WEEKEND: Chief Seattle’s daughter topic of documentary
Published 12:01 am Friday, March 1, 2013
PORT ANGELES — Filmmaker Sandra Johnson Osawa, a member of the Makah tribe who now lives in Seattle, will make two appearances this week when her documentary “Princess Angeline” is screened at Peninsula College and the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center.
She will talk about the film documenting the life of Princess Angeline, the daughter of Chief Seattle, and her work immediately following both screenings tonight and Saturday.
Tonight’s showing is part of Peninsula College’s Magic of Cinema film series and will be screened at 7 p.m. in Maier Performance Hall on the college campus at 502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
General admission is $5. It is free to Peninsula College students with identification.
The Saturday screening will be at 3 p.m. at the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center, 401 E. First St.
Admission is a suggested donation of $5 to $10.
All proceeds will go to the Elwha Drum Group and the Elwha Canoe Family.
A suggested $5 to $10 donation is suggested for admission.
Osawa was a debate champion at Port Angeles High School and the senior class president.
She was the first Native American producer to produce a major television series, had a fishing-rights program called “Survival” and has filmed all over Indian Country, making documentaries for the past 36 years.
She also made “Maria Tallchief,” a documentary about America’s first prima ballerina, and presented the film at Peninsula College last October.
End of her life
Toward the end of her life, Princess Angeline — whose face is seen on many postcards — lived alone, refusing to leave her homeland, said Brenda Francis, Lower Elwha Klallam spokeswoman.
Many have wondered what historical events led to her being one of the few Duwamish people left in Seattle by the 1890s, only 35 years after a peace treaty, Francis said.
Osawa’s film explores her story as well as the story of the Duwamish and their unrecognized tribal status, Francis said.
The Peninsula College showing is co-sponsored by the Peninsula College Longhouse of Learning.
The showing at the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center is co-sponsored by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Council and the Center for Community Design.
