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Georgina Lightning: Older Than America

Georgina Lightning, Older Than America, 2008. Photo: courtesy the filmmaker.

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A woman’s haunting visions reveal a Catholic priest’s sinister plot to silence her mother from speaking the truth about atrocities that took place at her Native American boarding school. Director Georgina Lightning’s suspenseful drama delves into the lasting impact of the cultural genocide and loss of identity that occurred at these institutions across the United States and Canada. Locally produced by Christine Kunewa Walker and filmed in Cloquet, Minnesota, Older Than America features Tantoo Cardinal (Métis) as Auntie Apple. 2008, US, HDCAM, 102 minutes.

Director’s Statement

Our goal in making this film was … to shed light on a widely unknown issue that has had a lasting impact on the Native American community. … The phrase “Older Than America” refers to who we were as a nation before mandatory assimilation transformed our identity. … The film is dedicated to Georgina Lightning’s father, George De Jong, who after years of battling the demons of boarding school, ultimately committed suicide. —Georgina Lightning and Christine Kunewa Walker

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