13 May 2025
2025-05-13 14:12:00
Thank you again for your support! I’m excited to share that Echoes of Wide Ruins, a historical documentary I’ve directed about a Navajo trading post and my grandfather’s life there. I will have a special screening in Safford on Wednesday, May 15 at 6:00 PM at the Allen Stargazer 5.
This hometown screening is not only a celebration of local history—it’s also a fundraiser to help bring this project to a wider audience. If anyone feels inspired by the film, I would be incredibly grateful for contributions to help with post-production and film festival submissions.
Event details and tickets:
Donate to the fundraiser:
Short Synopsis:
Echoes of Wide Ruins tells the story of John Rieffer, a Navajo trader raising a family at the Wide Ruins Trading Post in northeastern Arizona. Through home video, interviews, and archival material, the film explores his tumultuous legal battle with the IRS during a heated political climate in the 1970s. This film also celebrates the enduring beauty and cultural legacy of Navajo rug weaving and the history of the Wide Ruins Trading Post
Warm regards,
Daniel Ruiz Smith
Director, Echoes of Wide Ruins
(928) 228-7271