American Native is an in-depth documentary that dives into a long-standing struggle along the border of New York and New Jersey. In the mountains just thirty minutes from Manhattan, a nation struggles for national recognition. Since their first attempts in the 1970s, the Ramapough Indians have been petitioning the Bureau of Indian Affairs for federal recognition. The last holdouts of what the federal government dubbed the Delaware Nation, the Ramapough have faced a unique and multi-faceted oppression. Most of the accepted narrative surrounding the Ramapough nation lies in half-forgotten slander about ‘inbred mountain people’ which was recycled by a minor historian performing a flawed anthropological study. His book, which is taken as fact by many Americans and the BIA, diminishes the Ramapough’s native heritage by claiming they are the descendants of escaped slaves play acting as natives. This statement is seen as a perfect resolution to many white people, but to the Ramapough it is a bald-faced insult. American Native follows the lives and political struggles of a handful of tribe members as they attempt to gain state tribal recognition in New Jersey.
This fantastic documentary is an absolute must see for anyone interested in Native American cultures and Indian law in the US. Excellently researched, meticulously structured, and brutally honest, American Native shows a clear sympathy for the long misunderstood Ramapough tribe. We watch as their kin in Oklahoma stand against their attempts at recognition. It is surreal to watch a tribe which has lost so much of their culture attempt to deny their kin living in their ancestral homeland a chance to access federal recognition and the funding for cultural preservation, advancement, and healthcare that brings. The Ramapough maintain their traditional language, arts, and faith, but a lack of clear documentation of the oral culture is used by the BIA to deny them recognition as a nation. Despite slander, misinformation, misunderstanding, and rivalry, the Ramapough remain steadfast in their support of their tribe and nation. Highly Recommended. Editor’s Choice. 5* (J. Zimmerman)
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
American Native belongs on documentary shelves.
What type of film series does this documentary fit in?
Series about the American legal system, Native Americans, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs would benefit from the addition of American Native.
What type of instructors would use this video?
Professors of Native American history, literature, and cultural studies would find the most obvious use in American Native, but federal administration and anthropology students would also find value in this film.
What is the retail price and/or Public Performance License fee?
24.99/$50.00