kristinem-63921

The community of Pine Point viewed the film and believes it portrays a very incomplete impression of the Pine Point Community. The Pine Point Community Council gave a statement that it does not endorse the film as representative of the Pine Point Community at large. The film shows a very negative side of the community. We are not saying that these problems of drug abuse, alcohol and gang activity don't exist, every community has these problems. It seems that this film is consistent with the usual media practice of highlighting this lifestyle on an Indian Reservation. And the general public thinks that all Natives live like this. This is unfortunate because the behavior that is portrayed in the film is a small fraction of the overall community behavior, and the film fails to highlight the vast spectrum of positive behavior in the community. For instance, the image of the car burning in the street happened to be a demolition derby car that was in the Rez car parade. Positive community events like: a drug and alcohol free music festival, annual pow wow, community Christmas dinner, Veterans dinner, haunted house at the old school, demolition derby, rez car parade, community picnics, weekly community fire, family fun day activities are not portrayed. The community council recently paid off a $50,000 loan that helped build the pow wow ground and softball field. The title of the film does not tell the true meaning of the Ojibwe culture and spirituality. Nor does the film show the true Ojibwe prophecy of the Seventh Fire. This leaves the viewer with a vastly incomplete understanding of our community. There are many natives from the community that enjoy a life of sobriety and there are those who are affected by drugs and alcohol who continue to fight to straighten their lives out and live the Red Road of sobriety.