College to Host Panel on 'Recurrent Ramapough Stigma' in New Film

Local academic leaders and members of the Ramapough Lenape Nation will have a chance Wednesday to discuss the implications of a new film that local leaders say perpetuates negative stereotypes against the Ramapough people. 

A professor in the Ramapo College Masters in Sustainability
Studies announced Monday that the school will host a panel discussion about Out of the Furnace that will continue a conversation local leaders started earlier this month. 

The panel is set to discuss, “recurrent stigmatizing myths about the
Ramapough Indians perpetuated by the new film Out of the
Furnace,” Professor Mike Edelstein announced Monday.

The panel is set to include:

• Chief Dwaine Perry, Ramapough-Lenape Nation
• Sub-Chief Vincent Mann, Ramapough-Lenape Nation
• Mahwah Mayor William Laforet
• Judith Joan Sullivan, Esq. President, Ramapough Conservancy
• Ed Lenik, Archeologist and Author
• Chuck Stead, Adjunct Professor, Ramapo College and Cornell
• Cooperative Extension

According to Edelstein, film representatives and movie cast members were invited to the event, but have not responded. 

The panel discussion will start at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Ramapo College Pavillion. 

The event comes nearly two weeks after Perry, Laforet, and Mahwah Schools Superintendent Lauren Schoen held a press conference speaking out against the film's apparent depiction of Ramapough people.