PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE THICK DARK FOG
TELLS THE STORY OF HOW HIS BOARDING SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AFFECTED THE LIFE OF ONE LAKOTA MAN. THIS DOCUMENTARY FILM WILL SCREEN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2012, 7:00 PM, AT THE ELKS THEATRE, RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA. SPONSORED BY VOICES OF THE HEARTLAND FILM GROUP.
September’s Heartland film is The Thick Dark Fog, the award-winning documentary about the legacy of American Indian boarding schools. It is based on Walter Littlemoon and Jane Ridgway’s book, They Call Me Uncivilized – The Memoir of an Everyday Lakota Man from Wounded Knee. The film won Best Documentary at the 2011 American Indian Film Festival, and the People’s Choice Award at the 2012 Black Hills Film Festival. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Walter Littlemoon attended a federal Indian boarding school in South Dakota after being taken from his mother at the age of five. Their mission was to “kill the Indian and save the man.” The children were not allowed to speak their language or express their culture or native identity at the risk of beatings, humiliation and abuse. Many Indians have lived with this unresolved trauma into adulthood, acting it out through alcoholism, drug abuse and domestic violence. At age 58 Walter decided to write and publish his memoirs to help his estranged children understand why he struggled so much as a father. When he came to his boarding school memories, however, he found it nearly impossible to continue. This documentary, shown on PBS in June, tells the story of how Walter confronted the “thick dark fog” of his past so that he could heal himself and his community.
Walter and his wife, Jane, as well as Philomene Lakota and Chris Eagle Hawk, who also appear in the film, will be present on September 24 for a panel discussion after the screening. Please plan to attend and help us spread the word about this important documentary, so that as many people as possible can benefit from it.
For further information, go to www.thickdarkfog.com
The Voices of the Heartland Independent Film Society began presenting monthly movies at Rapid City’s Elks Theatre in January of 2005. Our goal is to present horizon-broadening films which have not been widely presented in commercial theaters, and which lend themselves to discussion with audience members who choose to stay after the film is shown. For additional information and an archive of all of the past films shown, go to www.voicesfilms.org or check out our blog at http://heartlandfilm.wordpress.com.