FRIDAY, DEC 1
PROGRAM 1
6 - 8:30PM
Lakota Nation vs. United States chronicles the Lakota Indians’ quest to reclaim the Black Hills, sacred land that was stolen in violation of treaty agreements. A searing, timely portrait of resistance, the film explores the ways America has ignored its debt to Indigenous communities, and ponders what might be done today to repair the wrongs of the past.
SATURDAY, DEC 2
PROGRAM 2
2 - 4:30 PM
The Road is an award-winning short film starring the Indigenous girls of Stardale Women's Group. It explores various themes pertaining to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls regarding the legacy and inter-generational impact of colonialism in Canada. These stories and experiences are shared through the lens of young women in on the prairies, as they grow and exist in this space of fear, loss, and trauma. 14 min. + Q&A
Healing of the Dragonfly. Meet Joe Pulliam, an Oglala Lakota Sioux artist living in Rapid City in the state of South Dakota. Father of 4, Joe Pulliam opened an art gallery exclusively with his work, painting on ledgers inspired by his culture and traditional life. This documentary tells his story, and his artistic journey from Pine Ridge reservation, to his last exhibition in Rapid City, SD. 13 min. + Q&A
Paddle Tribal Waters. The First Descent of the Klamath River.
When the largest dam removal in history begins, a group of indigenous youth learn to whitewater kayak in hopes of becoming the first people to paddle the restored river from source-to-sea. As the young paddlers reconnect sections of the Klamath River that have not flowed freely for more than a century, they use kayaking to galvanize a movement while reconciling a stolen history and building a future of hope and healing.
9 min. + Q&A
Games of the North. For thousands of years, traditional Inuit sports have been vital for survival within the unforgiving Arctic. Acrobatic and explosive, these ancestral games evolved to strengthen mind, body and spirit within the community. Following four modern Inuit athletes reveals their unique relationship to the games as they compete across the North. As unprecedented change sweeps across their traditional lands, their stories illuminate the importance of the games today. 27 min. + Q&A
Waniyetu Wowapi. Welcome to the Cheyenne River Youth Project. Come with us into the heart of our circle, where you'll meet our kids, parents, elders, artists, and partners. You'll discover why art is so central to Lakota culture. You'll experience how we are reclaiming spaces in our community. You'll learn how we are revitalizing our language, ceremonies, and life ways through our own contemporary version of the Winter Count. And, you'll share our joy as we bring to life our stories, truths, and messages for our people. 35 min. + Q&A
Before the Sun. AITAMAAKO'TAMISSKAPI NATOSI. A thrilling portrait of a young Siksika woman and the deep bonds between her father and family in the golden plains of Blackfoot Territory as she prepares for one of the most dangerous horse races in the world…on bareback.
A sport for the truly brave, Logan Red Crow is an Indian Relay rider who vaults from horse to horse in short, exhilarating races. She is a champion in the making -besides her skill and sheer grit, Logan has a loving family, an elite group of horses, and a home on her ancestral lands. Those are invaluable, but this rider will need more for victory. 89 min. + Q&A
PROGRAM 3
6:30 - 9 PM
Yazzie. Synopsis. A profile documentary that follows Larry Yazzie as he shares his upbringing in the Meskwaki Nation, his rise as a celebrated fancy dancer, and his work advocating for Native American culture. 13 min. + Q&A
CLOSING CEREMONY + Dance Performance.