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6/27/2008 6:11:00 PM

FX '30 Days' show to feature Navajo Nation

Submitted by Elsa Johnson
Special to the Observer

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.