Comity Advisors
As in 2018 and 2019, the Comity Advisors conducted a free film series to present content on the history of events and policies and their impact on the lives of people of color in the United States. This year’s series presented content about the history of contact between American Indians and European Americans as well as the U.S. government. The landmark series, We Shall Remain, from PBS’s American Experience programs, presented the experiences of American Indians from their perspective. Thanks to all who attended and participated in the post-film screening discussions.
As the producer of the films said, “You can’t understand America in the 21st century if you don’t understand the Native experience.” The films presented a “multi-faceted look at Native ingenuity and perseverance over the course of more than three centuries.” The themes of “resistance, sovereignty, survival, and leadership” were thoroughly and richly illustrated in the films. The reality of American Indian strength, ingenuity, and tenacity was clearly depicted.
Three episodes of the We Shall Remain series were shown. These episodes included the presentation of the first contact between American Indians and Europeans who arrived on the Mayflower, the efforts by Tecumseh to form an Indian federation, and the political actions by leaders of the Cherokee to keep their native lands under their control. Each of the episodes challenged our conventional thinking about Indians. The episodes presented a picture of Indian life, culture, values, and political action that was more accurate and complete than much of what had previously been seen and known.
A statement from an American Indian reinforces the intent of the Comity Advisors in presenting this film series, “We need to listen to each other. We need to remember we were given two ears so we can always hear in more than one direction.” This statement also captures the hope of the Comity Advisors to gather stories from PebbleCreek homeowners to enrich our understanding of the range of life experiences in our community.
The Comity Advisors continue to look to others to contribute to this column. Examples of stories to submit include those about family traditions or rituals, life lessons learned through a significant relationship in your life, your family’s immigration story, or the story of someone important in your life. If you feel that this is a worthwhile endeavor and you are interested in telling your story, please contact Roberta Medina at [email protected] or Mary Thomas at [email protected].