Chaske in Arizona

Courtesy photo
Tao Etpison, Gilson Wash District Councilman, welcomes Chaske Spencer (“New Moon”) during the recent filming of “Shouting Secrets” taking place in Globe, Ariz.

Globe — While filming the movie, “Shouting Secrets,” with the production and cast situated near the downtown area, Native American Sioux Actor, Chaske Spencer (Sam Uley of “New Moon”), was made welcome by the Gilson Wash District Councilman, Tao Etpison.

Filming of the feature movie began after April 26, and Spencer is playing the lead role of Wesley Bishnik in “Shouting Secrets.” The movie is about a half-breed Indian who, when his mother falls ill, is forced to look at his failures to breach the confines of reservation life. Spencer is playing the role of a successful young writer who lives in Los Angeles.

California and after ten years is called back to his Native American background to tend to his ailing mother.

Gil Birmingham plays Cal, the father of Wesley Bishnik (played by Spencer).

“Shouting Secrets” is a film from the creative team of Joke Film Productions, Producer/Director, Korinna Sehringer (“Survivor”) and Producer, Ueli JosefBollag.

In an interview with Indian Country Today, Spencer was quick to explain the water problem on the Sioux Reservation.

“The current water system is outdated and operating at capacity, leaving the tribe no room for economic expansion and preventing its housing authority from building new homes.”



“To build new water infrastructure is estimated to cost over $500 million dollars, this was promised to the Sioux People over 50 years ago and this allocation would put a long-term solution in place and give the Sioux People an opportunity to prosper.”

“Without water, the most basic building block of life and society, the people of the Lakota Sioux Reservation will have little hope of impacting their situation in a way where they may prosper and thrive.”

“Since the late 1950’s, the tribe has been forced to move from their original tribal headquarters, known as the Old Agency on Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe at the river bottom.”

“Tribal leaders during this time built schools, a hospital and police department utilizing their own tribal dollars. This was done to make way for the Dam to make Hydro Power for the United States Government. The precious resource of water is utilized to generate billions of dollars worth of electricity for the United States government.”

“Currently, without water infrastructure, they cannot build new homes and cannot build on any new development. The system is keeping an impoverished nation, impoverished,”concluded Spencer.

Councilman Etpison pointed out, “Those comments are somewhat similar to what happened to our Apache ancestors at Old San Carlos when they were forced to move by the United States government in the early days of Old San Carlos. They built Coolidge Dam which was named after Calvin Coolidge, who was the United States President during that time. It appears that was done, just to generate electricity to benefit communities other than the San Carlos Apaches.”

“Moreover, water is the essence of life and we need to have as much support generated as possible to help preserve what’s left of our precious water.”

“I applaud Chaske Spencer for his brilliant career, his passion for reducing poverty, creating sustainable communities and especially for having a voice in Indian Country.”

“He is definitely a man after my own heart.”

In 2010, Spencer is part of the cast in “Eclipse,” as he was in 2009 in “New Moon,” playing the role of Sam Uley, the leader of the wolfpack and had to gain 15 pounds for his role. He and the other members of the wolfpack ate like their characters, fueling upon 7 protein meals a day.

In 2005, he was in the Steven Spielberg movie, “Into the West,” and in 2004, he was in “Red Dead Revolver.” In 2003, he played a role in “Dreamkeeper,” and in 2002, he was in the movie, “Skins”.

Spencer was born in Oklahoma and graduated from Clearwater Valley High School. Both of his parents are education instructors and he attended college at Lewis Clark State College for a year before pursuing his acting career.

He is single and enjoys sky diving, new music, film, Native American culture, politics, world issues, travel, books and people. 

Source