American Native

I am a volunteer lawyer and I run a charity for the Ramapough Mountains called Ramapough Conservancy. I have been working with archaeologists and historians for about seven years now and we have been closely studying the Native American tribe The Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation, the subject of this film. Our consulting archaeologist, Ed Lenik, has been studying the tribe for decades and has proven the tribe's ancestral lineage through published works, research, lectures and numerous awards. The film accurately and brilliantly portrays the every day aspects of the tribe's existence which are easily understood and examined by the audience into large scale issues the tribe has struggled with to this day. Their ceremony is lovingly portrayed in the film as is their very closeness to each other. They are a gorgeous people and I can understand why the producers and film makers feel an extraordinary closeness to them, as do most professionals after working with them. There is also a great spirit living in the Ramapo Mountains which after volunteering for the tribe for many years, has brought good fortune to my life and to others I help. Mr. Cohen's research is, from what I understand, dated and obsolete, while Mr. Lenik continues to publish new books every other year or so. Mr. Lenik is highly regarding in the archaeological and academic community and is very active in preserving the Ramapough culture. Together with our geologist, we study ancient cemeteries of the Ramapough in the mountains, and newly found archaeological treasures, and "re-found" treasures, like the first school for the Ramapough. I also loved the visual work in the film which included the stand alone portraits of tribal members with the so important mountains and forests woven in. The forest and water are big here in the Ramapo Mountains. The tribe enjoys the support of the academic communities at Ramapo College, Rutgers University, New York University and William Paterson College. Many academics volunteer time to assist the tribe in areas of health concern, geology and water concerns, and historical background. There is no doubt in any of our highly trained and extraordinarily educated minds, that the film accurately portrays a tribe, in essence, hiding for their lives and only in the last ten years, "coming out" through very talented folks like the makers of American Native.