Forgotten Founder
This new documentary uncovers the history of Mohegan minister and educator Samson Occom, whose fundraising efforts were instrumental in Dartmouth's founding.
Co-directed by Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, a direct descendant of Occom, and filmmaker Signe Taylor, this new documentary uncovers the largely erased history of Samson Occom, a Mohegan minister, educator and Indigenous intellectual whose fundraising efforts were instrumental in the founding of Dartmouth College. Despite his central role, Occom's contributions—and the promises made to Native communities—were minimized or omitted from the historical record.
Weaving together past and present through an intimate, intergenerational lens, the film features three of Occom's descendants—two as interview participants and one portraying Occom on screen—creating a rare dialogue between history, memory and lived experience. Through Indigenous voices, archival materials and embodied performance, Forgotten Founder explores legacy, accountability and survival.
As the United States continues to reflect on its 250th anniversary, the film arrives at a critical moment. In an era when history itself is fiercely contested, Forgotten Founder calls for a fuller, more honest reckoning with America's origins—one that acknowledges Indigenous presence, contribution and resilience, and insists that these stories be restored to the center of our national memory.
Film Runtime: 28min. Discussion follows.
Programmed as part of Indigenous People's Month in collaboration with the Native American Program, the Dartmouth Libraries and the Office of Communications
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