Festival pushes for Americans to understand the roots of their culture
By Morgan Hodder
The American Indian Film Festival ended on Nov. 7 after showing films by women from indigenous tribes from around the world for three days. BCC student Jessie Liao saw the movie “Little Caughnawaga: To Brooklyn and Back,” and said she was very touched by the women in the film who worked to erect a memorial to commemorate the history of the 33 fallen Native American iron workers that were a part of their community. Liao didn’t know that part of history: how Brooklyn was in part created by Native Americans. Liao said she was moved by the women that helped each other, that found and strengthened a community that was so hurt by the loss of their men, in a time when women by convention depended on men for survival. She was saddened to learn that the Mohawk Indians’ language is on the brink of extinction. Parents couldn’t teach it to their children because of the racism that erupted from New Yorkers. Liao recommended this movie to friends. Cara Keller said she found “Little Caughnawaga: To Brooklyn and Back” inspiring, and a definite change from the other films. She recommended it to documentary goers. Keller also didn’t get to learn the language of her heritage: Spanish, and identified with the Mohawks who were similarly deprived. Keller was stirred by how strong the women in the film were, how they are able to go back to their roots and help hold their community together. Kristin Hinthorne, a BCC student, saw the four-minute film, “The Elements of Ice,” and said it was at first shockingly short, but then it sank in