Kim Lyman Producer Profile

Printer-friendly versionOn May 9th, 2007 a bill was unanimously passed to bring six previously unrecognized tribes into recognition.They (the tribes) have spent many years, and I have been alongside with them watching this journey for years and when I heard the news it was just tears of joy for their success,” says Lyman. The journey began back in the 1920s during one of the darkest eras in American history. In what became known as the “paper genocide” Virginia natives were forced to profile themselves as either “white” or “colored,” in effect, eliminating “Native American” as a race. This wiped out much of the historical documentation of these tribes, making it difficult to gain federal recognition.The passing of this bill in the house brings the Chickahominy, Chickahominy Eastern Division, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Monacan and Nansemond to the verge of federal recognition. “I am very excited for them, and it’s been a long time coming for the first people of Virginia,” says Lyman. For someone who has dedicated a good portion of her career to advancing Native American recognition, this is especially great to hear. Lyman has been a filmmaker since her early years of college. While at school she was doing some research about her heritage and came to an alarming conclusion. “What I found was there was little or nothing available regarding Indian history, as told by the Indian people…and I decided way back then that I wanted to do something about that.”