WATCH: FIRST LIGHT
A review of First Light that finds the film “quiet and informative, carried by testimonials from tribal leaders, academics, and survivors of these culturally oppressive programs.” “First Light tells the story of the systematic displacement of the Wabanaki people and what the state of Maine did to help them heal.”
“‘Imagine you’re about to have a little one, the love that you have for that little one. Imagine somebody outside of your family you don’t even know making claims on your little one. They don’t like the way you live and they’re going to take your little one by force. Imagine what the loss is when this is not just your family, but your entire community.” gkisedtanamoogk
This is is the subject of First Light, a short documentary by Adam Mazo in collaboration with the Upstander Project. The film examines how the native Wabanaki people of Maine were subjected to discriminatory child welfare practices and how the state, through The Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission, worked towards acknowledging those practices as wrong, quantified the effects of the discriminatory practices, and created space for people to share their stories.”
Continue reading at The Take Magazine.
Dawnland selected to participate in Good Pitch 2016 in New York
We're honored that our feature film Dawnland is among seven projects selected by BRITDOC for Good Pitch 2016!
ICTMN Exclusive: New Film Documents Maine’s Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission
First Light, the new documentary film that explores the historic Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare TRC, is making its world debut today on ICTMN.
“First Light, the new independent documentary film that explores the historic Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC), is making its world debut today on Indian Country Today Media Network. According to the film’s directors, Adam Mazo and Ben Pender-Cudlip, the short documentary film examines the historic collaboration between the five Wabanaki tribes and the state of Maine in response to the past abuses within the state’s child welfare system.
The first of its kind in U.S. History, the Maine TRC was established in 2012 in an agreement between Governor Paul LePage and chiefs from the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians, the Penobscot Indian Nation, and the Passamaquoddy at Sipayik and Indian Township.”
Continue reading at Indian Country Today.
New Film "First Light" Released Today
FIRST LIGHT FREE TO STREAM ON UPSTANDER PROJECT WEBSITE
Today the Upstander Project is pleased to announce the premiere of its new short documentary film, First Light. This 13-minute film is part of a series anchored by our upcoming feature film Dawnland, slated for released in 2017.
We are releasing First Light today in recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day, also known as Columbus Day. We chose today because we support efforts to transform the holiday into a celebrating of Indigenous Peoples, instead of one that celebrates a person known for bringing violence and slavery to the land we now call North America.
We welcome your comments, questions, and reflections here and on Facebook, pinterest, and instagram.
First Light Preview
Watch a preview of our new film, First Light!
Today the Upstander Project is releasing the preview of First Light, the debut film in the Dawnland series, which is anchored by the feature film Dawnland slated for release in early 2017.
First Light independently documents the work of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the first such task force in US history to investigate issues important to Native Americans. The commission was dedicated to uncovering and acknowledging the truth about what happened to Wabanaki children and families involved with the child welfare system.
We welcome your comments, reflections, and questions.
New Learning Resources
We are happy to share new learning resources to accompany our new film, First Light.
The First Light learning resources are featured on the new upstanderproject.org which includes our new film, First Light, the debut film in the Dawnland series.
New First Light learning resources released on the freshly redesigned Upstander Project website
We are happy to share new learning resources to accompany our new film, First Light.
The First Light learning resources are featured on the new upstanderproject.org which includes our film, First Light, the debut film in the Dawnland series. The preview for First Light is being released on Thursday October 1st and the film is being released on Monday October 12th, Indigenous Peoples' Day. You can pre-order First Light right now here. Sign up here to be notified when the film is released.
The learning resources for First Light connect teachers and students to primary source documents and discussion questions so they can deepen their understanding of both the brutal and disturbing history of settler colonialism that began with the invasion of Native peoples’ homeland, and government policies that aimed to force Native people to stop being who they are. These resources are central to Upstander Project's teacher workshops and classroom presentations, and will be revised as they are beta-tested with teachers and in classrooms across the United States.