Film screenings to feature American Indian heritage

Fredonia, N.Y. — November 3, 2008 — Two Native American films will be screened on the SUNY Fredonia campus during November.   The screenings are hosted by the Native American Student Union and the Native American SUNY Western Consortium as part of National American Indian Heritage Month. All students, faculty, staff and the general public are invited to attend the free screenings.

The first film, Trudell, will screen on November 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Jewett Hall, room 101. In Trudell, filmmaker Heather Rae presents the engaging life story of Native American poet-prophet-activist John Trudell and his heartfelt message of active personal responsibility to the earth, all of its inhabitants and our descendents.

The second film, Our Spirits Don’t Speak English: Indian Boarding School, will screen on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Jewett Hall, room 101. A documentary, the film is told from a Native American perspective and uncovers the dark history of the U.S. government policy, giving a voice to the countless Indian children forced through the system.

“These films provide historical backgrounds that have created life constructs that impact Native Americans to this day,” says Cheryl John, coordinator of the Native American Consortium. “They are both educational and riveting true events from the Native American perspective. As co-advisor for the Native American Student Union club, I’m proud of their choice of documentaries. The films compliment SUNY Fredonia’s mission of encompassing diversity in education.”

The Native American Student Union (NASU) provides and promotes community activities, public forums and panel discussions for the student body, faculty and staff on the topic of Native American perspectives.

The Native American SUNY Western Consortium is one of two consortia created by the State University of New York (SUNY) to address the higher education needs of Native American students and communities. The Western Consortium, based at SUNY Fredonia, is a network of college campus personnel, organizations and Native American students, families, and communities.