“Heart of the Drum” Film Project

As a part of the promise to the Kansas Humanities Council and Missouri Humanities Council, from whom we have been awarded development grants totalling $20,000 sponsored by US taxpayers and the National Endowment of the Humanities, we are seeking further funding for the production of Heart of the Drum. Currently working with colleagues and connections in Los Angeles and Kansas City, Edie Robinette-Petrachi is developing the necessary relationships to build upon the foundation for further funding. Additional possibilities lie not only within the film investment community, but also within the private foundation world. The Annenberg Foundation, based in Philadelphia, is an additional opportunity for us as well. We are working as quickly as possible to encourage participation from potential funders who are passionate about bringing the Delaware story to the screen for the world to see. Jack Robinette has been meeting with local corporation sponsors and foundations in the Kansas City area.

Jim Rementer has done some research into his collection of videos and recordings of Nora Dean Thompson and other tribal members to provide archival footage for the film. Additionally he has identified and succeeded in finding scholars in the Philadelphia area to provide history of the tribe in Pennsylvania. Anita Mathis has provided several wonderful suggestions for meeting on the campus with the youth of the tribe for the portion of the film that will include video interviews between youth and elders in a modern-day context.

Film Director Edie Robinette-Petrachi has been chosen to be a judge at the Kansas City Film Festival (April 10-15), as well as screen a film she worked on as a director and producer. This film was originally produced by HEART OF THE DRUM producer Jack Robinette. During the Kansas City Film Festival, Edie and Jack will be on hand to host a meet-and-greet with the directors of the Kansas and Missouri Humanities Councils. State and federal legislators introduced by Chief Paula Pechonick and Tribal Project Director Anita Mathis to the film project will be invited as well. We view this opportunity as an important step in raising local awareness in the Kansas City and Lawrence communities. The Humanities Councils are especially pleased with this invitation as it draws attention to the story of the Delaware Tribe’s important role in shaping the history of these two states, which otherwise have a bitter history of border conflicts dating back to the Civil War. The Delaware presence in the two states between around 1830 and the late 1860s, pre-dating the period known as “Bleeding Kansas,” is both an important story in itself, often untold and not properly understood, but also a message of healing. The positive resonance of this story is receiving favorable attention which we are depending upon to secure all of the funding we need. Edie is building community awareness and developing a Facebook Movie webpage to provide updates to her film community and develop an audience base for future crowd funding.

Edie Robinette-Petrachi