Arts & Entertainment
Film featuring Onondaga Nation makes its debut


A new movie filmed on the Onondaga Nation in New York is debuting at two film festivals.

"The Reawakening" is about an Onondaga lawyer who returns home to help the tribe build a casino. It is debuting at the 29th American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco and at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

Tribal members played roles in the movie, helped pick out spots for filming and the tribe itself provided some funding. Onondaga Chief Irving Powless plays a tribal leader opposed to gaming, which he opposes in real life.

Other Native actors include Michael Greyeyes as the lawyer returning home, former Menominee chairman Apesanahkwat and Gordon Tootoosis.

The movie was directed by Diane Fraher. She's hoping to find a distributor for a 2005 release.

Get the Story:
Onondaga Nation site of movie set to debut (The Syracuse Post-Standard 11/10)

Internet Movie Database:
The Reawakening (2004)

Relevant Links:
American Indian Film Festival - http://www.aifisf.com