Leandro’s Don’t Miss List: November 2018
“Independent Lens has a fresh batch of Monday night documentaries as enthralling as any scripted drama.”
“You will be thanking THIRTEEN for giving us a feast of shows this November!
WNET’s very own Leandro Mejia, a self-proclaimed public media superfan, writes a monthly column of his must-see recommendations on THIRTEEN. Check out his suggestions for new and encore programs you won’t want to miss. And if you want to expand your vocabulary, click on the hyperlinked words for a definition.
Independent Lens has a fresh batch of Monday night documentaries as enthralling as any scripted drama. Dawnland (Monday, November 5 at 10 p.m.) examines the egregious abuse of Native American children by the child welfare system. Consider this episode supplementary learning alongside a different PBS program – Native America (November 13 from 8-10 p.m.) – which concludes with the episodes “Cities of the Sky” and “New World Rising” this month.”
Continue reading at Thirteen.
TV BEST BETS
“See how a group of Native and non-Native leaders in Maine came together to acknowledge and address the abuses suffered by Native children in the hands of the child welfare system, illuminating the ongoing crisis of indigenous child removal.”
“See how a group of Native and non-Native leaders in Maine came together to acknowledge and address the abuses suffered by Native children in the hands of the child welfare system, illuminating the ongoing crisis of indigenous child removal.”
Continue reading at Channel Guide.
INDEPENDENT LENS: Dawnland
“The untold story and devastating impacts of Indigenous child removal in the U.S.”
““Dawnland” reveals the untold story of Indigenous child removal in the United States through the first government-endorsed truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) in the nation, tasked with investigating the devastating impact of Maine’s child welfare practices on Native American communities.
With exclusive access to this groundbreaking process and never-before-seen footage, “Dawnland” bears witness to intimate, sacred moments of truth-telling and healing.
Directed by Adam Mazo and Ben Pender-Cudlip, the film premiered on INDEPENDENT LENS in November 2018 as part of Native American Heritage Month programming.
For most of the 20th century, government agents systematically forced Native American children from their homes and placed them with white families.”
Continue reading and listen at KPBS.
“Dawnland” on Independent Lens | November 5
“Follow the First Government-Endorsed Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the United States as Maine Investigates the Devastating Impacts of Native American Child Removal”
“Dawnland reveals the untold story of Indigenous child removal in the United States through the first government-endorsed truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) in the nation, tasked with investigating the devastating impact of Maine’s child welfare practices on Native American communities. With exclusive access to this groundbreaking process and never-before-seen footage, Dawnland bears witness to intimate, sacred moments of truth-telling and healing. Directed by Adam Mazo and Ben Pender-Cudlip, the film premieres on Independent Lens Monday, November 5, 2018, 10:00-11:00 PM as part of Native American Heritage Month programming on PBS.”
Continue reading at WOUB.
RiverRun’s Films with Class Series to Present Free Screenings of “Dawnland”
“Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, “Independent Lens” and RiverRun International Film Festival will present free screenings of “Dawnland” on October 23 at 6 p.m. at the Forsyth County Central Library in Winston-Salem”
“Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, “Independent Lens” and RiverRun International Film Festival will present free screenings of “Dawnland” on October 23 at 6 p.m. at the Forsyth County Central Library in Winston-Salem and on October 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the Bryan Building, Room 104. Both screenings are free and open the public and will be followed by a community discussion.
“Dawnland” shares the untold story of Indigenous child removal in the United States through the first government-endorsed truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) in the nation, tasked with investigating the devastating impact of Maine’s child welfare practices on Native American communities.”
Continue reading at WFDD.
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.
Woods Hole Film Festival is a wrap
Dawnland was a big winner at The Woods Hole Film Festival, taking home the Jury Award for best documentary.
“The Woods Hole Film Festival wrapped up recently after yet another year of movie premieres and panels. More than 100 filmmakers and over 6,000 audience members attended the 27th annual festival.
Among the big winners was “Dawnland,” which won the Jury Award for best documentary. The film, directed by Adam Mazo and Ben Pender-Cudlip , follows the work of Maine’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was established to gather stories from the state’s indigenous people about welfare workers who removed Native American children from their families and placed them in foster care.
Awarded the festival’s best narrative comedy feature was Henry Barrial’s “Driver X,” about a stay-at-home dad who signs up to work for a ride-sharing service.”
Continue reading at The Boston Globe.
The Dark U.S. Legacy Of Ripping Children From Their Families
“The truth and reconciliation process, and “Dawnland,” aim at healing. And, according to Tracy Rector, a Seattle-based media activist of Choctaw and Seminole descent and one of the producers of the film, they had some success.”
“The separation of children from parents now taking place at the southern border is not new in American history.
Slave families were routinely torn apart by owners. And Native American children were removed from their homes, often forcibly, and sent to boarding schools, foster care or adopted out. Carlisle Indian Industrial School, dedicated to “Kill the Indian, Save the Man,” opened in 1879. It was the first of what became a wave of residential schools aimed at assimilating Native people. The effects were shattering and lasted for generations.
A new film, “Dawnland” ― named for the Wabanaki people, whose name means the people of the dawn ― tells the story of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission launched in 2011, commissioned by the state of Maine and five Wabanaki chiefs.”
Continue reading at Huffpost.