Filmmaker Jared Lank Connects Identity, Food, and Cinema in New Sundance Series

Park City, UT – Filmmaker Jared Lank is offering a deeply personal exploration of cultural identity, family history, and the power of storytelling through Sundance’s “Dinner and a Movie” series. Lank’s contribution, centered around the 1990 film Powwow Highway and a cherished family recipe for Luskinikn, a Mi’kmaq bannock, delves into the complexities of navigating Native American identity in a world often defined by stereotypes and misrepresentation. This story, rooted in Lank’s upbringing in Maine, promises a poignant reflection on belonging, remembrance, and the enduring strength of cultural traditions.

Reclaiming Identity: A Journey Through Memory and Film

Growing up, November held a specific magic for Jared Lank: the start of hunting season and evenings spent around the kitchen table with his father and great uncle. These weren’t just meals; they were immersive storytelling sessions, a passing down of family history. Lank’s ancestors, Mi’kmaq people, had left Nova Scotia generations ago, finding work as farmhands in Aroostook County before settling in southern Maine. These stories, filled with resilience and adaptation, formed the bedrock of Lank’s early understanding of his heritage.

However, this idyllic connection to his roots was often fractured by the realities of being one of the few Native American children in his school. The imposing “Arundel Indians” mascot plaque in the hallway served as a constant, jarring reminder of the disconnect between the vibrant, nuanced stories he heard at home and the limited, often stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans in mainstream culture. “The Indian I was at home wasn’t the boy I was at school,” Lank reflects, a sentiment that encapsulates the internal conflict many mixed-heritage individuals experience.

The 1990s curriculum largely ignored the diversity of Native American cultures, focusing instead on Western tribes and romanticized depictions. When his identity was acknowledged, it was often met with questions about his appearance – did he “look” Native enough? This constant questioning led Lank to internalize a sense of shame and distance himself from his family’s stories. It took years to unlearn this self-doubt and embrace his heritage with pride.

Lank’s selection of Powwow Highway (1990) as the film pairing for his grandmother’s Luskinikn recipe is no accident. The film’s distinctly 1980s aesthetic evokes a powerful sense of nostalgia, transporting him back to those comforting evenings in his uncle’s apartment. But beyond the aesthetic appeal, Powwow Highway offered something more profound: a glimmer of recognition. The characters, particularly Philbert (Gary Farmer), resonated with Lank’s own family members, embodying a complex mix of anger, humor, and pride.

“There’s a deeper significance though,” Lank explains. “Films like Powwow Highway represented a new way of understanding my own identity as it related to Indians on the screen.”

Luskinikn, a Mi’kmaq bannock, is more than just a recipe; it’s a symbol of Native resilience and adaptation. Born from necessity during a time of colonization, this simple bread represents the ingenuity and perseverance of Lank’s ancestors. It’s a food meant to be shared, a catalyst for conversation and connection.

Today, as Lank embarks on his career as a filmmaker, he carries these memories with him. His grandmother’s Luskinikn, with its comforting aroma and rich history, serves as a constant reminder of the power of storytelling and the importance of honoring one’s roots. He hopes that by sharing this recipe and his story, he can inspire others to connect with their own heritage and find strength in their identity.

What role does food play in preserving your family’s history and traditions? And how can cinema serve as a bridge between generations and cultures?

Grammy’s “Micmac From Way Back” Luskinikn Recipe

INGREDIENTS

4 Cups Flour
4 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Salt
20 Tbsp (1 ¼ Cup) Shortening or Lard (my Grammy used Crisco)
1 Cup Water

DIRECTIONS

Combine dry ingredients into mixing bowl.
Add shortening and lightly knead into dry ingredients.
Slowly add up to 1 cup of water while continuing to knead and fold into a ball until it holds together.
Form dough into a roughly 1–1 ½” thick loaf on an ungreased cookie sheet and score into equal square parts with a sharp knife.

Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 40–50 minutes or until lightly golden.
Remove from the oven and lightly tap. If it feels more hollow than soft, it’s done.

Serve with butter and jam with a hot cup of Red Rose tea over a game of Rummy 500.

Jared Lank is a 2025 Native Lab Fellow and a Mi’kmaq filmmaker from Maine. His work explores themes of cultural erasure, myth, and resilience. His debut short film, Bay of Herons, was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival, and he was featured in Filmmaker magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film.”

Frequently Asked Questions About Jared Lank and Powwow Highway

1. What is the significance of Powwow Highway in Jared Lank’s personal journey? Powwow Highway offered Lank a rare glimpse of characters and stories that resonated with his own family and experiences, helping him to reconcile his identity.
2. What is Luskinikn, and why is it important to Jared Lank’s family? Luskinikn is a traditional Mi’kmaq bannock that represents resilience, adaptation, and the importance of sharing a meal and stories.
3. How did Jared Lank’s upbringing influence his filmmaking? Lank’s upbringing, marked by both a strong connection to his heritage and the challenges of navigating identity in a predominantly white environment, deeply informs his artistic vision.
4. What is the Sundance Native Lab Fellowship? The Sundance Native Lab Fellowship supports Indigenous filmmakers in developing their projects and advancing their careers.
5. Where can I learn more about Mi’kmaq culture and history? Resources like the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI (https://mikmaqconfederacy.com/) and the Native American Rights Fund (https://www.narf.org/) offer valuable information.