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John Trimbach said the Wounded Knee group wants equal time from PBS to "dispel the myths and correct the damage done to the historical record" by the film.
A group calling itself The Wounded Knee Victims and Veterans Association has accused PBS of presenting a slanted version of events during the American Indian Movement's takeover of Wounded Knee village in 1973.
The 71-day occupation was the subject of "Wounded Knee," the last installment in national public broadcasting's "American Experience -- We Shall Remain" film series. "Wounded Knee" aired Monday and Tuesday.
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Group members say the film, directed by Stanley Nelson, uses distortions, half-truths and false statements to glorify AIM without telling the other side of the story.
"This film attempts to explain away the destruction of the village by invoking historical issues (broken treaties, Indian boarding schools, government-sponsored relocation, etc.) and by rationalizing the criminality of the perpetrators," reads a letter the group sent to PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger. "One of the film's worst transgressions is its contemptible disregard for the real victims of Wounded Knee, the villagers who lived there."
A group spokesman provided a copy of Kerger's e-mail response to the letter, in which she says, "Please know that we take allegations of the nature described in your letters very seriously."
Kerger said the allegations were shared with the "producing station" for "Wounded Knee" and the "We Shall Remain" series for review. She said she would provide a more complete response after reviewing the producers' findings.
The letter from the Wounded Knee Victims and Veterans Association is signed by JoAnn Gildersleeve Feraca, daughter of the owners of the Wounded Knee Trading Post, which was destroyed during the occupation; Romona and Saunie Wilson, daughters of the late Oglala Sioux Tribal Chairman Richard "Dick" Wilson; Richard Two Elk, a Wounded Knee veteran and former AIM member; Joseph H. Trimbach, a retired FBI special agent in charge; Patrick LeBeau, an Indian Studies professor at Michigan State University; Paul DeMain, editor of News from Indian Country; Shawn White Wolf, CEO of White Wolf Media Group; and John M. Trimbach, who co-authored the book "American Indian Mafia" with his father, Joseph Trimbach.
All but the Trimbachs are Native American.
The film includes archival footage from the takeover along with present-day interviews with AIM leaders Dennis Banks, Russell Means, Carter Camp and others.
John Trimbach said the Wounded Knee group wants equal time from PBS to "dispel the myths and correct the damage done to the historical record" by the film.
A group calling itself The Wounded Knee Victims and Veterans Association has accused PBS of presenting a slanted version of events during the American Indian Movement's takeover of Wounded Knee village in 1973.
The 71-day occupation was the subject of "Wounded Knee," the last installment in national public broadcasting's "American Experience -- We Shall Remain" film series. "Wounded Knee" aired Monday and Tuesday.
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Group members say the film, directed by Stanley Nelson, uses distortions, half-truths and false statements to glorify AIM without telling the other side of the story.
"This film attempts to explain away the destruction of the village by invoking historical issues (broken treaties, Indian boarding schools, government-sponsored relocation, etc.) and by rationalizing the criminality of the perpetrators," reads a letter the group sent to PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger. "One of the film's worst transgressions is its contemptible disregard for the real victims of Wounded Knee, the villagers who lived there."
A group spokesman provided a copy of Kerger's e-mail response to the letter, in which she says, "Please know that we take allegations of the nature described in your letters very seriously."
Kerger said the allegations were shared with the "producing station" for "Wounded Knee" and the "We Shall Remain" series for review. She said she would provide a more complete response after reviewing the producers' findings.
The letter from the Wounded Knee Victims and Veterans Association is signed by JoAnn Gildersleeve Feraca, daughter of the owners of the Wounded Knee Trading Post, which was destroyed during the occupation; Romona and Saunie Wilson, daughters of the late Oglala Sioux Tribal Chairman Richard "Dick" Wilson; Richard Two Elk, a Wounded Knee veteran and former AIM member; Joseph H. Trimbach, a retired FBI special agent in charge; Patrick LeBeau, an Indian Studies professor at Michigan State University; Paul DeMain, editor of News from Indian Country; Shawn White Wolf, CEO of White Wolf Media Group; and John M. Trimbach, who co-authored the book "American Indian Mafia" with his father, Joseph Trimbach.
All but the Trimbachs are Native American.
The film includes archival footage from the takeover along with present-day interviews with AIM leaders Dennis Banks, Russell Means, Carter Camp and others.
John Trimbach said the Wounded Knee group wants equal time from PBS to "dispel the myths and correct the damage done to the historical record" by the film.
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Re: John Trimbach said the Wounded Knee group wants equal time from PBS to "dispel .......
Sat, May 23, 2009 - 5:47 AMThere is no doubt that two asides of any story exists. The minority point of view likely has not been presented with as much attention. But for those whose lives were eventually improved by the repercussions from national and world pressure,it remains a story worthy of a positive retelling.
