Dawnland Film Screening and Panel Discussion

Event Information

Wednesday, February 20, 2019
5–7:30 PM
Lenart Auditorium in the UCLA Fowler Museum

Join us for a special screening of Dawnland followed by a panel discussion with Sandy White Hawk from the Truth and Reconciliation committee, Chris Newell, senior advisor and cultural educator of Pasamaquoddy issues, and Brighid Pulskamp, Indian Children Welfare Act (ICWA) Community Tribal Leader.

RSVP at http://bit.ly/DawnlandScreening

“My foster mother told me ... she would save me from being Penobscot.”

For most of the 20th century, government agents systematically forced Native American children from their homes and placed them with white families. As recently as the 1970’s, one in four Native children nationwide were living in non-Native foster care, adoptive homes, or boarding schools. Many children experienced devastating emotional and physical harm by adults who mistreated them and tried to erase their cultural identity.

Now, for the first time, they are being asked to share their stories.
In Maine, a historic investigation—the first government-sanctioned truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) in the United States—begins a bold journey. For over two years, Native and non-Native commissioners travel across Maine. They gather testimony and bear witness to the devastating 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 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.

Hosted by the UCLA American Indian Studies Center and American Indian Studies Interdepartmental Program. Co-sponsored by the UCLA Department of History, Native American Law Student Association, and UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.

UCLA is a tobacco-free campus. All-day parking ($12-20) and short-term parking (payable at pay stations) are available in Lots 2, 3 and 4 (enter the campus at Hilgard and Westholme avenues). For more information, call 310-825-7315.