Man Bites Dog Films records, 1990-1991, 2000-2024, 1975-1979

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Summary

Creator:
Man Bites Dog Films
Abstract:
Man Bites Dog Films is the creator of the podcast Leonard: Political Prisoner, which received the Rubenstein Library's first Human Rights Audio Documentary Award in 2021. The podcast details the case of Leonard Peltier, an Indigenous activist and artist who is serving a life sentence in prison for allegedly killing two FBI agents in 1975. Collection includes episodes and transcripts from season one of the podcast, as well as bonus interviews and transcripts, photographs, art, and supporting documents. Acquired as part of the Human Rights Archive and Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.
Extent:
31.7 Gigabytes
4 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.12041

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of twenty-two episodes and accompanying transcripts, comprising seasons one and two of Leonard: Political Prisoner. Also included are bonus interviews and transcripts with Leonard Peltier; several Lakota people, including Chase Iron Eyes, Edgar Bear Runner, and Milo Yellow Hair; as well as filmmaker Michael Apted, reporter Kevin McTiernan, Dr. Tria Blu Wakpa, Indigenous activist Lenny Foster, and others. The bonus material featuring Lenny Foster has a short standalone profile of him entitled "Behind Iron Doors."

Supporting documentation for Leonard: Political Prisoner consists of documents and interviews from the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, an advocacy group working to secure Peltier's release, transcripts of interviews that Michael Apted conducted while creating the films "Incident at Oglala" and "Thunderheart" (both about Peltier), artwork created by Leonard Peltier, and documents covering the trials, newspaper clippings, and correspondence with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Also included are photographs of Peltier, Indigenous Peoples Day (2019), a 2019 visit to Pine Ridge Reservation, a 2021 trip to North Dakota, a 2021 trip to Washington, DC, and interview subjects for the podcast.

Biographical / historical:

Man Bites Dog Films is a media production company owned by Rory Owen Delaney and Andrew Fuller. The company is the creator the podcast Leonard: Political Prisoner, which received the Rubenstein Library's first Human Rights Audio Documentary Award in 2021. The podcast details the case of Leonard Peltier, an Indigenous activist and artist who is serving a life sentence in prison for allegedly killing two FBI agents in 1975.

Leonard Peltier (Anishinabe/Dakota/Lakota) is an Indigenous rights activist, artist, writer, and great-grandfather. He was born on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation (Chippewa) in North Dakota on September 12, 1944. He had thirteen siblings and grew up in poverty. He became active in the American Indian Movement in the 1960s and 1970s, working in Seattle, Denver, and finally the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, helping Indigenous communites, planning programs, and advocating for Indigenous rights. On June 26, 1975, two FBI agents were killed in a shooting on Pine Ridge Reservation, and after a controversial trial, Peltier was convicted of killing both agents. The trial was controversial for many reasons, including contradictory evidence, false and/or contradictory testimonies, an unfair trial (all-white jury and a location change), and Peltier's illegal extradition from Canada. Despite numerous appeals, Peltier remains incarcerated as of 2022. Peltier has described himself as a political prisoner.

The American Indian Movement (AIM) began in 1968 as a grassroots movement, primarily focused on addressing police brutality against Native Americans. AIM quickly expanded its scope to advocate for Indigenous rights and push back against settler colonialism and policies, as well as to preserve and restore Indigenous culture.

Source: International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee; American Indian Movement Grand Governing Council (accessed August 23, 2022).

Acquisition information:
The Man Bites Dog Films records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2022 and 2024.
Processing information:

Processed by Leah Tams, August 2022, and [Matthew] Farrell, March 2024.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2022-0049, 2022-0101, 2024-0046.

Physical facet:
1 piece of artwork
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access note. Collection contains electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Man Bites Dog Films records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1dq7w