On Thursday, November 9 at 6:00 pm in the Collins Center for the Arts, the McGillicuddy Humanities Center will welcome members of the Sunlight Media Collective for a free screening of and discussion/Q&A about the new documentary film “This River Is Our Relative.”
“This River is Our Relative” is a documentary about the Penobscot Nation’s intrinsic kinship connection to and tireless environmental advocacy for the Penobscot River. The story is told through the voices of 24 Penobscot people, who share their experience of historical, physical, and spiritual connection to place; of cultural identity and survival. Their narratives are interwoven with a traditional Wabanaki story about how The People and Glouskap defeated a greedy monster frog, Aklebemu, who was hoarding all the water. This story parallels both historical and present day environmental concerns, and is also the origin story of the Penobscot family Clans.
This documentary shows the Penobscot Nation’s dedication to environmental justice and their efforts to minimize pollution, demonstrates the importance of respecting inherent Tribal sovereignty, and celebrates Penobscot peoples’ ongoing river-based cultural traditions.
This event is part of the 2023-24 annual MHC symposium, “Rivers.”
The Sunlight Media Collective is an organization of Wabanaki and non-Wabanaki media makers working to document and raise awareness about issues affecting Wabanaki people, with a particular emphasis on the frequent intersection between environmental issues and Tribal rights. Sunlight Media Collective’s work facilitates understanding, analysis and historical context, and provides educational opportunities for alliance building, social change, and environmental stewardship.