November 12, 2018 | Laemmle Music Hall | 7:45pm – 10:00pm
FILM SYNOPSIS
The powerful and landmark documentary “The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code” is a result of a joint effort by two Indigenous filmmakers, Sheldon Wolfchild (Dakota) and Steven Newcomb (Shawnee, Lenape). The film is based on Newcomb’s more than thirty years of research and his book Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery (Fulcrum, 2008). Largely narrated by Cree singer songwriter Buffy Sainte Marie, the movie is an exposé of a little known part of history:
The world of Christendom during the fifteenth, sixteenth, and later centuries claimed to have a God-given right of domination in relation to lands where non-Christians (“infidels,” “heathens,” and “savages”) were living. Based on this claim of a divine right of domination and dehumanization, the U.S. Supreme Court defined the land title of Native nations as a “mere right of occupancy” subject to a U.S. doctrine of Christian discovery and domination.
Eminent theologian Dr. Luis Rivera-Pagán is interviewed about his book A Violent Evangelism: The Religious and Political Conquest of the Americas (1992). He talks about the devastating effects of dehumanization, which he calls, “the absolute devaluation of one’s being.” This speaks volumes about the cause of genocide, the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in Canada, and other manifestations of the domination of Indigenous women elsewhere.
Birgil Kills Straight, a Headman of the Oglala Lakota Nation, provides insight into the traditional wisdom and teachings of the Seven Laws of the Oceti Sakowin. The traditional teachings of original nations and peoples provide a means of ending the domination system.
IN PERSON: Steven Newcomb
Run time: 60 mins.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmwK8n2zC3Q
Director: Sheldon Wolfchild
Producer: Steven Newcomb
*WHAT: * Film Program
*WHERE:* Laemmle Music Hall | 9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
*WHEN:* November 12, 2018
6:30pm – Media Check-In
7:00pm – Red Carpet Arrivals; Interviews
7:45pm to 10:00pm – Screening |Q & A
November 12, 2018 | Laemmle Music Hall | 7:45pm – 10:00pm
FILM SYNOPSIS
American Holocaust: When Its All Over I’ll Still Be Indian – This is the first and only film to date that addresses the American Indian and Jewish Holocausts.
This powerful, hard-hitting documentary reveals the link between Adolf Hitler’s treatment of German Jews and the U.S. government’s treatment of American Indians depicts disturbing parallels between these two Holocausts and explores the historical, social and religious roots of America’s own “ethnic cleansing.” The film also examines, through the words and experiences of contemporary Indian people, the long term lasting effects of this on-going destructive process and the possible ramifications for the future of American Indian people in the 21st century.
IN PERSON: Joanelle Romero
Run time: 30 mins.
Director: Joanelle Romero
Executive Producers: Joanelle Romero, Elizabeth Sage Galesi, Phillip M. Haozous, Teddy Parker, Kathleen Jones, David Aurbey, Windhollow Foundation.
This film is Supported by: Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev, Rabbi Debra Orenstein, Shoah Foundation, Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles & American Indian Communities.
Joanelle Romero is the only American Indian director/producer to be short-listed for an Oscar for her film “AMERICAN HOLOCAUST: WHEN ITS ALL OVER I’LL STILL BE INDIAN.” Romero’s film was entered into the OSCARS for consideration in 2000 in which 22 short films were entered that year. Then the Academy’s Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting in which 9 were chosen for consideration. “American Holocaust: When It’s All Over I’ll Still Be Indian” was part of that 9 chosen. Then five were nominated.
Romero’s documentary film “AMERICAN HOLOCAUST: WHEN ITS ALL OVER I’LL STILL BE INDIAN” has received many awards, including the Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award in 2005. Viewers can watch this film Red Nation Television Channel – Native is Here. www.rednationtv.com.
American Holocaust is very powerful and honest. It is probably more than most non-Indian people, and unfortunately, most Indian-people, want to acknowledge or hear. it is a laboring and sad truth that anyone who is truly Indian understands and lives with to some degree everyday. as polarizing as this movie is, it’s existence is critical for the hundreds of thousands of people that come to understand more about the real-story and for those that need to reflect and heal as they walk their own red-road. thanks for sharing these voices with me keep it up…
– Chris Eyre (Director of Smoke Signals, Skins, A Thousand Roads, Edge of America)
“American Indians have every right to despise white folks and curse us, rather than bless us. And yet, there are leaders like Romero who boggle the typical pedestrian mind. Like Nelson Mandela, she is a prime example of forgiveness in action. Mandela had every right to call for a bloodbath when he was finally released from prison in South Africa. Mandela-like, Romero stands on his mighty global shoulders and calls for oneness, love and what she describes as female energy.” –partial quote
– Ellen Snortland (former President of United Nations Association)
AWARDS
2005 Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award for “the vision to see the truth and the courage to speak it”
2003 The Fargo Film Festival
2000 The American Indian Film Festival (San Francisco)
*WHAT: * Film Program
*WHERE:* Laemmle Music Hall | 9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
*WHEN:* November 12, 2018
6:30pm – Media Check-In
7:00pm – Red Carpet Arrivals; Interviews
7:45pm to 10:00pm – Screening |Q & A
