Every Indigenous community has cultural heritage items within archives, libraries, and museums that they do not own, control or govern the circulation of. Awasəwehlαwə́lətinα wikəwαmok – They Returned Home charts the groundbreaking work undertaken by the Penobscot Nation to restore their cultural authority within institutions in Maine and around the world. This 20 minute documentary highlights the innovative and inter-connected strategies that three leaders from the Penobscot Nation are deploying to address ongoing structures of colonial violence and erasure of Indigenous culture. Through their efforts in digital re-matriation, language revitalization and codification of Penobscot authority, they are charting a new course towards more symbiotic relationships with the museums and institutions that “hold” their cultural heritage --- until it can be returned in full.

Film by Andreas Burgess & Jane Anderson in collaboration with James E. Francis, Jennifer Neptune & Darren Ranco. 2023. 20min.