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Fighting Indians

0 %|Sep 11, 2022|Documentary

On May 16th, 2019, the State of Maine made history by passing LD 944 An Act to Ban Native American Mascots in All Public Schools, the first legislation of its kind in the country. For Maine's tribal nations, the landmark legislation marked an end to a decades long struggle to educate the public of the harms of Native American mascotry. Fighting Indians chronicles the last and most contentious holdout in that struggle, the homogeneously white Skowhegan High School, known for decades as "The Home of the Indians". This is the story of a small New England community forced to reckon with its identity, its sordid history, and future relationship with its indigenous neighbors. It is a story of a small town divided against the backdrop of a nation divided where the "mascot debate" exposes centuries old abuses while asking if reconciliation is possible.

Featured Crew

Derek Ellis
Director
Mark Cooley
Director
Mark Cooley
Art Direction
Mark Cooley
Editor
Ryan Griffis
Writer
Mark Cooley
Sound Designer
Ryan Griffis
Art Direction
Derek Ellis
Writer

Cast

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Maulian Dana
Self - Penobscot Nation Ambassador
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Barry Dana
Self - Former Chief, Penobscot Nation
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James Eric Francis
Self - Penobscot Tribal Historian
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Dwayne Tomah
Self - Passamaquoddy Nation
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John Bear Mitchell
Self - Penobscot, Professor
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Dawn Neptune Adams
Self - Penobscot Filmmaker
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Dena Rose Joseph
Self - Aroostook Band of Micmacs
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Mike Wise
Self - Sports Journalist
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Dave McKenna
Self - Sports Journalist
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Jesse Seinfeldt
Self - Sports Psychologist
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Al Carroll
Self - Historian, Professor
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Jeffery Powers-Beck
Self - Literary Historian
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Zach Heiden
Self - Chief Counsel ACLU, Maine