top row (left to right): Kyle, Morgan Spurlock, Deborah and Karl. Bottom row: Kassidy and Devyn.

TOHATCHI, N.M. - Renowned Navajo rodeo champions, Karl and Deborah Jackson-Dennison and family hosted documentary screenwriter and director, Morgan Spurlock at their ranch near Tohatchi, N.M. on the Navajo Nation last summer for an upcoming TV episode.

The Dennison family will be featured in "Life on an Indian Reservation," a 30 Days series on the FX Network on July 8 at 10 p.m.

Morgan Spurlock caught a glimpse of Navajo life by living in a Navajo hogan without running water and experiences firsthand the difficulty of finding suitable employment on the reservation.

Unlike most reality shows, 30 Days generates awareness of real life issues and situations. Undertaking unique situations is format spun from Spurlock's award-winning documentary "Super Size Me" (Critics Award winner and 2005 Academy Award nomination).

Other episodes include living on minimum wage and going to jail. He was compelled to film Life on an Indian Reservation because like most Americans, he knew very little about Native Americans.

Deborah Jackson-Dennison recalls, "At first it was exciting to have a movie star in our home, but after a couple of weeks Morgan became part of the landscape. It was a great experience especially seeing ourselves in Star Magazine. But, I certainly hope he doesn't forget us, especially his Navajo grandmother, my mother-in-law".

A 21st century Navajo family, the Dennisons are very modern yet traditional.

"It's wonderful to see this close knit family transition between traditional Navajo and a contemporary lifestyle with such poise", said production consultant Elsa Johnson. "And, it is obvious Karl and Deborah passed on to their children what their parents were most passionate about: family, education, ranching, giving your personal best and spirituality."

Deborah's parents, the late Dr. Dean C. and Stephanie Jackson, made remarkable strides in Indian education while raising a couple of winning Indian rodeo cowgirls, and a late son who became a physician. Karl's parents, Annie and her late husband, Eugene Dennison, are third generation Navajo ranchers who at one time farmed thousands of sheep and cattle.

Karl is employed by Diné College and Deborah is superintendent at Ganado Unified School District. Their son Kyle, a steer wrestler, graduated from Prescott College in 2007 and is now employed with Wells Fargo Bank. Daughter Devin is on a rodeo scholarship at New Mexico Highlands University, and daughter Kassidy attends Ganado High School. Both girls have garnered national Indian, high school and college rodeo titles.

For more information on 30 Days "Life on an Indian Reservation" contact Scott Seomin, FX Network or visit www.fxnetwork.com for air date.

Elsa Johnson, a Navajo consultant based in Scottsdale, provides cultural consulting for television and feature film productions. Two of her notable Hollywood clients are Lock and Key Productions who produces ABC-TV Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Actual Reality Pictures, producer of 30 Days series, and Old Post Films.

She collaborated on the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Pinon episode that garnered 2007 season's highest ratings. Johnson is currently seeking production funds for two new film projects.

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