SCREENING AT CHELMSFORD CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Emmy® award-winning film, Dawnland--an 86 minute documentary produced by the Upstander Project--chronicles the first government-sanctioned truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) in the United States which took place in Maine.

 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. The TRC discovered that state power continues to be used to break up Wabanaki families, threatening the very existence of the Wabanaki people. Dawnland spotlights the immense challenges that Wabanaki people and this groundbreaking commission face as they work toward truth, reconciliation, and the survival of Indigenous peoples.

The screening will include a Q&A segment for those who wish to learn more about this important topic. Mishy Lesser, who is the Learning Director for Upstander Project and an Emmy® award-winning researcher, will Zoom in to answer audience questions and guide our discussion after the film. The Upstander Project is a filmmaking and learning collaborative which helps “bystanders become upstanders” i.e. “one who stands up in the face of injustice” through film and education. 

This program was made possible for the community due to the generous support of AARP