Thomas Indian School Reunion - a film by Terry Jones (Seneca - wolf clan)

Thomas Indian School Reunion (2004)

Seneca Nation Territory / 2004 & 2018 / Short Doc / English / Digital / 4X3 / Stereo / 30 Minutes / Closed-Captioned

OFFICIAL FILM WEBSITE: https://www.tornjerseymedia.com/thoma...

SUMMARY: From 1855 to 1957, the Thomas Indian School (formerly known as Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children) operated on the Seneca Territory in western New York State. Every year, former students gathered and shared their experiences about the Indian residential boarding school. These former students shared their unique perspective of life as they fought to retain their native identity."

1789 - U.S. congress designates American Indian relations to the newly formed War Department.

1824 - The Bureau of Indian Affairs (or “Indian Office”) was created and it was responsible for regulating tribes.

1849 - The Bureau of Indian Affairs was moved to the Department of the Interior and assumed the function of providing education for American Indians under its “Civilization Division.” 1879 - The Carlisle Indian School, administered by the BIA and patterned after a military model for the American Indians, opened its doors to American Indian children from all over the country.

In 2004, the director filmed the reunion of former students at the Thomas Indian School in western New York. Personal testimonials include community members Rhoda Leaffe, Alice Gonzalez, Lenny Kettle, Frida Kraft Morris and Joanne Kabance. The 2018 version of the filmincludes additional testimonials and footage not included in the original film. The running time of newly extended and re-edited version of the film went from 14 minutes to 30 minutes.

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