Documentary Allows Ramapoughs To Tell Their Own Story

A new documentary chronicles the Ramapough Lunaape’s ongoing struggle for recognition as an official Native American Indian tribe by the federal governemnt.

“They’re history has been written by everybody except them,” said filmmakerSteven Oritt, who made the documentary along with Corey Bobker.

It’s about race as a cultural identifier,” Oritt told NJ.com. “It’s a complex story, but it comes down to a very simple thing: Who determines identity? People inside the community, or outsiders?”

Ramapough officials have been trying to get federal recognition for years. The efforts have been met with resistance from Donald Trump, who owns three Atlantic City casinos, and politicians. The tribe has acknowledged that, as part of its federal recognition process, it does not want to build a casino.

The film contains part of a radio interview with Don Imus in 1993 where, NJ.com reported, Trump calls the tribe ”a bunch of drunken Injuns” who want to open a casino.