Recognizing Indigenous History Through Film
By Shahla Hassan
Every October, the second Monday of the month is Indigenous Peoples Day, which honors Native Americans and their stories. Virginia is home to seven state recognized indigenous tribes. It took 19 years for the development of federal legislation to provide acknowledgement to these tribes, finally gaining recognition in 2018.
In order to restore the rich culture deeply embedded in the land we live on, Brad Brown, a member of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, directs an annual Indigenous film festival: Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival.
In discussing the origination and purpose of the festival, Brown co-hosted a meeting with Dr. Peter Kirkpatrick, the founder of the French film festival and a VCU professor, who inspired and guided him to the creation of the Native American film festival. Dr. Kirkpatrick states that “schools don’t talk about indigenous populations enough.” He taught a Native American film course where, for their final papers, students would be required to interview film directors. He recalled a follow up that he had received from one of the directors: “Jeff Barnaby was so touched when students reached out to him.” For these film directors, being recognized meant more to them than just advancement in their careers– their stories were finally being heard.
Dr. Kirkpatrick praised Brown saying he was a great leader and the festival he worked so hard to develop was the “most culturally enriching experience.” Despite a challenging beginning, the festival has turned into an unforgettable experience for people regardless of whether they have Native American ancestry. Implementing this event into the Honors program could become a window into discussing our countries past– the good and the bad. Schools tend to shy away from dark histories, like the atrocities committed against the Indigenous people, but it is critical in understanding the concept of colonization when analyzing current events. The Honors college can offer classes similar to Dr. Kirkpatrick’s course, and this knowledge will create a safer environment for this underrepresented group.