Reflection Paper
After the Mayflower
After the Mayflower is the first episode of We Shall Remain (2009) a documentary series that depict history of Native Americans. In this first episode one is introduced to the beginning of integration of Pilgrims into the new land. After the Mayflower depicts relationships within the Native American tribes and further presents the leading sachem of the Wampanoag, Massasoit, who makes, as he thinks, beneficial deal with Pilgrims from the Mayflower. Their alliance is deemed to protect and support both sides from different adversities that plagued them like ailments or threatening Narragansett tribe. As the time passes people of the Wampanoag face not only beneficial point in interacting and trading with pale-skinned foreigners, but, also, negative side of dealing with the English like diseases, mass coming of people from the Old World and fauna and flora degradation. Foreign allies start to occupy more superior position compared to the Native Americans. Five decades of the Pilgrims` growing oppression and invasion forces Metacomet, Massasoit's son, start a war against the English.
While watching this documentary episode one is fascinated by accurate and, what is more important, interesting presentation of history. Implementation of the Native American language along with reconstruction of the reality of that period captures viewer`s attention and presents Indian point of view of arrival of the pale-skinned foreigners. Moreover, explanations from historians and other researchers along with maps help to unfold this passage of history more smoothly. In general, After the Mayflower depicts history from the Native American perspective, which provides one with an opportunity to look at the occupation of America from a different angle.
However, as the situation in the film starts to escalate at the end I wanted to find more about the mood within the Wampanoag tribe, as well as, within the English.
The second episode of documentary series We Shall Remain (2009), Tecumseh's Vision, depicts totally new period of devastation, misery and woes in life of the Native Americans. This episode illuminates terrible oppression of the Colonists who in merciless race of the new territories discriminate and limit rights of the Native Americans. The beginning of the nineteenth century entitled the beginning of total downfall of the Indian tribes that with stunning velocity are falling into the pit of alcoholism and illnesses. This film focuses on the other important figure in the history of the Native American tribes – Tecumseh. This episode depicts a rising wrath of the Native Americans who are brought together be a member of the Shawnee tribe, Tecumseh. The superior position of foreigners cannot be tolerated anymore; thus, a tide of riots starts to harm those who have forgotten their promises and deals. The inspiring predictions of the Tecumseh ignite tribes to fight for the ancestral land in order to retrieve Indian territories. Unfortunately, in 1813 this dream is doomed to die in a battle along with Tecumseh.
It should be mentioned that in this episode viewer sees another passage of the Native American history, which is revealed with the help of figure of Tecumseh a member of the Shawnee tribe. It is quite unexpected transfer to the other decade because the previous episode ends up intriguing but vaguely. In the second episode the accurate and capturing way of narration along with informative story line involves viewer into further watching. Moreover, after watching first two episodes of We Shall Remain one may see that these episodes can be used as separate and independent movies in illuminating some historic period in the Native American tribes. Moreover, dialogues in this episode are not only support smooth flow of the story, but, also, make accents and reveal natures of the English and the Indians.
After watching this episode I was interested in what other Indians thought about failure of Tecumseh and what was the mood in the Indian community.
We Shall Remain
In the third episode of We Shall Remain (2009) entitled Trail of Tears one sees the other decade in the history of the Native American, which depicts new relationships between Indians and Americans. This episode tells story of the Cherokee nation struggle and their Westernization that is aimed at making the Cherokee more civilized. It should be mentioned that English oppression is still present but it is transformed into the new approach that enforces the Western values making the Native Americans abandon their heritage and identity. Moreover, in Trail of Tears one may see key figures who are involved in oppressing and ‘suffocating’ the Native American tribes. Furthermore, shameless and severe laws and treatment of Cherokee are aimed at the gaining more and more territory. Implementation of the Western values are distorting Cherokee`s perception of a community. Desire to gain absolute power and territory possession makes American government manipulate with Cherokee nation leaving them no chance to fight back. Thus, in 1838, the US Government forces the Cherokee tribe leave their native land in the Southeastern US to Oklahoma. It should be mentioned that there are struggles to stop this severity and government`s greedy but the officials have no mercy. This horrible removal is known as the Trail of Tears because approximately 4,000 people perished from various causes.
In this episode one feels all the pain and sorrow experienced by Cherokee. As the previous two episodes, Trail of Tears continues tradition of enchanting narration and fact representation that presents viewer with opportunity to not only comprehend all the nuances of this historic period, but, also, it continues Indian representation of facts. It should be mentioned that this episode is extremely accurate in all its cinematic techniques that support the main theme of this episode. One feels pain and may experience empathy while broadening knowledge of history.
While watching this episode I understood that among first three episodes this one is the most complete and reveals its theme completely making viewer question only actions of real historic figures.
