Dawnland

PRESENTED BY: Meaningful Movies Olympia
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6:30 PM, Thursday, November 21, 2019 PST
Location: Olympia (click for map)

“Dawnland” is an Emmy award-winning film about cultural survival and stolen children.

For most of the 20th century, government agents systematically forced Native American children from their homes and placed them with white families. As recently as the 1970’s, one in four Native children nationwide were living in non-Native foster care, adoptive homes, or boarding schools. Many children experienced devastating emotional and physical harm by adults who mistreated them and tried to erase their cultural identity.

Now, for the first time, they are being asked to share their stories. In Maine, the first official “truth and reconciliation commission” in the United States begins a historic investigation. “Dawnland” goes behind the scenes as this historic body grapples with difficult truths, redefines reconciliation, and charts a new course for state and tribal relations.

Riveting… testimony is emotional, tear-provoking, and grist for introspection. Turns out this reconciliation business is delicate and difficult-to-achieve terrain.” – BOSTON GLOBE

A powerfully illuminating film — a history lesson that you’re ashamed to have never learned but whose truths you’ll likely never forget.” – CROSSCUT

Posters for the screening of “Dawnland”:

Sponsors: Learning Right Relations

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2384262321888856/

Release Year: 2018

Running Time: 86 minutes

Director: Adam Mazo and Ben Pender-Cudlip

2 Comments so far

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  1. COmac
    #1 COmac 14 November, 2019, 14:01

    My grandfather was a Mountain Ute. He was forced to go to a white school since he was 12 from the reservation. He hated it so much he lied about his age and joined the Canadian Army in WW I at the age of 16.

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    • Libby
      Libby 16 November, 2019, 23:12

      So many individuals have been deeply wounded by the terribly misguided, even cruel policies that tore families and cultures apart. When will we ever learn, when will we ever learn?

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