COOKEVILLE –WCTE Upper Cumberland PBS and Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, Independent Lens, will screen Dawnland on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Backdoor Playhouse at 805 Quadrangle Drive on Tennessee Tech’s campus. Doors open at 5:30, the free screening is from 6 -7 p.m. and will be followed by open discussion moderated by TTU associate history professor, Troy Smith.
Dawnland explores the untold story of Indigenous child removal in the United States through the first government-endorsed truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) in the nation, tasked with investigating the devastating impact of Maine’s child welfare practices on Native American communities. With exclusive access to this groundbreaking process and never-before-seen footage, Dawnland bears witness to intimate, sacred moments of truth-telling and healing.
“WCTE is honored to have been accepted as an Indie Lens Pop-Up producing partner for this season to bring the Upper Cumberland region free screenings of these fascinating, award-winning films,” said Brent Clark, director of content and digital media at WCTE. “We’re also extremely excited to partner with the Backdoor Playhouse to bring people together for community driven conversations around these important topics.”
Directed by Adam Mazo and Ben Pender-Cudlip, Dawnland premieres on WCTE on Monday, Nov. 5, at 10 p.m. as part of Native American Heritage Month programming on PBS.
WCTE has served the Upper Cumberland for 40 years as the region’s premier storyteller, and is the only television station in a 75-mile radius of Cookeville, TN. WCTE is a proud strategic partner with educators, health services, government, arts and music organizations across the Upper Cumberland. WCTE is a 501-(c) 3, and is owned and operated by the Upper Cumberland Broadcast Council. WCTE is one of only 350 PBS member stations nationwide.
