We Shall Remain

Comment: We Shall Remain is one of the greatest documentaries I have ever seen. From the stories themselves, to the footage and reenactments, to Benjamin Bratt's narration. I hope schools across the country are playing this for students.

I can't knock a single episode but for me, in some ways the Cherokee installment is The One. Why? Because more than any other, it illustrates the fact that there was nothing any of the tribal peoples here could have done to to work with or appease the US government into letting them survive as Nations on ancestral homelands, culturally entact or not. The Cherokee, as one of the "5 Civilized Tribes" (along with the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole), did everything the Americans could have asked and wanted from an indigenous people. For nearly all intents and purposes, the Cherokee become White Americans in all but skin color. They had an alphabet, they owned and worked in American-style businesses, they became owners of black slaves, they adopted American-style government, etc...

No one could have done more to Americanize. No one could have done more to accept the new path being offered them, yet when all was said and done, they were just Indians and would be treated and removed as such.

I've watched every episode several times and it never fails to get to me. Dennis Banks saying he did everything he had to do to be Dennis Banks but inside, Naawakamig never died. What a moment. Then bask in the presence of Madonna Thunder Hawk.

Watching We Shall Remain, I couldn't help but be thankful Ken Burns has never done a big documentary on these general topics, because that may have kept We Shall Remain from beng made at all, which would have been a darned shame. Ken Burns never could have done this.

Even if you're someone who knows the histories, there is a magnificence about We Shall Remain. Some of the comments, some of the narration; these things will burn themselves into your mind.

Still, never let something like this make you believe that American Indian/First Nations/Native American histories are something from long ago. Browse Indian Country Today, find topics that interest you. See another side of today's America.

Some remain. These are stories and truths for all of us.

Comment: I am ashamed to say I haven't viewed the complete series,yet. But I know I won't be disappointed. I had hoped to find all of the PBS series titled "How the West was Lost," but I guess it is out of print, & insted found the background music, on a DVD, from "Amazon." What a thrill!
Amazon, as usual, is efficient & unbelievably quick in sending out anything I have purchased from them. Whether it be coffee, books, CD's, or DVD's.
If you are interested in learning more about Indians,(when did I become a Native American) which I have been since birth, from the Indian viewpoint...order this series NOW. Thanks for reading my review. Hope you'll enjoy it as much. Happy hunting.

Comment: Bought this movie to study about Native American's for my college class and I liked it so well, my whole family watched it.

Comment: This is an excellent film series told from the viewpoint of the natives in America.They were strong and beautiful, but they could not stop the flood of people from Europe. The first episode about the arrival at Plymouth rock is so different than what I learned in school. It showed me how quickly treaties and pacts can change in just a generation!
When you see Geronimo with 29 people against 9,000, you have to be in awe of the man. He rode in the presidential parade as a hero, but the US government never let him return to his homeland.Sad story.
I also am concerned for the tribes in Brazil today. I googled a map of where Christians have been spreading the "true" religion. Very sad indeed. Let the tribes there have their own religion and way of life. Have we learned nothing?
This series should be shown in high schools & colleges today!

Comment: There are so many things brought to light in this narrative that we certainly didn't learn in school! It's heart-wrenching & wonderful.......we loved it. I would highly recommend this series to your family.....but, it's a bit gruesome in parts, so probably not a good idea for the younger ones.