An Arrow Shot Through Time
Bridging an ocean
To the broader North American public, the story of The Gift, an initial contribution of $170 from the Choctaw people to the people of Ireland during the Great Hunger, has long been little more than a footnote in history. But understanding the deeper meaning of that gift, and the threads it wove through the histories of Ireland and the Choctaw Nation, is the true purpose of An Arrow Shot Through Time.
The film takes its name from Waylon White Deer’s iconic painting of the same title, which depicts the story of the Gift as an arrow launched by the Choctaw and landing in Ireland. From that powerful image, the film explores parallel traumas and grows into a story of discovery, identity, and culture.
Production began in the fall of 2024, when director Bill Muench first learned of the Gift. Conversations with Don Mullan and Waylon White Deer led to meetings with historians, writers, athletes, artists, and musicians. The production team quickly realized how intricate and vital this story truly is…not just a story of two cultures in the past, but of two cultures still thriving today, their identities inseparably woven across the tapestry of history.
From Mullan’s rediscovery of the story in the 1990s, to the Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship Program, to public art like Kindred Spirits and Eternal Heart spanning the Atlantic, to the continued acts of generosity between the people of both nations, An Arrow Shot Through Time explores this enduring relationship and its many facets through a deeply personal lens.
Meet the Director: Bill Muench
My journey to An Arrow Shot Through Time began with a letter from Colleen O’Malley. She had just seen my previous film, The Artist & the Astronaut, and reached out to tell me how much she was moved by a segment featuring Pat Musick’s art installation along the Trail of Tears. In her note, she shared a story I had never heard before…that in 1847, while still reeling from their own forced removal, the Choctaw Nation sent $170 to help the Irish people during The Great Hunger.
I remember sitting with that letter, reading it twice, and saying to myself, this is the kind of story the world needs right now. In that instant, I knew I had found my next film.
As a filmmaker, educator, and lifelong coach, I’m always searching for stories that reveal the best of who we are…stories about resilience, compassion, and connection. My time working with Pat Musick and Jerry Carr opened my eyes to the depth of pain behind the Trail of Tears. That experience stayed with me, shaping how I look at humanity and the quiet ways people can positively affect others.
When I learned that the 2020 Irish lacrosse team voluntarily stepped aside to make room for the Haudenosaunee Nationals to compete in the World Lacrosse Games, it stopped me in my tracks. I saw the living echo of that same Choctaw generosity. This was compassion flowing forward through time, culture to culture, person to person.
For me, An Arrow Shot Through Time is not just a documentary…it’s a continuation of that spirit and a chance to bring together sport, history, and humanity, and to remind us that kindness can cross oceans, generations, and pain. This film is deeply personal because it reflects what I’ve learned throughout my life and career: that empathy, once shared, never disappears. It keeps moving forward…like an arrow shot through time.
-Bill
