American Native (2014)

Thirty miles from Manhattan a group of mysterious mountain people fight for recognition as a legitimate Native American tribe.

Director:

Steven Oritt

Stars:

Amanda Anderson, Jack Anderson, Sonya Anderson

3 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Amanda Anderson	...	Self
Jack Anderson	...	Self
Sonya Anderson	...	Self
Ashley Apolito	...	Self
John Bragg	...	Self
Greg Brill	...	Self
Edith Burke	...	Self
Charles Carrera	...	Self
Joe the Carver	...	Self
Chris Christie	...	Self (as Gov. Chris Christie)
David Steven Cohen	...	Self
George Cotz	...	Self
Artie Crippen	...	Self
Richard Davison	...	Self
Roger DeGroat II	...	Self

Storyline

The Ramapough Mountain Indian's fight for respect as Native Americans, examining their efforts to gain acceptance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the private interests that may have colluded behind the scenes to prevent them from doing so. Through expert interviews and unbridled access to the micro­community, the film provides an in­depth look at the complex past, volatile present and endangered future of the Ramapough Mountain Indians.

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Plot Keywords:

delaware indian | lenape indian tribe | ramapough mountain indians | jackson whites | 

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Taglines:

The Story of the Ramapough Mountain Indians

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama | History | News

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Certificate:

G

User Reviews

When dealing with a topic as controversial as federal recognition of Indian tribes, documentary film makers should give equal time to both sides of an issue.

In 2011 I was contacted by a television producer named Corey Bobker about whether I was willing to be interviewed for the film based on my book, The Ramapo Mountain People. When I finally viewed "American Native," I was dismayed to find out that they omitted major parts of my interview, especially those parts that refute the points made by my critics. Yet they included attacks against me and my integrity.

They also included extensive interviews with an anthropologist named Christine Gabrowski. a tribal lawyer named Arlinda Locklear, and an archaeologist named Ed Lenik. But they fail to note that Gabrowski is the principal anthropologist at a business that contracts with non-recognized tribes to help them gain recognition, Locklear is a Lumbee Indian (a so-called tribe that has partial recognition by an act of Congress and has failed to obtain full recognition from the Bureau of Indian Affairs), and Lenik has only a masters degree in anthropology. Nor did they conduct interviews I suggested with two independent- minded scholars: Dr.David Oestreicher, a Rutgers Ph.D. in anthropology who taught the Ramapoughs Delaware Indian words, dances, crafts, and traditions; nor Dr. Robert S. Grumet, another Rutgers Ph.D. who is an expert on Lenape leadership based on a study of the signers of Indian land deeds.

I have asked Steven Oritt to post my entire interview on the "American Native" website, which is what reputable documentaries have done. But neither he nor Bobker have done so.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 2014 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Phydo Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Color:

Color