American Native

In 2011 I was contacted by a television producer named Corey Bobker about whether I was willing to be interviewed for the film based on my book, The Ramapo Mountain People. When I finally viewed "American Native," I was dismayed to find out that they omitted major parts of my interview, especially those parts that refute the points made by my critics. Yet they included attacks against me and my integrity.

They also included extensive interviews with an anthropologist named Christine Gabrowski. a tribal lawyer named Arlinda Locklear, and an archaeologist named Ed Lenik. But they fail to note that Gabrowski is the principal anthropologist at a business that contracts with non-recognized tribes to help them gain recognition, Locklear is a Lumbee Indian (a so-called tribe that has partial recognition by an act of Congress and has failed to obtain full recognition from the Bureau of Indian Affairs), and Lenik has only a masters degree in anthropology. Nor did they conduct interviews I suggested with two independent- minded scholars: Dr.David Oestreicher, a Rutgers Ph.D. in anthropology who taught the Ramapoughs Delaware Indian words, dances, crafts, and traditions; nor Dr. Robert S. Grumet, another Rutgers Ph.D. who is an expert on Lenape leadership based on a study of the signers of Indian land deeds.

I have asked Steven Oritt to post my entire interview on the "American Native" website, which is what reputable documentaries have done. But neither he nor Bobker have done so.

I want to thank you all for your work with our nation.... I can remember asking a question as to why you were here and receiving a answer that in the end carried with it different thoughts about who "we" the Ramapough Munsee truly are... as for the likes of some interviewees it Carrie's with the interviews strong prejudices of a colonial mind....

Again hats off to you all and anushiik for all your efforts to tell a true story of our history as best can be ...

Chief Mann Turtle Clan Chief Ramapough Lunaape Nation

I am a volunteer lawyer and I run a charity for the Ramapough Mountains called Ramapough Conservancy. I have been working with archaeologists and historians for about seven years now and we have been closely studying the Native American tribe The Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation, the subject of this film. Our consulting archaeologist, Ed Lenik, has been studying the tribe for decades and has proven the tribe's ancestral lineage through published works, research, lectures and numerous awards. The film accurately and brilliantly portrays the every day aspects of the tribe's existence which are easily understood and examined by the audience into large scale issues the tribe has struggled with to this day. Their ceremony is lovingly portrayed in the film as is their very closeness to each other. They are a gorgeous people and I can understand why the producers and film makers feel an extraordinary closeness to them, as do most professionals after working with them. There is also a great spirit living in the Ramapo Mountains which after volunteering for the tribe for many years, has brought good fortune to my life and to others I help. Mr. Cohen's research is, from what I understand, dated and obsolete, while Mr. Lenik continues to publish new books every other year or so. Mr. Lenik is highly regarding in the archaeological and academic community and is very active in preserving the Ramapough culture. Together with our geologist, we study ancient cemeteries of the Ramapough in the mountains, and newly found archaeological treasures, and "re-found" treasures, like the first school for the Ramapough. I also loved the visual work in the film which included the stand alone portraits of tribal members with the so important mountains and forests woven in. The forest and water are big here in the Ramapo Mountains. The tribe enjoys the support of the academic communities at Ramapo College, Rutgers University, New York University and William Paterson College. Many academics volunteer time to assist the tribe in areas of health concern, geology and water concerns, and historical background. There is no doubt in any of our highly trained and extraordinarily educated minds, that the film accurately portrays a tribe, in essence, hiding for their lives and only in the last ten years, "coming out" through very talented folks like the makers of American Native.

I find it funny to hear Cohen complain about not presenting the full interview when he himself did the same dis-service when he wrote his college thesis about the Ramapough and despite the evidence presented, decided to omit the positive and perpetuate the stereotype and publish it. He whole career was based on that lie of a book and some would question the timing of his publishing with their quest for federal recognition. As for refuting all of the people involved, notice how states everyone else is unqualified and wrong and ONLY he is right. I've given him more time than he deserves. This movie is a great start to separating facts from fiction about the Ramapough. I applaud the people involved in making this.