Sovereign Nation / Sovereign Neighbor
Documentary that follows the events surrounding the 2003 Narragansett Smoke Shop Raid in Charlestown, Rhode Island.
Sovereign Nation/Sovereign Neighbor explores the word ‘sovereignty’ from the Narragansett Indian point of view.
In this short film, tribe members voice how legacies of state and federal action and laws have encouraged or discouraged understanding between the tribe and the state of Rhode Island. The making of the film was inspired by the need to understand the legal justifications behind the 2003 Narragansett Smoke Shop Raid in Charlestown, Rhode Island.
Since the making of the film, the Narragansett tribe has continued their fight for its right to function as a sovereign nation. In December 2006, the tribe appealed to the Federal Supreme Court to have its case heard, which was denied. In January 2007, court cases began for the members of the tribe who were arrested for assault and resisting arrest in the Rhode Island Smoke Shop Raid. So far, one member of the tribe has won his case against the state and was awarded over $300,000 in damages.
Sovereign Nation / Sovereign Neighbor can be watched online.
The film can also be purchased as part of the Media That Matters Film Festival 7 DVD (not yet available). A discussion guide is available.
Publishing Organization: Arts EngineDirector/Producer: Kendall Moore
Length: 7 min
Language: | English |
Year Published: 2007
Countries & Regions: | Americas |United States |
Type: | Documentaries |
Subject: | Business | Dialogue | Governance/Political Systems | Rule of Law |