Film tracks tribe’s relationship with river> Video delves into Penobscot’s history and changes since 15th century arrival of Europeans

While the trickling river waters flow in the background, a woman’s thoughts are expressed in a voice-over. “There’s a certain amount of personal peace by being close to the river,” she says. And later, her voice comes again: “The river has always been our lifeblood.”

The Penobscot People have an ancient relationship with the river. It has been a source of food, medicine, transportation and inspiration for thousands of years. They share its name and revere its role in the natural world. It has been a spiritual center, the site of visions quests and prayer lodges.

In an effort to reveal both the value and preservation of the river, the Penobscot Indian Nation has released “Penobscot: The People and Their River,” a 28-minute video written by Gunnar Hansen and David Westphal.

The film reveals the history of the river, the mythology of its origins and the changes that have occured since the 15th century, when Europeans arrived and began claiming the river’s resources. It also takes the viewer into the labs where tests on water quality have revealed dangerous levels of toxins caused by pollution and development.

“We felt our message about how we felt about the river and our fishing rights were not being heard by various governmental agencies and the general public,” said Butch Phillips, the film project director and former lieutenant governor of the Penobscot Nation. “We also wanted this to be documented for generations in the future to see our involvement in it.”

Specifically, Phillips hopes that the film will be seen as a strong statement about the Penobscot Nation’s position concerning the Basin Mills hydroelectric project and how it may affect the fishing industry in the area.

The film was produced through a grant from the United States Department of the Interior’s National Park Service and is distributed by the Penobscot Nation Museum on Indian Island. Copies can be purchased at the museum. The film, which has been shown locally, is currently under consideration for broadcast on Maine Public Television.

— by Alicia Anstead