Produced by Michael Atwood, Long Journey Home offers a look at present day Delawares, as well as a reflection of their passage into the 21st Century. Rita Kohn, co-producer of the program, gives us an insight into the creation of this look at the Delawares of Indiana.

Long Journey Home is breaking new ground as a documentary. To show the resilience of Delaware Indians culture, the story unfolds specifically through family transmittal within the home and tribal settings. Descendants of Chief Anderson demonstrate how and why they now, and their ancestors before them, have retained their heritage despite wrenching assaults upon their way of life, traditions and beliefs, and what realistic challenges face them in the present and future. The intent of the documentary is to abstain from the stereotypical expectations, to not romanticize, victimize or isolate the Delawares. There are no talking heads; American Indians are their own "experts."

The choice of a lead cameraperson was deliberate. The content, context and delivery are intertwined. Whether the people speaking, dancing, going about their daily business are wearing mainstream clothing or tribal regalia, the emphasis is on the people at one with the setting. Tony Williams understands the fine line of walking in, and between, several worlds, the inherent focus and circularity of Lenape thinking, doing, living. Long Journey Home attains its distinctive look through attention to detail that does not draw attention to the detail. Its strength is accuracy, honesty and truthfulness according to what the participants know and do, presented without censorship, comment upon or explication of what is going on. Because there is no interpreter between what's going on and the audience, the communication is direct, immediate, challenging.

By revealing the Delawares story, Hoosiers connect with a here-to-fore part of their past and the vibrancy of a present that invites them to seek out, participate in and bring forward their own particular heritage as a proud citizen in state where diversity and multiculturalism are assets. Indiana can be a place where we make those we've historically rendered invisible, visible; where we recognize the common humanity within our differences; where being different is commendable. Long Journey Home emphasizes the Delaware Indians' saga, but ultimately it is the universal story of tenacity, transition and transmittal that keeps a culture alive.

A journey begins somewhere, at some time, and if we are open to the possibilities, the continuum keeps us from being bored, becoming jaded, falling into ignorance.

Long Journey Home: The Delawares Of Indiana, initiated by Dee Ketchum, then Chief of the Delaware Tribe of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, started with collecting oral histories from contemporary Delawares whose heritage relates to Chief Anderson, for whom Anderson, Indiana, is named. The resulting book is to be published by Indiana University Press. A grant from the Indiana Arts Commission to explore the making of a documentary led to the partnership with WFYI Indianapolis under the leadership of Clayton Taylor and Michael Atwood. A generous grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust made possible the documentary. A menu of supporting activities specific to the Delaware Indians sojourn in Indiana, includes classroom guides, a Web site, historical markers indicating original Delaware village sites along the White River, a DVD, and collaborations with Conner Prairie, Eiteljorg Museum, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana State Museum, White River State Park, Indiana 2016, and the Governor's Native American Council, in addition to collaborations with the Indiana American Indian Theatre Company, POLIS Spirit & Place Festival, Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Department of Education and IU School of Journalism at Indianapolis.