We Shall Remain

This week’s blog is a review of American Experience PBS documentary, “We Shall Remain- After the Mayflower”.  Directed by renowned Cheyenne/Arapaho director Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals, Skins).

Chris Eyre (center) with two Plymouth extras.

The story: In 1621, after the Pilgrims made their way across the sea and established New Plymouth in what is now Southeastern Massachusetts Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag aided the new colony in an alliance of mutual protection and peace. Years later, the relations strained as a result of the Pilgrims refusal to adhere to the treaty years before. King Philip, the second son of Massasoit waged war on the colonies only to be killed a short time later.

The purpose of the documentary is to showcase well-known American events through the eyes of the Native Americans and to debunk the myths and romanticism attached to it. “After the Mayflower” reenacts the First Thanksgiving and progresses to the end of King Philip’s War. Narrated by Peruvian Native Benjamin Bratt (Law and Order, Miss Congeniality), the opening statement, “Almost nothing is known about the most iconic feast in American history, not even the date.” begins debunking the myths Americans have about that event. Most Americans have been taught that the First Thanksgiving was around the end of November, there was a peaceful dinner of hundreds of Pilgrims and Indians, lots of food (especially turkey and cranberry sauce) and cornucopia’s adorned the tables, that dinner was enjoyed by neighbors and peace and love abounded or not. The First Thanksgiving, as the documentary presents, was a small group of Wampanoag men entering the settlement, not sure on whether they would be welcomed and it was simply a time to increase relations in the hopes of an agreement of peace.

We Shall Remain, was reenacted by members the Mashpee/Wampanoag Tribes which is a tribute to the progress of Native Americans presented in the media. 30 years ago Native Americans were represented by the White man in tan make-up. Now, as this documentary showcases, Natives are able to present themelves and to even allowed to tell their own stories. ‘Talking Heads’ were the were predominately people from the Wampanoag tribes. They are telling their own history.  

Even still, the want to cast Native American’s as more ‘Hollywood Indian’ type character. My good friend, Annawon Weeden, who was cast as King Philip/Metacom told me that he almost didn’t get to play the part of his famous ancestor because, “Chris [the director] believed me to be too tall. He didn’t think that I looked the part. Which I thought was ludicrous since I am Mashpee Wampanoag and am a direct descendent of Metacom. He wanted me to be shorter to fit the ‘Ideal Indian’. Annawon and the other actors were able to wear their own traditional attire for filming.

Annawon Weeden as King Philip in We Shall Remain

The documentary went to painful measures to ensure that the setting, costumes, weapons and language were authentic and fit the period. Nipmuc, an Alongquian dialect was used by the actors and were taught members of the tribe who knew it. The language is another factor to its authenticity. Westerns of yesteryear didn’t take such concern to the authenticity of a tribe. (i.e. they would show Southwestern Indians in Plains Indians attire, they would allow the Indians to say whatever they wanted, which they usually used as a dialogue of humorous rhetoric that no one on set could understand.”  Voiceover’s of the narrator or someone reading documents of that time are over reenactments of the events transpiring or of the scenery of Massachusetts.

The message of this documentary does fulfill what it sets out to do and that is to tell the events of American history through the eyes of the American Indians. This, subconsciously, set up the documentary to be a guilt-induced ride for anyone, even Native American who watch it. I made a could of my Native friends watch this with me and we all came to the same conclusion, that is was depressing. “We got screwed over”, said one friend. “I don’t want to watch the rest of them because it[the documentary] makes it seem like we [Native Americans] fight and fight and yet the White man always wins.” The question is posed though, when looking at the event of American history through the eyes of the Native American lens, is there any other way to go about it than to show that the Natives have always lost? How could the documentary end on a high note for the Wampanoag when talking about that event in history?

Overall, the documentary series was superbly done. The actors were good and the call for authenticity in dress and language was a treat.  

  Meg Singer