Boarding Schools Film Being Premiered in Dearborn Tonight

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Briefs. Discussion »

Native Brief: DETROIT - The American Indian Services are premiering "The Indian Schools, The Survivors Story" tonight at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Premier of "The Indian Schools, The Survivors Story"

There is a program from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm, which includes the screening of the film.

The movie is the work of the American Indian Services, based in Lincoln Park, which is a suburb of Detroit.

"For the past couple of years, we have had a survivors group meet on a weekly basis to discuss their experiences in boarding schools," Fay Givens, executive director of American Indian Services.

“We knew we had to get their stories on film.”

The survivors of the boarding school experience are primarily from the Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. Others who attended other Indian boarding schools are encouraged to attend.

The Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School was established in 1893 by an act of Congress, compelling Indian children to be removed from the care of their families to attend residential schools. The Mt. Pleasant School operated until 1934, with an average enrollment of 300 students per year.

Givens states that the film, 45 minutes in length, is intended to be used as an educational tool.

“People in social work and anthropology can learn from this film,”

said Givens.

Plans are to have the film distributed to American Indian museums throughout Indian Country.

The film will be available on PayPal within the next three weeks.

WHAT:     Premier of "The Indian Schools, The Survivors Story"

WHERE:     Arab American National Museum
13624 Michigan Avenue
Dearborn, Michigan

Time:     7:00 pm-10:00 pm

WHEN:     Friday, September 16

The Premier is Free of Charge

posted September 16, 2011 12:30 am edt