Peterborough Town Library, 2 Concord St., will present a screening of the documentary, “Dawnland,” a film produced by the Upstander Project, Thursday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m. The film will be available at the library in-person or through a Zoom link.
“Dawnland” takes place in Maine and follows a historic investigation of the first government-sanctioned truth and reconciliation commission in the United States. For more than two years, Native and non-Native commissioners traveled across Maine, gathering testimony and bearing witness to the impact of the state’s child welfare practices on families in Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribal communities. Collectively, these tribes make up the Wabanaki people.
The feature-length documentary follows the commission to contemporary Wabanaki communities to witness intimate moments of truth-telling and healing. With exclusive access to this process and never-before-seen footage, the film reveals the untold narrative of Indigenous child removal in the United States.
The film won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Research in 2019 and made the American Library Association’s list of 2020 Notable Videos for Adults. To watch the trailer and learn more about the film, visit dawnland.org.
A follow-up discussion will be held Jan. 27 at 2 p.m., also in-person at the library or by Zoom, and will include remarks from Mishy Lesser, a researcher and co-director of the Upstander Academy, a week-long professional learning experience for teachers and museum educators. She also authored the 12-lesson “Dawnland Teacher’s Guide” and is a Fulbright Scholar.
The public may register for the film screening and follow-up discussion by visiting the events page on the Peterborough Town Library website at peterboroughtownlibrary.org/events. The DVD will also be available for check-out after the program.
For information on this program or any library services, visit peterboroughtownlibrary.org or call 603-924-8040.