Mitakuye Oyasin

Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting

2021 · ★ 8

Examining the movement that is ending the use of Native American names, logos, and mascots in the world of sports and beyond.

The Shaman's Apprentice

2001 · ★ 8

Scientist Mark Plotkin races against time to save the ancient healing knowledge of Indian tribes from extinction.

Homeland

2000 · ★ 7.5

Following four Lakota families over three years, Homeland explores what it takes for the Lakota community to build a better future in the face of tribal and government corruption, scarce housing, unemployment, and alcoholism. Intimate interviews with a spiritual leader, a grandmother, an artist, and a community activist from South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation reveal how each survives through family ties, cultural tradition, humor, and a palpable yearning for self-reliance and personal freedom.

Foundational Black American

Uncover the hidden history of Foundational Black Americans and Black Indians-present before Columbus and vital to building the U.S.-in this powerful documentary that reclaims a buried legacy.

In Whose Honor?

1997

Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves — Indian mascots and nicknames have historically been first draft picks in American sports. But for Charlene Teters, a Spokane Indian, transplanting cultural rituals onto the field is a symbol of disrespect. Jay Rosenstein follows Teters' evolution from mother and student into a leading voice against the merchandising of Native American symbols — and shows the lengths fans will go to preserve their mascots.

One of Many

2004 · ★ 8.5

A woman with indiginous roots in her 40s goes on a trip into her past: When she was four years old she had been taken away from her mother by the canadian authorities, like many others. This is her very sad story as an example for many others.

American Native

2014

Thirty miles from Manhattan a group of mysterious mountain people fight for recognition as a legitimate Native American tribe from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. What begins as their journey travels the country as Native American’s fight for their rights at Standing Rock, Apache Junction and throughout the United States. Examining through expert interviews and unbridled access to the ­community, the film provides an in ­depth look at the complex past, volatile present and endangered future of the Ramapough Mountain Indians and what it truly means to be a “Native American”.

Warrior: The Life of Leonard Peltier

1991 · ★ 10

An intimate exploration of the circumstances surrounding the incarceration of Native American activist Leonard Peltier, convicted of murder in 1977, with commentary from those involved, including Peltier himself.

First Daughter and the Black Snake

2017 · ★ 5

The “Prophecy of the 7th Fire” says a “black snake” will bring destruction to the earth. For Winona LaDuke, the “black snake” is oil trains and pipelines. When she learns that Canadian-owned Enbridge plans to route a new pipeline through her tribe’s 1855 Treaty land, she and her community spring into action to save the sacred wild rice lakes and preserve their traditional indigenous way of life. Launching an annual spiritual horse ride along the proposed pipeline route, speaking at community meetings and regulatory hearings. Winona testifies that the pipeline route follows one of historical and present-day trauma. The tribe participates in the pipeline permitting process, asserting their treaty rights to protect their natural resources. LaDuke joins with her tribe and others to demand that the pipelines’ impact on tribal people’s resources be considered in the permitting process.

Biker Dreams

1998 · ★ 7

A documentary about the people who ride their motorcycles around America. Filmed during the 1996 annual biker run held at Sturgis, South Dakota, it takes a close look at some of the different types of people who ride motorbikes, showing that they're not what popular stereotypes have portrayed them to be. Among the people followed are Alex and Martin, a middle-aged couple planning to attend the festival together, Ilene, who comes from a long line of bikers, and the rough-looking "Liddo" Jim, head of a group called the Ressurection Motorcycle Club.

Broken Rainbow

1985 · ★ 5.8

Documentary chronicling the government relocation of 10,000 Navajo Indians in Arizona.

Indian Rights for Indian Women

2018

Three intrepid women battle for Indigenous women's treaty rights.