Native american documentary filmmakers

Native american documentary films native american studies. What is the best documentary about native american history. Ever wonder about iron eyes cody in that infamous crying indian psa of the keep america beautiful campaign. Restorative justice models from native american tribal courts are reaching the mainstream court system. An examination of native americans in film and rise of native filmmakers by julia boyd 107 can characters. Big sky film institute native filmmaker initiative fellowship program. A decadeslong epic civil rights battle between one of the wealthier native american tribes and its descendants is highlighted in a documentary on public television later this month.

Shirley cheechoo was born in 1952 in eastmain, quebec, canada. Sterlin harjo is a director and producer, known for mekko 2015. America reframed, the weekly series that features documentaries and short films on the pbs world channel. It received award nominations at the american indian film festival best public service doc and red nation film festival best documentary short, and was an official selection at highway 61 film festival. A 22minute documentary on missing and murdered indigenous women could be the start of a larger, feature length project attempting to remember the lives of native american women and girls that. Native american youth filmmakers launch keystone xl pipeline documentary.

It is still currently being screened at small native film festivals around the country. Julianna brannum, a documentary producer of comanche lineage, notes that within the handful of native americans she sees working in film. There are many opportunities for filmmakers to succeed. Inside life on the lakota sioux reservation l hidden america. Chris eyre, native american director, and ric burns, documentary filmmaker.

A documentary by a western michigan university professor, produced with the help of wmu students, puts five native american women filmmakers on the other side of the camerain front of it. Jhane myers comancheblackfeet is a time warner native producing fellow in the native american and indigenous program at the sundance institute. Indigenous film festivals showcase native stories, but more support is. Californias american indian and indigenous film festival will shine a spotlight on native american women who produce, direct and act in films and television. For example, the indian character may be portrayed in films as wise and peace loving, yet that same character would also be taught important skills by an anglo hero shohat and stam 194. In an effort to support filmmakers, vision maker media collects and provides a number of available opportunities for funding, training, jobs, internships, festival deadlines and more. Native american news the documentary tv made in the usa by tribal people, for tribal people covering everything from whaling rituals to canoe. I would like to see native americans in films and native american film curated by tcm. A bibliography of materials in the uc berkeley library. It received award nominations at the american indian film festival.

Billy jack 1971 windwalker 1980 powwow highway 1989 dances with wolves 1990. Chris eyre was born in 1969 in portland, oregon, usa. These are some of my favoriteimportant films featuring american indianindigenous peoplecharacters. The southern ute drum native american youth filmmakers. Wikipedia categories named after american filmmakers. Bbc world service the documentary, native american news. Members of a native american group sue the makers of the film out of the furnace, saying the movie portrays their native american people in a false light. Native american filmmakers are trying but need the opportunity native filmfest curator joely proudfit wants to see the floodgates open in. The american indian film institute is the premiere native american media and cultural arts exposition in the west coast and its annual film festival is the worlds.

In the plus column for reel injun 2009 is its examination of how american indians often bought into the same myths and misinterpretations as did many whites who grew up seeing films that either denigrated native americans as red savages or elevated them to wise, noble, and tragic children of nature. Many filmmakers might have had the intention of working in fiction film when they started, but the model was very different compared to what you do for pbsthe dominant venue for the last several decades. Native filmfest brings stories by indigenous filmmakers to. An examination of native americans in film and rise of. The cycle of work begins by scouting for and identifying indigenous artists, bringing them through the mechanisms of support at sundance institute to get their work made and shown, then bringing the filmmakers and their work back to native lands. The documentary attempts to reveal the misrepresentation of indigenous culture and tradition in classical hollywood films through interviews with different native actors and extras from various tribes throughout the united states. Native american artists are taking the lead in sharing. Director myron dewey and executive producer doug good feather. To highlight the creative work of talented native americans in film and offer the public insight into contemporary issues and ways of life in native communities, the national museum of the american indian in washington, d.

Like most of the first native american filmmakers, osawa is a. An examination of native americans in film and rise of native. Native american documentaries have shown glimpses of both historical events, individuals, and current issues that have to do with the first nations people who have called the americas home for far longer than european settlers. Click to learn about our documentary, available on dvd and streaming. The big sky documentary film festival launched a native american initiative to encourage native filmmakers to tell their stories their way. How native filmmakers are restoring cinematic narratives high. Stories left unrecorded can be rewritten, or worse, can simply vanish. Documentary on the importance of preserving native american languages. In an eyeopening new documentary, hidden native american figures are finally given credit for influencing a vast amount of popular music.

Celebrating its 19th year, native filmfest has been lauded as one of the countrys most highly regarded festivals of its kind. Film by wmu professor profiles female native american filmmakers. Unfortunately, quite a few supposed truthful accounts have fallen short of that claim over the years. She was a 2015 swaia discovery fellow and 2017 artist in business leadership fellow with the first peoples fund.

Join us for a night of short films that include fantasydrama, hybrid poetry, narrative and documentary. She was selected for the fellowship with the project words from a bear, a documentary currently being directed by jeffrey palmer. Native american film festival gives voice to tribal women. How many american indian filmmakers, actors, and critics do you know. The film tracks six native american women reclaiming personal and tribal sovereignty in the face of ongoing sexual violence against indigenous women in the united states. Documentary on aspects of oklahomas early statehood history and the reasons for native american ambivalence towards the celebration of the oklahoman centennial.

Top native american documentaries learn the real story. Following president and founder robert redfords original vision, sundance institute has remained committed to supporting native american artists throughout the institutes history. The native american and indigenous program has a global focus and through its work strengthens indigenous cinema. Imagining indians is a 1992 documentary film produced and directed by native american filmmaker, victor masayesva, jr. Since the festival launched in 2001, indigenous filmmakers from around the globe have descended on the coachella valley, the home of the agua caliente band of cahuilla indians, to share their vivid work and dynamic stories. She received her degree in media arts in 1997 from the university of new mexico and has worked as a professional videographer, writer and editor for over twenty years. Teaching about the controversial name of the professional football team in washington, dc. Information is power, and communicating it is vital. Wausauarea filmmakers produce documentary about indian children placed in white families. The indigenous program has built and sustained an indigenous film circle, which now spans over three generations. Watch as two native american judges draw on their cultural traditions in this documentary.

Tribal rights of black native americans explored in new. Native american filmmakers arrive at sundance bird runningwater heads the sundance initiative, which helps produce new works by both native americans and indigenous people worldwide. Focused on indigenous issues and native american film, the nafvf has been recognized as an important showcase for the creative energy of native filmmakers and their explorations of diverse indigenous community. Documentary on missing and murdered indigenous women may. Native americans sue out of the furnace filmmakers cnn. Many thoughtful and often courageous documentary filmmakers have taken it upon themselves to tell native american stories, sometimes with little, if any, encouragement or fanfare. A discussion on the role of native americans in film which created the myth of the native american, the myth of america and perhaps hollywood itself as the trope became a reliable money maker for the studios for decades. Film by wmu professor profiles female native american.

Native american film films and filmmakers tcm message. The university of arizona libraries offers a very extensive list of north american indian films and video also check out native americans in the movies. Fictional films shown by the museum represent multiple filmmaking styles and tell diverse native stories. American indian filmmakers have had to fight to create an artistic voice for themselves and carve a space for expression through film. For thousands of years, native american warriors have been the first line of defense in a hostile situation. Documentary programs focus on important themes such. Native american filmmakers explore the warrior tradition. Part 2 of our special series on documentary filmmakers features willow oferal and brad heck, the artists behind sisters rising, which screened at the 2020 big sky documentary film festival.

But here are by now a great many of good documentaries by native filmmakers, most are not a general survey of history but about a particular people, event or history or issue. This category has the following 5 subcategories, out of 5 total. Native american cinema, curated by a team of native american filmmakers, valerie redhorse and dawn jackson, as well as our head programmer, shannon kelley, and myself. Films featuring native american characters as protagonists or prominent cast members. Razelle is an alumna of the 2012 sundance film institute native filmmakers lab as well as an awardee of sundance film institutes 1st native short film production grant fellowship in 2015. See the five projects by indigenous filmmakers that made their world premieres at the 2020 sundance film festival here.