Passamaquoddy Language Survival: Film Screening

Allen Sockabasin, speaking Passamaquoddy to his son

The indigenous tribes whose homelands we now call Maine include the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, and Maliseet. The living cultural heritage of these groups is as precious as any resource that exists in our state, yet it remains invisible to many who live or travel here. Filmmaker Ben Levine's documentary film "Language of America: An Indian Story" has intervened and attempted to reveal the hidden story of Passamaquoddy language preservation efforts in Maine.

"Language of America" features Allen Sockabasin, a Passamaquoddy elder who speaks his Native language, and is a successful storyteller and author of books such as "An Upriver Passamaquoddy" and "Thanks to the Animals." Sockabasin's extraordinary career of cultural preservation efforts for his tribe has just earned him the 2010 "Catalyst for Change Award" from the Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity at the University of Southern Maine. The awards banquet for this honor occurs next month. October also offers Maine residents an opportunity to attend a screening of "Language of America" at the Space Gallery on Congress St. in Portland on the 14th at 7 p.m.

Levine with Maliseet Elders I. Perley and R. Nicholas

"Language of America" tells the compelling story of colonial genocide, language loss and survival, and what it means to devote oneself to cultural revitalization efforts in a digital age. Sockabasin, as well as Jessie Littledoe (Wampanoag), Ella Sekatau (Narragansett) and others, offer moving perspective on how their indigenous language ties them to the knowledge and identity of past generations.

As I wrote in an earlier post, the movie Avatar is the latest Hollywood blockbuster to popularize  (faux) indigenous culture and language. Against this backdrop, it's refreshing that Levine's film takes us into the real communities of indigenous peoples in Maine and New England. Watch it and you will feel as though you had traveled with him.