Please Help (Iroquois)

[H2O Man]

(Note: I just got this message. I am hoping that DUers who are interested in Native American support work will lend a hand on this. Thank you for your consideration. -- H2O Man)


DISCOVERY CHANNEL SHOW AN AFFRONT TO HAUDENOSAUNEE

Dear Friend of Ndakinna,

Last night Joseph Bruchac shared with the Ndakinna Board of Directors a communication he received written by Doug George-Kanentiio, husband of Joanne Shenandoah, respected Mohawk historian and featured speaker at the Saratoga Native American Festival. The letter was directed to the Haudenosaunee Nation Councils.

The letter outlined Mr. George-Kanentiio's connection with the creation of a program "entitled First Nations which supposed to tell the story of the founding of the Confederacy." After much of the project was completed, the CEO who had approved the film was fired and a replacement brought in who hired a new editing team from Half Yard Productions and a non-Native script writer whose changes fundamentally altered the project's original vision. Indeed, Mr. George-Kanentiio's states that "this person destroyed the story and in its place created a film which is full of distortions, lies and violence." The original producers of the show resigned in protest.

Mr. George-Kanentiio showed the film "to Oren Lyons and a group of filmmakers and media professionals at Syracuse University... They agreed this was a bad film. Dr. Robert Venables also reviewed the film and told the producers he could not recommend that the episode be shown to anyone at anytime since it was a disaster in every way. They have ignored his counsel."

Mr. George-Kanentiio's letters to the current producers were ignored as was his request that they meet with the Haudenosaunee to discuss the episode. He has requested that his and Joanne Shenandoah's names be removed from the credits.

This travesty will air on the Discovery Channel Saturday, Dec 6, at 10:00 pm.

Contact information:
First Nations producer for The Discovery Channel: John Ford [phone]
Abby Greensfelder, President, Half Yard Productions [phone]

Please forward this to anyone you know who is as concerned as we are about the accurate and respectful representation of Native American culture in the media and popular culture in general.

Peace,
Michael Lambert
For the Board of Directors
The Ndakinna Education Center
23 Middle Grove Road
Greenfield Center, New York 12833
[phone]
www.ndcenter.org

[H2O Man]

1. I would appreciate

if people would help keep this OP "kicked" so that others have a chance to see it.

I really appreciate people helping us on this. Thank you.

[AlabamaBrightBlueDot]

2. kicked

[formercia]

3. This is not the first time that Discovery Channel

has distorted History.

Their programming should be viewed for its entertainment value and not historical accuracy.

[SpiralHawk]

4. The k and the r

...Will write Discovery and ask them to tell the truth

[Benhurst]

5. ...

Recommended :kick: #11

[bananas]

6. k&r nt

[foxfeet]

7. K&R

:kick:

[slutticus]

8. K&r

[hootinholler]

9. So who actually paid for the film?

Was this a D-Channel project from the start? What possible motivation would they have to distort the story?

-Hoot

[newtothegame]

10. Thanks for posting n/t

[Peacetrain]

11. K&R

a call and hard copy to follow of protest to Ford and Greensfelder

[H2O Man]

12. .....

[bonito]

13. K&R n/t

[GrannyK]

14. kicked N/T

[ms liberty]

15. K&R n/t

[Chulanowa]

16. K&R

Because I'm sick to fucking death of the history of our nations being torn apart and reassembled into a more "entertaining / useful" form for the anchor babies.

[puerco-bellies]

17. ah-Ho!

K&R

[ColbertWatcher]

18. I'd really like to know some details about the distortions.

I'd like to know who's behind this propaganda and what purpose lying is supposed to serve.

[Raksha]

19. K & R

[ClayZ]

20. K and R

Thank you!

[Coexist]

21. kick

[Clemsy]

22. Phone Number Correction

Greetings,

I wrote the original email listed above and am pleased beyond words to have found it here. By this morning, I learned the message had gone viral and has bounced across the planet. It is currently posted to the World Archaeological Congress,and to several international human rights organizations.

However, the phone numbers in the original message are incorrect (my bad!).

The correct numbers are:

John Ford
[phone]
Abby Greensfelder
[phone]

I received an email from Doug George-Kanentiio who indicated "things are changing." I'll let you folks know more as it comes to me.

Thanks for keeping this active and participating in correcting this assault on native culture.

Peace,
Michael Lambert
The Ndakinna Education Center
23 Middle Grove Road
Greenfield Center, New York 12833
[phone]
www.ndcenter.org

[Uncle Joe]

23. Thanks for the heads up, H2O Man.

Kicked and too late to recommend.

[H2O Man]

24. ..........