Filmic Representations of Indigenous Peoples

Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library

Scholars, particularly during the last two decades, have sought to understand cultural representations of Indigenous peoples. In Dressing in Feathers: The Construction of the Indian in American Culture, anthropologist Elizabeth Bird explains that when we seek to understand popular constructions of the Native more clearly, we are then better able to counter the mythmaking process and transform those representations. The 2010 Northeast Historic Film Summer Symposium will explore how amateur and noncommercial filmmakers around the world have created a wide range of representations regarding Indigenous peoples and cultures.

 The NHF Summer Symposium is a multi-disciplinary gathering devoted to the history, theory, and preservation of moving images. NHF is located in Bucksport, a town of 5,000 on the coast of Maine. Typically, presentations are 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of discussion. NHF houses a 125-seat cinema with 35mm, 16mm, videotape, and DVD projection.

The schedule with a list of presenters and topics is available here.

Check here for driving directions to NHF.

Please email questions to NHF2010@gmail.com