The Silver City Public Library, in collaboration with the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society, will host a free online showing of Neither Wolf Nor Dog, a Steven Lewis Simpson film adapted from the best-selling Native American novel by Kent Nerburn and starring Dave Bald Eagle, Christopher Sweeney, Richard Ray Whitman, Roseanne Supernault, Tatanka Means, and Zahn McClarnon. The film will be accessible via a special web link for one week, from December 6 through December 12, 2020. 

Neither Wolf Nor Dog by Kent Nerburn follows a white author who gets sucked into the heart of contemporary Native American life in the sparse lands of the Dakotas by a 95 year old Lakota elder and his side-kick. No other novel is seen to so successfully bridge the gap between white America and the Native American world. The film is produced and directed by British director Steven Lewis Simpson whose first award-winning feature premièred at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 1994. Neither Wolf Nor Dog author Kent Nerburn approached him personally as Simpson had already directed two features in Lakota Country previously.

During filming at Wounded Knee, the site of the 1890 massacre, the script and the novel were abandoned and Dave Bald Eagle improvised the entire sequence, talking about the massacre. At the end of filming the scene. Dave turned to Chris Sweeney who played Nerburn and said he'd been “holding that in for 95 years.” 

“While our in-person events are cancelled, we are encouraged by this opportunity to bring a powerful film to our community,” said Lillian Galloway, library assistant director. “I am pleased that the library can continue to connect people to thought-provoking stories and start productive conversations. Thanks to the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society for collaborating with us.”

For information about library events and services, visit silvercitypubliclibrary.org or contact the library at programs@silvercitymail.com or 575-538-3672.