Dawnland film screening with panel discussion
The President’s Council on Transforming Lives in partnership with Wabanaki REACH will host the showing of the Award winning Documentary “Dawnland,” A Documentary About Cultural Survival and Stolen Children – The Story of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The documentary film screening will take place as a hybrid event on Tuesday, April 14th 11:00am – 1:00pm. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion.
The in-person location is TBD. Light refreshments will be served. This event is open to all UMA students, staff, faculty, and to the general public. All are welcome.
“In Maine, a historic investigation—the first government-sanctioned truth and reconciliation commission in the United States—begins a bold journey. For over two years, Native and non-Native commissioners travel across Maine. They gather testimony and bear witness to the devastating impact of the state’s child welfare practices on families in Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribal communities. Collectively, these tribes make up the Wabanaki people.” – Adam Mazo / Ben Pender-Cudlip, filmmakers
Dawnland follows the TRC to contemporary Wabanaki communities to witness intimate, sacred moments of truth-telling and healing. With exclusive access to this groundbreaking process and never-before-seen footage, the film reveals the untold narrative of Indigenous child removal in the United States.
A discussion will follow the film and will include Esther Anne, Passamaquoddy, and Penthea Burns, non-Native. Both are among the founders of the truth commission and Wabanaki REACH. “If we can work together in that good way [for the truth commission], in a system of mutual respect, to work for our children, then I think we can work together in anything because nothing is more sacred than our children.” – Esther Anne, founder, Wabanaki REACH
Wabanaki REACH is a non-profit organization that works towards a future when Wabanaki and Maine people join together to acknowledge truth and work collectively toward equity, healing, and positive change through our community education programs. Wabanaki REACH promotes Wabanaki wellbeing and deeply believes in the natural strength and beauty of Wabanaki culture, language and ways of being. www.wabanakireach.org
