Native Silence

Native Silence is a 2013 documentary short film telling the story of two Native Americans from Minnesota who were taken away from their families at a young age. Jane Wells of 3 Generations directed the film. It follows the story of Joyce, a recovering drug-addict who now works as a nurse in a mental institution, and Paulette, a mother who doesn’t associate with the natives in her town.^[1] Both of them are now grandmothers. The film is told from the perspective of not only them, but also their daughters, Amy and Dawn. Native Silence was selected for screening at the Aspen Shortsfest, the American Indian Film Festival and the Red Nation Film Festival.

Native Silence is a film that tackles the issues of Native Americans from the previous generation who almost never got a chance to tell their story. It documents the historical trauma, drugs, alcoholism, familial estrangement and sexual violence that dominates the Native American population.^[2] In spite of these pressing issues, most Americans remain unaware of them.

History

Joyce and Paulette both grew up as orphans living in foster homes and attending numerous boarding schools.^[3] These boarding schools were functioned to isolate and erase Native American identity.^[4] They both grew up in a world of drugs and prostitution and continue to struggle with their past lives.^[5] Their hopeful outlook and efforts to reclaim their spirituality and identity is what inspired this film.^[6] The struggle Joyce and Paulette have had to go through are similar to and reflect on what the majority of Native Americans today have had to face. Between 1941 and 1967, around one-third of Native American children were relocated to non-Indian foster homes under the Indian Adoption Project.^[7]

Production

After doing extensive research on sex trafficking for the 3 Generations film Tricked, Jane Wells realized that in Minnesota the issues facing Native American women and girls were so deep-rooted and complex that she should make a film about it. While Mrs. Wells did spend time with young, at-risk Native girls she also realized it would not be ethical to film them because of their fragile family structures. She instead, at the suggestion of a social worker, filmed the girl’s mothers who had been forced into prostitution as a young girl. This film allows Native women to speak out on Native American issues, something they are seldom given the opportunity to do.

Reception

Reviews for Native Silence have been generally positive from audiences and critics alike. The film was selected as a finalist for the National Short Film Competition of the USA Film Festival in 2014. Andy Travers of the Aspen Daily News called it “an eye opening documentary.”^[8] The Native American community also praised the film. Lynnette Grey Bull of the Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux band of Sitting Bull Social Worker TRUST in Arizona stated, “Powerful and Well Done, it brought tears to my eyes.”^[9]

Awards and nominations

Official Selection Red Nation Film Festival 2013^[10] Official Selection American Indian Film Festival 2013^[11]

References

External links

• Native Silence on IMDb