Bury My Heart With Tonawanda

A historical film about the Seneca culture featuring the Tonawanda Indian Reservation, Bury My Heart with Tonawanda tells the story of a developmentally disabled boy with Downs Syndrome who is rejected by his own family but is accepted and nurtured by the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. The film is written, edited and produced by Adrian Esposito a young man who himself has an autism spectrum disorder and is directed by Gary Sundown from the Tonawanda Indian Reservation in western New York state. Shunned by 19th century society, a man with a disability finds love and acceptance with the Seneca Nation. Bury My Heart with Tonawanda tells the story of John Harrison, a developmentally disabled boy with Downs Syndrome, who is rejected by his own family, but accepted and nurtured by the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. The film teaches us about Seneca culture, beliefs and myths. Above all, the story reveals the positive effects of love and respect and challenges our historical stereotypes about Native Americans. The film is endorsed by and stars many from the Tonawanda Indian Reservation including their tribal elders. For this reason, the film becomes a piece of living history--a testament to the past but also depicting a nation intent on preserving its culture, traditions and language for the future.