Watch
The content we watch may reflect our world, but it is also a powerful tool that shapes it. For a long time, the portrayals of Native culture and peoples were minimized and stereotyped in pop culture, thus robbing all of us of a fuller, richer understanding of our world. The future is already looking brighter as we are beyond excited that Native actors, directors, producers, show runners, and others are getting the recognition they deserve in the entertainment industry.
Take this opportunity to watch one (or all!) of our viewing recommendations and enter worlds that may be more connected to yours than you might think!
Movies we think you’ll enjoy
Native filmmaker Sterlin Harjo follows Native artists as they explore the complexity of their identities and navigate their careers.
Love and Fury
(2020)
Netflix
Following her sister’s disappearance, a Native American hustler kidnaps her niece from the child’s white grandparents and sets out for the state powwow in hopes of keeping what is left of their family intact.
Fancy Dance
(2023)
Festival Circuit
The latest film from director Martin Scorsese follows the 1920s FBI investigation of the murders of the Osage Tribe after oil is found on their land.
Killers of the Flower Moon
(2023)
In Theaters
A science fiction story about a group of Inuit friends who must fight back against an alien invasion with their makeshift weapons and horror movie knowledge.
Slash/Back
(2022)
Hulu
A documentary on the Lakota peoples fight to reclaim control of the sacred Black Hills.
Lakota Nation vs. United States
(2022)
Amazon (AMC+)
Television shows we think you’ll enjoy
Four teenage friends experience the trials and tribulations of growing up while navigating life on their reservation in rural Oklahoma.
Reservation Dogs
(2021-2023)
Hulu
In New Mexico during the 1970s, two Navajo cops search for clues in a double murder case.
Dark Winds
(2022-Present)
Max
Discussion Guides
Slash/Back
Read an interview with the film’s director Nyla Innuksuk on the creative process and how she always found ways to incorporate Inuit culture. Find it here.
Reservation Dogs
To take student’s understanding to the next level, use the discussion guide below to facilitate projects and discussion. You can even do these activities with your family and friends! Find it here.
Additional Resources
Read a group interview with Native American TV creators and performers who discuss the significance of Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls, and why this is only the beginning.
Watch “Native America,” a four-part series on PBS.
More films by Indigenous filmmakers here.
