In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge invites the public to attend screenings of Indigenous films in Reading and Kutztown during the month of November. The majority of films are free to attend.
The inaugural Indigenous Film Festival in November 2019 was created by Dr. Amanda Morris, professor of English at Kutztown University, to promote Native narratives and the overall visibility of today’s Indigenous peoples.
Invisibility, myths, and stereotypes about Native people are reinforced across society. Native Americans live in a culture where they are often misunderstood and stereotyped and experience racism on a daily basis. The lack of accurate knowledge about Native Americans contributes to these experiences and hinders the ability of all Americans to experience and celebrate the unique cultural identities, histories, and contributions of Native peoples.
The festival has grown from a one-day event at Kutztown University to a month-long event across several venues in Berks. New this year, Widoktadwen partnered with Alvernia University’s Office of Mission & Ministry to host two on-campus screenings of Awake: A Dream from Standing Rock by Bullfrog Films on the morning of Nov. 1.
Additional public screenings scheduled are as follows:
- Saturday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m., the documentary Reel Injun was shown at the Boscov Theater at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. Admission was $5. A small reception began at 2 p.m., and there was a short discussion after the film.
- Thursday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m., the film Gather will be shown at the Reading Public Museum. Free with museum admission.
- Various short films on Indigenous fashion, feminism, and Two Spirits will be screening at Kutztown University on Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Film shorts are free and open to the public in the McFarland Student Union Multipurpose Room.
- Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 1:30 p.m., the film Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World will be screened at the Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College. Admission is free and open to the public. Discussion and refreshments to follow.
For the full schedule of films, visit widoktadwen.org/indigenous-film-festival/.
Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge is a Native-led non-profit organization headquartered in downtown Reading. Our mission is to promote the visibility of Native Americans in Berks County and beyond through community education, leadership, and activism.
