The Ground Beneath Us, a WTCI-produced documentary, explores the important work being done locally to preserve the Native American history of our region

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – April 9, 2009 – Join WTCI-TV (PBS) on April 16 at 7 p.m. at the Chattanoogan Hotel Ballroom for a premiere screening of The Ground Beneath Us, a WTCI-produced documentary that focuses on the important work being done locally to preserve the Native American history of our region. WTCI will also show a 30-minute preview for AMERICAN EXPERIENCE’S We Shall Remain series, a ground breaking mini-series and multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history. Jack Baker, President of the Trail of Tears Association and Tribal Councilman for the Cherokee Nation, will lead a facilitated discussion after the screening.

The screening event is hosted by WTCI-TV (PBS) and Friends of Moccasin Bend in partnership with the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, who will be in town April 16-18 for a Joint Council meeting at Red Clay State Historical Park. The screening event is one of many WTCI and several partner organizations have planned throughout March and April as part of an extensive outreach project for the We Shall Remain series. Last year, WTCI was chosen as one of five PBS stations from across the country to receive a $20,000 grant to create a community coalition to make local and regional connections to the national story presented by We Shall Remain.

“As a PBS station, WTCI’s connections within the community are critical, and we view ourselves as a place for important dialogue about our history,” said Paul Grove, WTCI President and CEO. “The We Shall Remain project has allowed us to not only strengthen our community partnerships, but it is our hope that we will be able to extend the reach of the series and its crucial message: that Native history is our collective history.”

The Ground Beneath Us features a variety of leaders, scholars, and Native Americans from our region, including U.S. Representative Zach Wamp, Russell Townsend, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, Dr. Nick Honerkamp, Director of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Alva Crowe, Citizen of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. The documentary also features several students from the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma who visited this area to learn more about their history and walk on the land of their ancestors. Peter DeLynn, WTCI Senior Vice President of Production and Operations, is the Executive Producer and Wallace Braud is the Producer of the documentary.

“The Ground Beneath Us extends the message of the national We Shall Remain series to a more local level,” said Peter DeLynn, Executive Producer of The Ground Beneath Us and WTCI Senior Vice President of Production and Operations. “Instead of focusing on the past, the documentary explores the present work being done to preserve and remember our region’s Native American history. WTCI is honored to be involved in a project of such importance to our community.”

The We Shall Remain series includes five 90-minute documentaries spanning 300 years that tell the story of pivotal moments in U.S. history from the Native American perspective. Each of the episodes focuses on important historical events, telling five sometimes heartbreaking, but always inspiring, little-known stories. Episode 3—focused on the Trail of Tears—will air on April 27 at 9 p.m., featuring footage from Red Clay State Historical Park, the Chief Van House in Chatsworth, and New Echota State Park. The Ground Beneath Us will debut on WTCI on April 27 at 10:30 p.m. following the Trail of Tears.

The We Shall Remain series will premiere on WTCI-TV (PBS) beginning Monday, April 13 at 9 p.m. and will air each Monday at 9 p.m. through May 11. The episode schedule includes: Episode 1 – After the Mayflower (April 13); Episode 2 – Tecumseh’s Vision (April 20); Episode 3 – Trail of Tears (April 27); Episode 4 – Geronimo (May 4); and Episode 5 – Wounded Knee (May 11). Additional details about the series and several other upcoming events can be found at local events or pbs.org/weshallremain

WTCI, PBS for the Tennessee Valley, has been helping the community “Be more connected” for nearly 40 years. Through quality programming and educational outreach services, WTCI can help you “Be More!”

Click here for more information on We Shall Remain.