by NAT Staff

(Photo Credit: FNX)

Introduction

For over a century, Hollywood exploited Native Americans by reducing hundreds of distinct, sovereign cultures to a handful of flattened, one-dimensional, easily digestible stereotypes. These misrepresentations and mistruths have resulted in historical violence, and erased modern Indigenous identities.

The "Hollywood Indian" Tropes

Until recent times, the motion picture and television industry relied on a handful of reductive archetypes to fit the narrative needs of the white gaze:

• The "Bloodthirsty Savage": Particularly in early Westerns, Native characters were often portrayed as violent, scalping obstacles to "civilization" and westward expansion.
• The "Noble Savage": Portrayed Indigenous people as deeply spiritual and connected to nature, but hopelessly doomed or romanticized as relics of the past rather than living people.
• The "Squaw" & The "Princess": Dehumanizing portrayals of Native women either as hyper-sexualized exotic objects or drudges, often historically stripping them of their autonomy.

The film Pawnee was one of hundreds that depicted Native peoples in stereotypical fashion.
(Image Credit: Republic Pictures)

Beyond the writing, the actual production process disadvantaged the community:

• Cultural Erasure: Filmmakers historically ignored distinct tribal differences, forcing Native actors to wear regalia, use hand signals, or speak gibberish that belonged to completely different tribes.
• Whitewashing: Studios often cast non-Native actors in leading Indigenous roles (e.g., Johnny Depp as Tonto in The Lone Ranger or Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily in Pan), denying Native actors employment and the right to tell their own stories.
• Poor Compensation: Native extras and actors were routinely paid lower rates than other performers and experienced segregated casting calls.

The landscape has actively shifted as Indigenous filmmakers, writers, and actors take control of their own narrative. Today’s Native-led media showcases the full spectrum of Indigenous life—highlighting both the struggles and the everyday humor of modern reservations. Critically acclaimed works such as Smoke Signals, Reservation Dogs, and Rez Ball have paved the way for authentic representation, admonishing mistruths and stereotypical images.

Story

FNX was originally a PBS-affiliated broadcast channel launched in 2011, in collaboration with KVCR Television on the San Bernardino Valley College campus, a part of the San Bernardino Community College District. The Native-themed, one-of-a-kind network was made possible by a start-up grant from the former San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, now the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.

The tribe later underwrote the development of the current FNX app and in celebration, hosted a red carpet gala opening event in May 2025, at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA.

The evening was hailed as a spectacular showcase of entertainment and Indigenous cuisine, featuring performances from The Halluci Nation (formerly A Tribe Called Red), gourmet offerings by James Beard Award-winning chef Sean Sherman (The Sioux Chef), stand-up comedy from J.R. Redwater, a hoop dance performance by ShanDien Sonwai LaRance (2-time champion with Cirque Du Soleil), and the Electric Turquoise Dance Troupe.

Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation is known to be one of the largest philanthropists in Indian Country, guided by the Serrano concept of Yawa' ("to act on one's beliefs"). Since 2003, the tribe has awarded over $450 million to charitable efforts benefitting tribal communities and causes nationwide. In the case of FNX (First Nations Experience), they spent a documented total of $9 million since its launch in 2011.

Per Tribal Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena, “We are proud to support an initiative
that will bring opportunities for Native American creatives to make their mark on
entertainment and education.” (Photo Credit: Lynn Valbuena)

FNX was showcased at RES 2026, a gathering focused on American Indian Enterprise. Attendees included tribal officials, members of Congress, federal agencies, state and local representatives, and well-known CEOs. One session was devoted to FNX and titled, "FNX: Your Native-Net-Flix". It covered media sovereignty, storytelling and discussed opportunities geared to benefit Native-owned enterprises in the broadcasting and streaming industries.

FNX is heralded as the "Native Netflix," given the diversity and volume of content, including documentaries, episodic series, children’s programming and special topics including cooking, gardening, nature, art and culture. A recipient of three Emmy Awards, FNX is broadcasted over PBS affiliate stations, reaching up to 84.5 million homes. It is globally available for streaming via the FNX app that can be downloaded via Google Play and the Apple App Store.

One popular production is Art of the City, a docuseries hosted by gallerist
Ruth-Ann Thorn, which spotlights artists across the U.S. Ms. Thorn also
served as one of the opening event’s “behind-the-scenes dynamos,” securing
entertainers and celebrities through her promotional skills. (Photo Credit: FNX)

Programming (in alphabetical order, circa June, 2026)

A Blackfeet Encounter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDpezi9ykMg

A Blackfeet Encounter (2006) is a 57-minute documentary exploring the only fatal clash between the Lewis and Clark Expedition and Native Americans, occurring in July 1806 in Montana. It highlights the Blackfeet perspective of the event—where two Blackfeet teenagers were killed—and explores the cultural, historical, and lasting impacts on the Blackfeet people.

A New Island: The Marshallese In Arkansas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sWlNuPk6Jw

A New Island: The Marshallese in Arkansas is a documentary that explores the migration of thousands of Marshall Islanders to Springdale, Arkansas, driven by the legacy of U.S. nuclear testing, health crises, and climate change. The film highlights their journey from the Pacific to the Ozarks, their work in poultry plants, and efforts to preserve their culture.

Aboriginal Architecture - Living Architecture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-9knQg-Uak

Aboriginal Architecture: Living Architecture (2005/2006) is a 93-minute documentary directed by Cree filmmaker Paul M. Rickard that explores the evolution, diversity, and resurgence of Indigenous design across North America. The film highlights how seven communities—Pueblo, Mohawk, Inuit, Crow, Navajo, Coast Salish, and Haida—blend traditional knowledge with modern, sustainable, and climate-responsive architecture

Across The Creek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w9h9cbmwtw

Across The Creek features conversations among members of the Lakota Tribe, focusing on efforts to restore their culture following a legacy of colonialism.

Agave: The Spirit of a Nation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiH-UpSFN8s

Agave: The Spirit of a Nation (2018) is a documentary exploring the cultural, historical, and agricultural significance of agave-based spirits in Mexico, specifically mezcal and tequila. The 79-minute film highlights the labor-intensive, multi-generational traditions of harvesting agave, focusing on producers in Oaxaca and Jalisco, including Graciela Angeles, Aquilino García López, and Carlos Camarena.

Alaska Justice: Let It Be Known That We Heal Each Other

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uHLUgKCYsQ

Advocates, tribal leaders and artists are among those continuing to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Alaska. They want to make sure their loved ones are not forgotten. In this special Alaska Native Justice Series, FNX and Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, with funding by the Public Welfare Foundation, share how they're also continuing to seek justice for those who've gone missing and murdered.

Amplify

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeUKJSlHzrU

Amplify is a documentary series that features Indigenous musicians creating new songs based on their culture, stories, and social issues. The series is produced by Shane Belcourt and is in its third season, highlighting diverse voices in Native music.

Amy’s Mythic Morning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrYclAcr-t8

Amy's Mythic Mornings is a fun and innovative animated series for kids 6-9 that teaches problem solving by using traditional knowledge from Aboriginal story telling. Six-year-old Amy and her friends Theodore and Casey bring the lessons to life when they imagine themselves in the stories told by Amy's Grandmother Louie. And the adventure begins!

And Now We Rise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FetMl1wiZ8w

And Now We Rise is a portrait of Samuel Johns, a young Athabaskan hip hop artist, founder of the Forget Me Not Facebook Group for displaced people in Alaska, and activist for a cultural renaissance as he heals from his own legacy of historical trauma.

Apache 8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB0wQiFWkP0

Apache 8 tells the story of an all-women wildland firefighter crew from the White Mountain Apache Tribe, who have been fighting fires in Arizona and throughout the U.S. for over 30 years. The film delves into the challenging lives of these Native firefighters.

Attla

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LXmnGlIkbA

Attla tells the gripping but little-known story of George Attla, a charismatic Alaska Native dogsled racer who, with one good leg and fierce determination, became a legendary sports hero in Northern communities around the world. Spanning his fifty-year long career, the film tells Attla’s story from his childhood as a tuberculosis survivor in the Alaskan interior, through his rise as ten-time world champion and mythical state hero, to a village elder resolutely training his grandnephew to race his team one last time.

Aztec Pyramids of War

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=desW9yfZX8M

One of history's most iconic empire, the Aztecs rose from nomads to an innovative, powerful society. This documentary series chronicles the rise and fall of the Aztec empire.

Baby Done

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbIxi2VHTTk

Baby Done (2020) is a New Zealand comedy following Zoe (Rose Matafeo) and Tim (Matthew Lewis), a couple whose lives are turned upside down by an unexpected pregnancy. Terrified of losing her freedom and individuality, Zoe enters denial, attempting to tick off a list of wild life goals—including competitive tree-trimming—before the baby arrives.

Back to Roots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-SdWSNdDLU

Back to Roots is a "deliciously distinctive" food series that explores and celebrates Indigenous cuisine. The show follows home cook Perry Omeasoo on a personal culinary journey. It highlights traditional cooking techniques, ingredients, and the cultural stories behind Indigenous food.

Badger Creek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uv5dGKE6MA

Badger Creek is a half-hour documentary film focusing on the Momberg family, who are members of the Blackfeet (Pikuni) Nation living on the lower Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. The documentary covers daily life on the reservation, the importance of youth, Indigenous language revitalization, and challenges such as poverty and alcoholism.

Barrumbi Kids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKuuGLcBTb4

Barrumbi Kids is an Australian drama television series for children based on The Barrumbi Kids series of novels by Leonie Norrington.A story of two best friends, Tomias and Dahlia, who are growing up together on Country in a remote Northern Territory community, and face various adversities and have many exciting adventures.

Bears' Lair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu7muJs7tkE

Bears' Lair is a Canadian reality show where First Nations, Inuit, and Métis entrepreneurs pitch to investors ("The Bears") for a share of a $160,000-$180,000 prize pool.

Bee Nation

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8qil08

Bee Nation is a 2017 Canadian documentary by Lana Šlezić that follows six First Nations students in Saskatchewan as they compete in the province’s first-ever Indigenous spelling bee. The film showcases their journeys, challenges, and family support, aiming to break stereotypes and highlight, as noted on IMDb, the potential of Indigenous youth.

Blood Memory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9q3dzf46Bg

Battles over blood quantum and ‘best interests’ resurface the untold history of America’s Indian Adoption Era – a time when nearly one-third of children were removed from tribal communities nationwide. As political scrutiny over Indian child welfare intensifies, an adoption survivor helps others find their way home through song and ceremony.

Bring The Sun Home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCbKUkerC_0

Illiterate women from villages around the world with no electricity attend a course to learn how to make solar panels in India. They don't speak English but they are determined to learn the technology. Those who have completed the course have returned to their villages and brought the sun home to more than 300,000 people.

Cashing In

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68bSwW4o6fo

The North Beach Casino is a successful gaming palace owned by slick business magnate Matthew Tommy. His goal: capitalize on North Beach, making it the jewel in his casino empire crown His challenge: wheeling, dealing and gambling...with a few lives. Now it's even more challenging than Matthew thought and after being shot in his own casino, he has to hand over his empire to his son, Justin. Can North Beach Casino continue to be a successful gaming facility jam-packed with sex, money and power? Sometimes life is at the mercy of the roll of the dice...

Chaos & Courage

Chaos & Courage profiles the fearless and inspirational Indigenous women who serve, protect and rescue. From the front lines to their home fires, episodes feature powerful stories of female police officers, paramedics, rescue workers, firefighters, soldiers and advocates, all who work tirelessly in their jobs, and privately, to build connections that elevate their culture and make their communities stronger.

Chasing Voices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdjyK2gw7SM

Chasing Voices is a documentary film about John Peabody Harrington, a dedicated ethnographer who spent over 50 years (1907–1961) recording and documenting rapidly vanishing Native American languages. Directed by Daniel Golding, the film, which aired on FNX (First Nations Experience) and PBS, highlights his obsession with documenting nearly 150 languages and his impact on modern language revitalization.

Cherokee Justice: Healing Through Culture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkPrPdzrOOk

Cherokee Nation Healing to Wellness Court uses cultural activities like stickball, art, and history to help young people recover from substance abuse and other issues.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Productions Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rvMcbkXkCg&list=PLj4IsLVyAL8VXEvn4PBpKaqBKw73k6LZP&index=1

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Productions Podcast highlights tribal citizens, history, and community events, offering insights into tribal government, culture, and social issues. Episodes cover topics like tribal council resolutions, housing, health programs, and personal stories, featuring interviews with leaders and community members.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Youth Unity Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yudCjN2zbuA

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Youth Council (CAYC) participates in the National UNITY Conference (United National Indian Tribal Youth) to empower Native youth through leadership development, cultural sharing, and community action planning. These annual, youth-led events feature workshops, regional caucuses, and specialized training focused on topics like mental health, cultural revitalization, and civic engagement.

Chizh for Cheii

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MW2VWl0oE0

Chizh fo Cheii  is known for distributing thousands loads of free firewood every year to high risk elders on the Navajo Nation. Powered by the people, this grassroot boots on the ground is a non profit org that serves all year long.

Choctaw Code Talkers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DRAXxK9-2s

The 2010 documentary Choctaw Code Talkers, directed by Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, tells the story of 19 Choctaw men who used their native language to create an unbreakable code for the Allies during WWI. These "telephone warriors" in the 36th Infantry Division, considered original code talkers, protected American lives.

Cleaning's A Cakewalk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex8HzjXxkic

An imaginative and independent young boy, Albert, learns the value of hard work and finds his place in his community after having to clean the Chapter House which he finds out is no cake-walk in the park.

Colonial Combat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dibkhnb5fi0

An unofficial version of 1836 Aotearoa as a fight promoter arrives in Kauri Bay with a wrestling ring and tent, leading to competition inside and outside the ring.

Common Ground

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibh6ObxEpG4

Common Ground explores the unique people, places and events that are an important part of our region, taking viewers on a journey of exploration into the subjects that help shape and define our diverse communities.

Cooking Hawaiian Style

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML0sQ9UaFt8

Cooking Hawaiian Style continues to be a gathering place that celebrates the richness of Hawaii's culinary culture featuring Hawaiian and Hawaiian-style recipes from all ethnicities. Our cooking show features local Hawaii Chefs, Celebrities & Musicians cooking local com- fort foods and Hawaiian-Style favorites.

Coyote’s Crazy Smart Science Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INg_eADmjww

Coyote's Crazy Smart Science Show is a fun, educational science series designed for kids 8-11. It inspires them to explore the amazing world of science through a colorful show that brings our beautiful and complex universe alive! Young scientists are encouraged to ask questions, to make their own observations, to unravel the How and Why of the world around them.

Cradling the Heart Community-Based Medical Massage for Diabetes Type 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra4TSHe7gEY

With a Community Service grant from the Massage Therapy Foundation, the Center for Traditional Medicine and the Center for World Indigenous Studies extended their ongoing project to bring a special form of medical massage to the rural Mexican municipality of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico where two out of every three adults suffer from Diabetes Type 2. In this inspiring documentary video, Dr. Leslie Korn, her team, and their patients describe the public health challenges of diabetes and share the benefits that the project is providing to individuals and the community at large.

Darfur Diaries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7A6cp8-qfE

Darfur Diaries: Message from Home (2006) is a documentary and accompanying book, created by Aisha Bain, Jen Marlowe, and Adam Shapiro, that documents the 2004 genocide in Sudan's Darfur region. The project, often used by Amnesty International, highlights personal testimonies from victims, displaced persons, and rebels to bypass mainstream media limitations.

Daughter of the Maya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m475g1FvrMs

Intimate portrayal of Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, who hailed from a remote section of Guatemala, survived a genocide and eventually became the voice of her people around the world.

Defining Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKlg1HOI0z8

A look inside the nations largest schools, showing the struggles, hopes and dreams of marginalized students and educators fighting to rise above a divisive culture war over race and identity playing out in classrooms across the US today.

Democracy Now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W60tdnVhhfY

An independent news program features international journalists, grassroots leaders, independent analysts, as well as ordinary people directly affected by world events and U.S. policy.

Double Trouble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EREDN0VKzoQ&pp=ygUjZG91YmxlIHRyb3VibGUgYXVzdHJhbGlhbiB0diBzZXJpZXM%3D

Separated at birth, these twin girls are completely unaware that the other exists, until a twist of fate sees them meet in Alice Springs. When the pair discover their connection, and decide they want to meet the parent they don't know, they agree to swap lives - just for a day.Little do they know what will go wrong. When each twin becomes stranded in the other's world, the fun really starts.

Ecuador: Rain Forest Vs Globalization

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92LrMW4_R0c

Ecuador: Rainforest vs. Globalization (2011) is a documentary documenting President Rafael Correa’s efforts to transform Ecuador into a self-sufficient, socialist democracy. The film focuses on initiatives to prioritize environmental protection, such as the Yasuni initiative to avoid oil extraction, while questioning the debt structures imposed by globalization.

Eddie's Lil' Homies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-PVb6RfkKM

Eight-year-old Eddie and his best friends Lottie and Tal explore the possibilities of childhood imagination. For them, kindness and empathy can make even imaginary friends real.

Eden's Last Chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiqZ3Vh8cZU

Young Joshua Wright conducts interviews with a diverse group of experts, including climate researchers, economic analysts, environmental advocates and influential thinkers who seek to help the fragile global environment.

Every Day In Kaimuki

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1ADTAF8K8A

Every Day in Kaimuki is directed by Alika Tengan and it's about an young man is determined to give his life meaning outside of Kaimuki, the small Hawaiian town where he grew up, even if it means leaving everything he's ever known and loved behind.

Finding Refuge

https://youtu.be/JJ0eWI0dMlM?si=bGtoXF7jsICOWpN3

Finding Refuge is a 27-minute documentary short (2015) produced by Vision Maker Media that follows a Native woman's efforts to preserve her culture and heal from the generational trauma of colonization. It focuses on renewing cultural pride, featuring community elders and scholarly input.

First Contact

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPivaI8-dvc

First Contact is a bold and timely documentary series that confronts racist attitudes head on with a life-changing and immersive experience. Six Canadians - all with strong opinions about Indigenous people - embark on a journey into the heart of Indigenous communities that will challenge their views and confront their prejudices about a world they never imagined they would see. An experience that will turn the participants' lives upside down, and change them forever.

First Nations Comedy Experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBqPxyK0AUk

First Nations Comedy Experience is the first ever Native American and World Indige- nous standup comedy series. In fact, there's only been one other one-off special featuring Native American standups. This series will finally give a voice to the top Native Standups from across the country, up and coming Native Standups that are breaking new ground, as well as featuring some of the biggest names in stand-up comedy outside of the Native world. Also featured are big-name comedians like Nikki Glaser, Craig Shoemaker, Chris Fairbanks, Jimmy Dore, and more. There's behind-the scenes action in every episode as we get to know our comics through funny and heartfelt moments before we get to experience their hilarious and unique comedy acts. This show aims to shine a light on the Native stand- up community and help bring these amazing comics into the mainstream.

Fit First

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpXgZMfScJE&list=PL7AEFE8BF96A7276A

Fit First helps tackle mind, body and spirit issues behind obesity and bad nutrition in Canada's Aboriginal communities. Under the guidance of trainer Kent Brown, a group of adults take part in physical and spiritual challenges that take them out of the conventional gym setting. Fit First gets up close and personal with participants as they make a commitment to getting healthy inside & out!

For Our People

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84bEynYO8lY

For Our People: Stories of Tribal Self-Governance & Sovereignty highlights stories of Native American self-governance and sovereignty. The series showcases achievements and narratives from various Native communities across the country. It is available to watch on FNX, a television network dedicated to Native American and World Indigenous content

For The Rights of All: Ending Jim Crow In Alaska

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqbUuCGgVrE

In 1867, when the United States purchased the Alaska territory, the promise of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights didn't apply to Alaska Natives. Their struggle to win justice is one of the great, untold chapters of the American civil rights movement, culminating at the violent peak of World War II with the passage of one of the nation's first equal rights laws.

FNX Now Block

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4xfk8er8Wc

FNX NOW is the station's flagship news series and the first interstitial community engage- ment series created by the channel after its initial launch in 2012. This new half-hour block looks to house all the most recent FNX NOW interstitial segments and showcase them in one spot.

Frybread Flats

https://youtu.be/zK500SpmiIM?si=HujeQkssFZPPsj3g

Frybread Flats is CATV 47's first show produced exclusively for children. The show features puppet skits, Cheyenne and Arapaho language, and an animated host named Raven. "Frybread Flats" introduces Native language, with alternating shows featuring Cheyenne and Arapaho languages. Each episode also features numbers 1-10, and various colors, nouns and stories in the corresponding language.

Future History

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I790CRGyB3Y

Future History is an inspiring documentary series that follows hosts Sarain Fox and Kris Nahrgang on a journey of discovery through an Indigenous lens. For generations across North America, Indigenous Peoples have been reeling from the devastating effects of colonialism that left families, languages and cultures destroyed. But today, a powerful movement of revitalization is taking place, with Indigenous Peoples reclaiming their traditional knowledge in order to rebuild their communities and create a stronger, brighter future for us all.

Going Native

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MovKQ2v1ROk

Celebrated humorist and author Drew Hayden Taylor explores a new aspect of Native life each episode. He examines the stereotypes and traditions while discovering cool new ways Indigenous people are shaping their culture in the 21st century.

Golden Eagles: Witnesses to a Changing West

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0fRk6oRiY

Eagle researchers in Wyoming study how the birds adapt to the many challenges facing them, including climate change, lead poisoning and energy development.

Good Meat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zIP1Cer_PI

Good Meat is a documentary that follows Beau LeBeau, an Oglala Lakota man, as he attempts to reverse health issues like diabetes by returning to a traditional, pre-reservation diet of buffalo and wild game for 200 days. The film documents his journey to lose weight and reclaim his health.

Grab

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z7IReiNWgw

Grab (2011), directed by Billy Luther and featured in the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Native Showcase, is a 50-minute documentary exploring the Laguna Pueblo tribe's traditional "Grab Day" in New Mexico. It follows three families preparing for the event, where they throw food and gifts from rooftops to the community, blending modern life with a centuries-old tradition.

Growing Native

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aZgTrw24-s

Growing Native is a documentary series on the FNX - First Nations Experience channel exploring modern and traditional Native American reservation life through host conversations with local guides. The series showcases indigenous culture, food sovereignty, renewable energy, and climate adaptation

Guardians Evolution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGLIIelW3cs

Guardians: Evolution is a Canadian stop-motion animated series (2014) following five teenagers who wake up 41 million years in the future, 9 million years too early, following a "Great Extinction Event" in 2078. The teens must survive on a transformed Earth and protect themselves with crystal-powered suits while their parents remain in cryo-pods.

Hand Game: The Native American Game of Power & Chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz9EbpTSysA

Every year, thousands of American Indians pack up their lawn chairs and hit the “Hand Game trail” on reservations throughout the west. This 65 minute documentary explores the mythic and historic roots of gambling in Western Native America.

Hard Rock Medical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g17kuMCihmU

Hard Rock Medical is a drama series that tells the story of a diverse group of interns navigating their way through a four-year adventure in the most offbeat medical school in the world. Extracting a bullet from the back of a hunter's head in a mosquito-infested tent at the edge of a bog is not the best way to work off a hangover but that's the reality when you sign up for Hard Rock U, a medical school set deep in the heart of the Canadian Shield.

Harold of Orange

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBwqTZ5UcKI

This comedy explores the interaction of two cultural groups indigenous to Minnesota-–American Indians and philanthropic foundations. Poet Gerald Vizenor’s screenplay draws on trickster myths common to many Indian tribes to create a contemporary satire which dispels many Hollywood stereotypes. The story involves trickster Harold and his scheme to obtain corporate funding for a chain of coffeehouses featuring reservation-grown “pinch bean” coffee.

Healing of Nations: Native American Medicine Men and Spiritual Leaders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxbAgORbk2U

Healing of Nations: Native American Medicine Men and Spiritual Leaders (1994/2000) is a documentary film directed by Peter von Puttkamer that explores the revival of traditional spiritual practices in North American Indigenous communities. It features figures like Lakota medicine man George Amiotte, focusing on healing youth, cultural resurgence, and spiritual leadership.

Hit the Ice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw8T1HiUhPA

This series sees dreams come true as the best young hockey players from across Canada come together for a 2-week NHL-like training camp. From physical training, on ice drills and different team building activities, the 20 prospects will grow, not only as a team but also as men. The players are working towards the ultimate test; to showcase their game skills for the scrutinizing eyes of real life junior scouts.

History and Change on the Old Spanish Trail

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wylXFeW8yM

History and Change on the Old Spanish Trail is a 25-minute documentary aired on FNX (First Nations Experience) that explores the 700-mile, 19th-century trade route between Santa Fe and Los Angeles. It covers the trail's use by Native Americans, Mexican traders, and Mormon settlers, focusing on its ecological impact in the Mojave Desert.

Holy Man: The USA Vs. Douglas White

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUIQrgx6Jg4

Lakota medicine man Douglas White, 88, served 17 years for a crime he didn't commit. During filming, new evidence emerged. The film explores Lakota spirituality and exposes injustice against Native Americans.

Horse Tribe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2wyrqDoGv0

Horse Tribe is a documentary film featured by FNX (First Nations Experience) that documents the profound history, decline, and reinvention of the Nez Perce tribe's horse culture. The film highlights the tribe's deep spiritual connection to horses—which they refer to as "sacred" or "holy dogs"—and their historical breeding of the Appaloosa horse.

ICT Newscast

https://www.youtube.com/live/WLcw-_pjAys

ICT News (formerly Indian Country Today) is an independent, non-profit, multimedia news enterprise focused on Indigenous communities, providing daily, comprehensive coverage of tribal nations, politics, culture, and issues. It covers topics such as missing/murdered Indigenous people (MMIP), gaming, climate, and education via the ICT Newscast.

Imagining The Indian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtR82TETcBI

Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting is an award-winning documentary that examines the movement that is ending the use of Native American names, logos, and mascots in the world of sports and beyond. The film details the current uprising against the misappropriation of Native culture in a national reckoning about racial injustice that has succeeded in the removal of Confederate imagery, toppling statues of Christopher Columbus and forcing corporate sponsors of Washington’s NFL team to demand it change its most-offensive name.

In Between Songs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JeLL1gAGeU

In Between Songs is a 2014 documentary series that follows a Galpu clan family from the remote Northwest Territory of Australia. The series documents their struggles to maintain ancestral traditions against modern, societal, and environmental pressures.

Indian Country Diaries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyS9KxbUkR0

Indian Country Diaries goes inside modern Native American communities to reveal a diverse people working to revitalize their culture while improving the social, physical, and spiritual health of their people. This documentary explores the challenges faced by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on their reservation in North Carolina. Through the eyes of Choctaw writer LeAnne Howe, we see how their fusion of tourism, cultural preservation, and spirituality is working to insure their tribe's vitality in the 21st century.

Indian Relay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gssNjmEz5M&pp=ygUYSW5kaWFuIFJlbGF5IGRvY3VtZW50YXJ5

Indian Relay is a documentary film exploring the intense, fast-paced world of Native American horse racing. Directed by Charles Dye, the film follows three teams across a dramatic, dangerous, and competitive season in Montana and Idaho, highlighting the, highs and lows of the sport.

Indian Road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUU-YtwDjxg

Indian Road is a magazine-style TV show featuring engaging stories from Indian Country produced by Cheyenne and Arapaho Television. The show's focus is sharing stories about events, businesses and activities with a Native flair.

Indian Rodeo: Voices from the INFR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J3hmyUqnyE

Barrel Racers, Cattle Ropers and a Bareback Bronco Rider talk about the Rodeo Circuit, how Native female athletes are making their mark in the sport, and what makes the Indian National Finals Rodeo special to Indian Country.

Indians Like Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIryzkOSpSQ

Indians Like Us (original French title: Des Indiens comme nous) is a 57-minute documentary following a French group of "Indianist" hobbyists who dress in Native American regalia and travel to the U.S. Midwest to meet "real Indians". The film explores the contrast between their romanticized, book-learned view of Native culture and the reality of contemporary Native American life.

Indigenous Day Live 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLgGBD4bAFA

INDIGENOUS DAY LIVE 2018 is a music series featuring live concerts & solo performances from the 2018 celebration across Canada.

Inhabitants

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrCbAjlc6S0&t=8

Inhabitants: An Indigenous Perspective (2021) is a documentary film following five Native American tribes across the U.S. as they restore traditional land management practices to combat climate change. It highlights Indigenous ecological knowledge in restoring forests, prairies, and deserts, offering sustainable solutions for environmental challenges.

Injunuity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjAV2B2FtXo

Injunuity is a 2013 animated TV movie/short film series (produced by Adrian Baker and ITVS) that explores modern Native American life, history, and culture through nine short films. It combines animation and real voices to discuss topics like identity, Two-Spirit stories, language preservation, and environmental issues.

Justice: Grand Ronde

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUnJxXMdzfo

In Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde treatment and recovery services are making strides in tackling the opioid crisis both in the tribal community and in neighboring towns and cities. Taking care of the health and wellness of community members is a key tribal value, and the tribe has created its own programs to address the needs of the community.

Keep Talking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rHm4X8cpXs

With less than 40 fluent Elder speakers remaining, the Alutiiq language is at risk. Four Alaska Native women discover language revitalization offers complex challenges and unique, potentially life-saving rewards.

Kumu Hina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zeond28-UA

An exploration of gender diversity, tradition and acceptance in Hawaii as a transgender teacher supports an outwardly female student in leading an all-male hula performance despite the confusion of some in their Honolulu community.

KVC-Arts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngZGProYWeE

Join host David Fleming for a program dedicated to Arts and Entertainment in our region, as well as the people and places providing it. Interviews with authors, producers, visual artists and musicians, spotlighting a classic album or a brand new release. From musical legends and icons - to players at the local level, from Broadway tours to Community theater, from the Hollywood Bowl to the Redlands Bowl.

LaDonna Harris: Indian 101

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laR3-rBNsIY

LaDonna Harris: Indian 101 chronicles the life of Comanche activist and national civil rights leader LaDonna Harris and the role that she has played in Native and mainstream American history since the 1960s.

Lake of Betrayal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWdIzcj5QUo

Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania was a flashpoint in history for the Seneca Nation of Indians. Completed in 1965, the dam was to mitigate flooding in Pittsburgh, 198 miles downriver, but the 27-mile reservoir that formed above it inundated vast tracts of the Seneca Indians' ancestral lands, forcing their removal in breach of one of the United States' oldest treaties.

Lakota Berenstein Bears

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xCHht4X2Kc&list=PLWebueRr1D03NQzavj6yIHZimqbjFhQ1Y

The Lakota Berenstain Bears Project is a joint venture of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Lakota Language Consortium, with the goal of bringing the Lakota language to family television sets across all Lakota-speaking communities in North and South Dakota, and well beyond.

Lands Wandered

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo3PFiqA7os

Lands Wandered is an adventure series that explores some of the most famous locations across North American and their Indigenous history.

Legendary Myths: Raven Adventures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYYMnyODoY0

Legendary Myths is a series of short films featuring adaptations of aboriginal myths from various First Nations’ cultures. The first season, entitled Raven’s Adventures, features tales inspired by Pacific West Coast folklore.

Little J and Big Cuz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okYpoflOqao

Little J, he's five and Big Cuz, she's nine. They're a couple of Indigenous Australian kids living with their Nanna and Old Dog. Little J and Big Cuz are busy with the ups and downs of playground and classroom. There's always something surprising going on whether it's at school, in the backyard... or beyond. The gaps in Nanna's ramshackle fence lead to Saltwa- ter, Desert and Freshwater Country. With the help of Nanna and their teacher Ms Chen, Little J and Big Cuz are finding out all about culture, community and country.

Lived History: The Story of the Wind River

youtube.com/watch?v=_ItpG8rVr8I&t=153

Lived History: The Story of the Wind River Virtual Museum is a documentary project by WyomingPBS and Alpheus Media that digitizes Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho ancestral artifacts. It features high-definition images and videos of items, such as pipes and cradle boards, often held in distant museums, with commentary from tribal elders to reconnect their community with their cultural heritage.

Liyana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avTtEqbmfBA

Liyana is an award-winning documentary film that follows five orphaned children in Swaziland (Kingdom of Eswatini) who transform their personal trauma and life experiences into a fictional, animated fairytale about a young girl named Liyana on a dangerous quest.

Looking Toward Home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQMNyo3SfKw

This film shows how government relocation programs in the 1950s enticed significant numbers of Native Americans to leave the reservation for life in major cities such as, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The life and times of urban Indians is shown primarily through the eyes of these individuals and subsequent generations as they maintain their tribal identity far away from the culturally nurturing climate of the reservation.

Louis Says

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUD68QyMiBg

Louis Says follows the adventures of Randy, an imaginative six-year-old boy who helps his community under the guidance of Louis, a kind-hearted Cree elder. Louis speaks mostly Cree which Randy doesn't fully understand, so before he can help anyone, Randy has to figure out the meaning of the traditional words, and this requires patience that he doesn't always have! Randy and his best friend Katie are learning as they go, and everything that Louis Says helps them both to grow! Each episode in Louis Says features stories that reso- nate with children and reinforce important values such as patience, respecting elders, helping others and teamwork.

Lumbeeland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chGMxZ5Gnds

Lumbeeland is a 2024 narrative short film (approximately 26–30 minutes) that provides an intimate, dramatic look at the impact of the drug trade on the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. It explores themes of intergenerational trauma, family loyalty, and survival in Robeson County.

Main Street Wyoming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIoNhZZ-SGU&list=PLi7t-ipQDn6eacuH418GzYkaukcF0YNAi

A popular original series focusing on the communities and people of Wyoming, Main Street, Wyoming allows the audience to not only gain a better appreciation for the wonders of Wyoming but also take a second look at the events changing the world around us from the perspective of other Wyomingites.

Make Prayers to the Raven

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsHPtb0ZWXI

Make Prayers to the Raven explores the ways traditional spiritual values and beliefs guide the day-to-day lives of Alaska's Athabascan Indians on the Koyukuk River. Each half-hour occurs in a single season, revealing the surprising blend of Western and non-Western beliefs which shape and control that season's hunting, gathering and living. Set contains 2 DVDs with all 5 episodes.

Making Regalia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yexFniO36wY

The show operates on an instructional format, teaching the audience to sew many different styles of regalia for men and women.

March Point

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80nfzX7wzlQ

Travis, Nick and Cody have been friends almost all their lives, growing up on the Swinomish Reservation in Washington State. When they find themselves in trouble with drugs and alcohol, the teens are offered an opportunity to participate in Native Lens, Longhouse Media's filmmaking program.

MaveriX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf8a609ILlA

MaveriX is a 2022 Australian children's television drama series on Netflix focused on six young motocross riders competing to win the national titles while navigating friendship, teamwork, and rivalry in Alice Springs. The 10-episode series focuses on underdogs forming a team, with themes of adrenaline-fueled action and personal growth.

Medicine Woman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjpf7NTDEEg

Medicine Woman is a one-hour PBS documentary highlighting Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American doctor, who broke race and gender barriers to heal her Omaha tribe in the late 19th century.

Meet Me at the Creek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lrbU0eZrKM

Meet Me at the Creek is a 2024 short documentary directed by Cherokee/Kiowa filmmaker Loren Waters that follows Cherokee elder Rebecca Jim’s mission to restore the toxic Tar Creek Superfund site in Miami, Oklahoma. The film highlights Indigenous environmental activism, community connection, and cultural restoration.

Meet The Artist, Jeremy Arviso - Indian Motorcycles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wp_ayQBgFk

A multidisciplinary artist, designer and entrepreneur based in Phoenix, AZ, Jeremy Arviso is a proud member of the Diné, Hopi, Akimel O'odham and Tohono O'odham Nations. In collaboration with Jeremy, we are launching an exclusive collection of apparel infused with Arviso's bold, contemporary take on design and style, with proceeds benefiting the next generation of Native American entrepreneurs through the work of Change Labs.

Merging Destinies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53vHen8aXp0

Visitors from around the world visit a settlement called Old Minto to learn the traditional ways of Native Alaskans as part of cultural heritage program.

Metal Road

https://moviesontherez.com/metal-road-trailer/

Metal Road (2017) is a documentary film that explores the lives of Navajo railroaders working on the 9001 Heavy Steel Gang. The film highlights their dangerous labor maintaining railroads across the U.S., exploring themes of livelihood, family, and the cultural, economic challenges faced by Native Americans in the workforce.

Mixed Blessings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcnwmtPCu7Y

Mixed Blessings is a half-hour dramatic comedy series set in Fort McMurray, the ultimate Alberta boomtown. A Ukrainian plumber and a Cree waitress, both widowed with kids, fall in love and set up a new family together. Mixed Blessings explores the realities, the complexi- ties, and the humour of blending two families and two very different cultures. Hank brings to the mix his daughter Vicky, his son Walt, his sister Doreen and his best friend Tazz. Josie is blessed with her sister Kate, her mother Kookum, her daughter Bobbie, and her sons Mick and Donnie.

Moosemeat & Marmalade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRDOUUDg2Pc

Moosemeat and Marmalade brings two very different chefs together to explore culture, culinary traditions and really good food. Outdoorsman and Bush Cook Art Napoleon faces off against classically trained British Chef Dan Hayes in the kitchen... and the woods! Art is used to cooking in nature while Dan has worked in some of the world's most high-end kitchens. And now they're going head to head to see whose culinary culture is best and prepare for our delight meals fit for a king!

My Louisiana Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALXw1Jrh920

A young Native American woman returns to her family in Southeast Louisiana to find a man-made environmental crisis threatening their way of life. She overcomes great personal loss, and redefines the meaning of home.

N'gen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIq8xsi-ZWI

The first Panafrican science show for kids and their families. N*Gen models new ways of learning, promotes a culture of curiosity and promotes positive gender norms.

National Native American Veterans Memorial Dedication

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6nTsAOlOa4

The National Native American Veterans Memorial was dedicated on November 11, 2022 (Veterans Day), on the grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. The ceremony honored the extensive military service of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans, featuring a procession of over 1,500 veterans from 120+ nations.

Native America Calling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW0RlbMHums&list=PLV_BdRitllMbcSQl4lTlC_rwp2C1tV-0n&index=1

Native America Calling is a live call-in program linking public radio stations, the Internet and listeners together in a thought-provoking national conversation about issues specific to Native communities. Each program engages noted guests and experts with callers throughout the United States and is designed to improve the quality of life for Native Americans.

Native Hearts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVlpwv7LgTI

Daniel Finley, a mentally-ill Native American of mixed race, struggles to reconcile love versus inner trauma, as do a storytelling female inmate, and a prostitute and car thief in a hotel suite.

Native Hope Champions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRLbsJ1ky_g

Native Hope Champions is a PBS documentary series and First Nations Experience (FNX) program highlighting Native Americans making an impact through sports, arts, and advocacy. It showcases stories of resilience, including Indigenous artists and athletes raising awareness for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement.

Native Oklahoma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yssYgVfPWVI

Native Oklahoma is a collaborative, first-of-its-kind television project featuring stories, culture, and values from seven Oklahoma Indian tribes, produced in partnership with OETA (PBS) and CATV47. The half-hour show showcases the diverse history, dance, and music of Oklahoma's native populations.

Native Planet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFF83BCUenk

In a fight for mother earth, Host Simon Baker travels across a Native Planet and goes deep inside indigenous communities passionately defending their way of life against over- whelming environmental threats.

Native Shorts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He64T8IeSF4

Native Shorts presented by Sundance Institute's Native American and Indigenous Program" is a series that will feature short films produced, premiered or showcased at the Sundance Film Festival through its Native American and Indigenous Program, followed by a brief discussion with hosts Ariel Tweto (Flying Wild Alaska, Wipe-Out)an Inupiaq Eskimo from Unakleet Alaska and the Sundance Institute's own Bird Runningwater, a Cheyenne and Mescalero Apache.

Native Report

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4pIaJe751I

Native Report is a magazine-style PBS television series celebrating Native American heritage, culture, and modern indigenous life. It features interviews with tribal leaders, elders, and youth, covering topics like language preservation, traditions, and contemporary issues.

Navajo Highways

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgNipTL83CY

Navajo Highways serves as an educational tool aimed at Navajo children from Pre-K to 3rd grade, encouraging language acquisition and cultural understanding. Led by puppets representing Sadie and her family, each episode features encounters with Navajo role models and community members (guest stars), fostering connection and learning among our young viewers.

Navajo Math Circles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACpXYjZ_F9c

Navajo students engage in a lively collaboration with mathematicians. Using concepts from Native culture and a unique student-centered approach, the project aims to spark interest in math and science and create greater educational opportunities.

Never A Bother: Real Talk from Native Youth on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fu8H3IxrpM

Join Native youth in a timely and crucial conversation on mental health and suicide prevention. As part of Native American Heritage Month, Never a Bother: Real Talk from Native Youth on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention brings youth voices and Native experts together for an honest discussion about community well-being. The panel discussion is part of the statewide Never a Bother campaign, a youth suicide prevention campaign to increase awareness and support among California’s youth.

Ohiyesa: The Soul of An Indian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_Kt-4qUUMc

This documentary follows Kate Beane, a young Dakota woman, as she examines the extraordinary life of her celebrated relative, Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa). Biography and journey come together as Kate traces Eastman’s path—from traditional Dakota boyhood, through education at Dartmouth College, and in later roles as physician, author, lecturer, and Native American advocate.

Ojibwemotaadidaa!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjUc2zAm-YA

Ojibwemotaadidaa! is a children's show highlighting Ojibwemowin and Anishinaabe culture. We strive to shine a light on the wonderful area programs and resources dedicated to the revitalization of Ojibwemowin.

Ollie and Emma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV4MAWusG3U

Ollie and Emma, two university students from different cultures meet accidentally at the school library and sparks fly; Emma discovers her inner Native American warrior when Ollie's old girlfriend enters the scene.

On A Knife Edge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnW6WMzvMtw

Set against a background of rising tension and protest, a Lakota teenager learns first-hand what it means to lead a new generation and enter adulthood in a world where the odds are stacked against him. Filmed over a five-year period, On a Knife Edge provides a privileged view into the interior world of George Dull Knife as he becomes politically active with the American Indian Movement, confronts the challenges of growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and wrestles with accepting leadership of his storied family from his aging father.

Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf8HgCO6t4o

This docuseries features the culture, history and language of the Cherokee Nation, the largest federally recognized tribe in the US with more than 380,000 citizens. Cherokee history and culture are featured with stories such as turtle shell shakers, buffalo grass dolls and basket weaving. Also featured are the lives of Cherokee people today; the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter pilot, scuba diving with wounded warriors and searching for Bigfoot in the foothills of the Cherokee Nation. These are the voices of the Cherokee people.

Oyate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4kS4aFVkQQ&pp=ygUNT3lhdGXCoCgyMDIyKQ%3D%3D

Oyate (2022) is a documentary film spotlighting Indigenous activists, organizers, and politicians involved in the #NoDAPL movement and the fight for sovereignty. Directed by Emil Benjamin and Brandon Jackson, it covers the fight against injustices, including the Standing Rock struggle, and highlights key figures like LaDonna Brave Bull Allard and Ruth Buffalo.

P'urhepecha Uekani from Los Cenzontles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e09rQgCViO8&list=RDe09rQgCViO8&start_radio=1

P'urhépecha Uékani, a short documentary depicting two young singers visiting their elder maestro in his Indigenous Mexican pueblo. Fabiola Trujillo and Lucina Rodriguez, of Mexican American roots group Los Cenzontles, began studying traditional P'urhépecha music with Atilano López Patricio at their cultural arts academy in San Pablo, Ca in 1999. This 2004 visit was their first to his pueblo of Jarácuaro, Michoacán.

Pow!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOTuVqdwu8Y

Pow! is a 2025 animated short film focusing on a young Native American kid trying to charge his dying video game console at a bustling intertribal powwow. Created by Cowlitz filmmaker Joey Clif, the film highlights the intersection of modern indigenous life and traditional culture, featuring 8-bit visuals and ledger art styles.

Power to the People

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpGVbMvcRvw

Growing up in the Lubicon Lake Band in Little Buffalo, AB, Melina Laboucan Massimo has experienced the detrimental effects of Oil Sands extraction. Today it's made her one of Canada's leading climate change campaigners and the host of Power to the People.

Rabbit Fall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqlRDCjNj_w

A professional indiscretion lands Me'tis cop Tara Wheaton in the remote northern town of Rabbit Fall. She soon discovers the picturesque community is plagued by a chilling history of violent crimes and unexplained events that have some believing a supernatural force is at work. Tara rejects the theory but as the bodies pile up, Rabbit Fall slowly tears away at everything she knows to be true.

Ready for This

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTpMkIfeqf4

A long way from home, five indigenous kids come to the city to explore their dreams; for some it's the opportunity of a lifetime and for others it's a last chance; for all of them, family is the last thing they expect to find.

Red Earth Uncovered

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLzKbEKRG-Q

Take an adventure to places where world-renowned mysteries remain elusive. Myths such as Ogopogo and Sasquatch. Red Earth Uncovered seeks to learn the possibilities and truths about what could be. Tom Jackson and Shayla Stonechild lead the investigation of archaeological discoveries and ancient myths to uncover how Indigenous Peoples may have played a role in historical events and legends.

Red Crooked Sky

https://www.pbs.org/video/red-crooked-sky-1zyj2g/

The Curate 757 series explores the thriving art scene in Hampton Roads. Each week, the program features an area artist. Each person works in a different medium - from painting, to sculpture and photography, to the spoken word. Each episode originally aired as a part of the parent “Curate” series, which also offers profiles of national artists.

Red Dirt Riders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXhV43G1yRs

Rough and ready, fast and furious: a bunch of funny, cheeky Red Dirt Riders show you a thing or two about off-road riding and share stories about their world.

Reign of the Jaguar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY8vG4jZJto

Reign of the Jaguar (2010), directed by Ed Breeding, is a documentary film that offers a glimpse into "the Mind of the Maya," exploring how this ancient civilization viewed themselves, their rituals, and their world. Filmed in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, it highlights the vibrant, often misunderstood culture of the Maya, featuring their lively ceremonies and, according to The Utah Education Network, original, "magnificent" regalia.

Return to Rainy Mountain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrd7c2M7T2A

Scott Momaday, recipient of the first Pulitzer Prize for Fiction awarded to a Native American writer, and his daughter, filmmaker Jill Momaday Gray, take viewers on a modern-day road trip loosely based on his Kiowa nation’s ancestral myths and legends, from his bestselling book, The Way to Rainy Mountain.

Rhymes for Young Ghouls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kk7IxWINLQ

Rhymes for Young Ghouls is a 2013 Canadian independent drama film and the feature-film debut of writer-director Jeff Barnaby. Set in 1976 on the fictional Red Crow Mi'kmaq reservation, it takes place in the context of the Canadian residential school system. Although it tells the fictional story of a teenager named Aila and her plot for revenge, it is based on the history of abuse of the First Nations people by government agents, including a large number of reported cases of the mental and physical abuse of residential school children. ^It is presented from the perspective of a teenage girl.

Ruth-Ann Thorn Presents: Art of the City

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu_2PFZ1wnA

Ruth-Ann Thorn Presents: Art of the City is a 13-episode docuseries hosted by Native American gallerist Ruth-Ann Thorn that spotlights Native American and regional artists across the U.S. The show explores how local environments and culture shape art, featuring interviews with artists in cities like San Diego, New Orleans, and Santa Fe.

Sacred Steps: Remembering Sand Creek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsypijYjDeI

Sacred Steps: Remembering Sand Creek is a 2015 documentary capturing the 150th-anniversary journey of Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal members honoring ancestors killed in the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. The film documents the annual Healing Run from the Colorado massacre site to Denver, featuring personal reflections from descendants on trauma, resilience, and the ongoing quest for healing.

Sacred Stick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG4Y-FxHEZY

Sacred Stick is a 57-minute documentary exploring the deep spiritual, cultural, and historical roots of lacrosse within Indigenous communities. The film highlights the game as a gift from the Creator, exploring its evolution from a traditional medicine game to a modern sport, while highlighting the journey of the Iroquois Nationals team.

Salal, Cedar and Spruce: Salish Country Plants, Foods and Medicines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9_RUWonCqA

Salal, Cedar and Spruce: A Journey with Salish Plant and Medicine Traditions is a 30-minute documentary that highlights the revitalization of Indigenous plant knowledge in the Pacific Northwest. It features elders and youth exploring traditional food systems, medicine making, and sustainable stewardship, including cedar tea for fevers, salal for digestion, and spruce tips for nourishment.

Sasquatch'n

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWHVx8VM7V0

Sasquatch'n (2017) is a documentary film directed by Kerr Lee Sugiyama that explores the Sasquatch legend through Indigenous perspectives. It highlights the creature as a sacred "guardian of the forest" rather than a mere monster, featuring insights from Native societies and warnings regarding a prophecy connected to hunting them.

Searching for Capomo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFrCOmMwj58

Capomo has been nourishing us for millennia. It is our turn to sustain this majestic tree. Used as traditional food and medicine, the tree is threatened due to unbridled development, deforestation, and climate change. Winner of LANAFF 2023 and Latino & Native American Film Festival 2023.

Seasick: Saving The Hauraki Gulf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rTGfN8eP5M

Seasick - Saving the Hauraki Gulf is a seven-part documentary series and film produced by Stuff and directed by Simon Mark-Brown that investigates the ecological collapse of New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf. It highlights issues like pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction while proposing solutions to save the marine park.

Seasoned with Spirit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnKOuylPUIo

Seasoned with Spirit is a 5-part PBS documentary series, hosted by Native American chef Loretta Barrett Oden, that explores Indigenous culinary traditions, history, and culture across North America. The show features Oden visiting various tribes to gather, cook, and celebrate native ingredients, connecting food to ancestry and land.

Seeing Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT3a42mZp_I

Seeing Canada is a travel documentary series exploring Canada's Signature Experiences. Canadian journalist Brandy Yanchyk explores the vibrant cities, culinary delights, world-class attractions, unique characters, and natural wonders of Canada. Through Brandy's sense of humor, and adventurous spirit, the audience has a chance to learn something new about even the most familiar of destinations.

Seeing the USA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15EPp-0pDiE

Brandy Yanchyk's travel documentary series, Seeing the USA will connect viewers to iconic experiences that the USA has to offer. Viewers will experience the USA's iconic nature, thrilling adventures and unique, varied culture through Brandy's eyes. These experiences are adventurous in nature, making for great television! Rather than focus on current events, Seeing the USA will focus on the vibrant cities, culinary delights, world-class attractions, unique characters and natural wonders of the USA. Through her bold, adventurous spirit, we will be inspired to take an adventure ourselves. Through her compassion and sensitivity, we will see all the strands that make the USA worth seeing.

Silent Thunder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFYMF6gts64

Silent Thunder (2006) is a documentary short film featuring Stanford Addison, a Northern Arapaho elder, spiritual leader, and quadriplegic who shares his unique method of training wild horses. Directed by Angelique Midthunder, it highlights Addison's journey, offering messages of peace, cultural tolerance, and spiritual consciousness.

Smokin' Fish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWp7g6ufTjM

An Alaskan businessman spends time at his family's camp in the village of Klukwan, where they still use traditional ceremonies and methods to smoke the fish they catch.

Something Inside Is Broken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Ku39pM6po

At the heart of Something Inside Is Broken is the story of two young lovers from the Nisenan Tribe. The story follows actual and created figures who were affected by Johann Sutter's methods of exploitation to build his fortune-making empire at Sutter’s Fort. Through story, song, and dance, the world-altering clash is brought to life.

Songcatchers: The Gathering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri0LmE52iiI

This all-star Native American music and dance show celebrates the work of Grammy Winning artists. Performed live at the Lensic Theater in New Mexico.

Spirit In Glass: Plateau Native Beadwork

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20zIyAkHPPc

Spirit in Glass: Plateau Native Beadwork is a documentary short film celebrating the vibrant beadwork and culture of the Columbia River Plateau People. Featuring artists from the Warm Springs, Yakama, and Umatilla Reservations, it highlights how beadwork acts as a "story in glass," passing down history, binding communities, and demonstrating cultural resilience.

Standing Silent Nation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnSdPmQKkcg

Standing Silent Nation is a 2006 documentary film about Alex White Plume, a resident of South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation. After a great deal of research, Alex and his family planted industrial hemp, under the incorrect assumption that tribal sovereignty laws would allow the production of this non-psychoactive relative of marijuana, and the film details the consequences of his actions.

Skindigenous

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLWMSQOBZzQ

Skiniginous  is a series of 13 half-hour documentaries on the art of tattooing as prac- ticed by indigenous peoples around the world. Each episode dives into a unique indige- nous culture to discover the tools and techniques, and the symbols and traditions that shape their tattooing art. The art of the tattoo becomes a lens for exploring some of the planet's oldest cultures and their unique perspectives on life, identity, and the natural world.

Studio 49

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntYg9-FEc5k

FNX is proud to present our music performance series Studio 49, featuring in-studio showcases by Native and World Indigenous artists!

Teepee Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNUOzN4spr0

TeePee Time is an animated pre-school series about a curious little tipi discovering the world one new adventure at a time. For Teepee every step, is a first step, every new experi- ence, is a learning one, and there is always lots of fun and adventure along the way!

The Aux

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0zYWz_PIrY

A rotating compilation of music videos featuring diverse talents of Native American & World Indigenous cultures. Different genres such as hip hop, rap, dance, rock, and many more are featured on The Aux

Thalu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfM_-Yn0qJI

Thalu (2020) is a 10-part Australian children’s live-action series following Indigenous children in the Pilbara region on a quest to save their Country from a mysterious dust cloud and "Takers". The group travels to a powerful location, collecting eight sacred stones to stop the threat. It is known for its blend of Indigenous folklore and modern adventure.

The Awakeners

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pcvHwr9nsQ

The Awakeners (2021) is a 6-part Canadian documentary series hosted by Indigenous singer Laura Vinson. The show features Indigenous artists with disabilities sharing their stories and art. It highlights how these individuals—spanning painters, poets, and performers—utilize their experiences to educate and inspire.

The Blackfeet Flood

https://youtu.be/SKvaxUglOgc?si=XQRak65p9Qm6ZY96

The Blackfeet Flood (2019) is a 30-minute documentary chronicling the 1964 Birch Creek flood, the worst natural disaster in Montana history, which killed 31 people on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The film follows survivor Butch New Breast returning home 50 years later, exploring themes of trauma, loss, and resilience within the community.

The Lesser Blessed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7xDNzRAtu8

The Lesser Blessed is a Canadian drama film, released in 2012 The film was written and directed by Anita Doron and is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Van Camp, the film stars Joel Evans as Larry Sole, a young Tłı̨chǫ teenager living in the Northwest Territories. The film explores several teen-focused issues, such as alienation and the search for one's own identity, but in this case from the perspective of a Dogrib Indian who struggles between his Native ancestry and finding his place in to the modern world.

The Magic Canoe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e88517lo1Y4

The Magic Canoe transports our travelers and young campers from Camp Manitou to breathtaking and unforgettable places where they will experience marvelous adventures in a world where animals and plants can talk! Meet Aunt Viola, the fearless Max and Tibo and their friends Julie, Pam and Nico at Camp Manitou, which is the starting point of many beautiful adventures and extraordinary day trips! THE MAGIC CANOE is a series for the 5-7 year old's, filled with humor and adventure, allowing young viewers to discover the wonders of natural sciences as well as offering them life lessons.

The Mayors of Shiprock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cw3dD3x3mM

The Mayors of Shiprock is a 2017 documentary focusing on the Northern Diné Youth Committee, a group of young Navajo leaders in Shiprock, New Mexico. They work to improve their community through service—such as graffiti removal and elder assistance—while navigating the challenges of reservation life.

The Medicine Line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU11zHVESNI

Cinematographer Dave Gaudet takes a fantastic road trip that zigzags back and forth across the border and throughout North America to discover the art and history of Aboriginal peoples. In each episode of The Medecine Line, Dave meets, explores, or interviews two fascinating new characters, events, or places - one from Canada and one from the USA. Then using his skills as a cinematographer, he'll capture the subjects and showcase them for the world. In each chapter of this epic adventure, Dave learns that from the perspective of human oneness, national boundaries don't exist at all.

The Mountain That Weeps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZacTJ9JG3g

The Mountain That Weeps is a 2019 documentary by Pechanga Creative Studios detailing the seven-year battle (2005–2012) to protect the sacred Pu’éska Mountain in Temecula, California, from a proposed 75-year Granite Construction open-pit mining project known as "Liberty Quarry." The film highlights the collaboration between the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, local residents, and the City of Temecula against corporate and political efforts.

The Native Drum with Shawn Littlebear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y52601Ci6WE

Host Shawn Littlebear delves into a big project, a 28 inch powwow drum! Learn how to prepare the hide, measure out and punch the lacing holes and put it all together. Native Drum maker Shawn Littlebear continues his introduction to this wonderful art of making traditional drums.

The Oneida Speak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tjBW0kfc-o

The Oneida Speak is an Emmy-nominated documentary and educational television program that documents the history, land loss, and culture of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. The program (find more details on the Utah Education Network) uses 1930s-1940s WPA oral histories from elders, combined with modern interviews, to recount stories of loss and rejuvenation.

The Seven Generation River

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMKZZbOU0_Y

The Seven Generation River is a Great Lakes Now documentary and environmental initiative detailing the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians' efforts to restore their ancestral waterways in Michigan. It highlights the tribe’s use of traditional ecological knowledge and modern science to reverse environmental damage, guided by the principle of protecting resources for seven generations in the future.

The Seven Sacred Laws

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tGQ3SyIBA0

A boy nearing the end of his vision quest, an Indigenous rite of passage, is visited by seven sacred animals who teach him how people should live their lives on Mother Earth.

The Shadow of Gold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZTyJxtQc6M

Gold is one of the most expensive and coveted precious metals. A captivating investigation is carried out around the world into the gold market, which causes colossal social and environmental damage.

The Spirit of the Mask

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-a8uuLUQio

This documentary gives a rare view into the powerful, unusual masks of the Pacific Northwest coast native peoples. Host Wade Davis (author- "The Serpent and the Rainbow") takes us on an unusual journey into the mystical world of demons and dragons which are embodied in these masks.

The Sun at Midnight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5086kp67WQ

Filmed at the Arctic Circle, The Sun at Midnight tells the story of an unexpected friendship between a hunter obsessed with finding a missing caribou herd and a teenage rebel who gets lost while on the run.

The Thick Dark Fog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFgQXMwKpn4

A Lakota child attended a government boarding school where his Native identity was suppressed. Now he's reclaiming all that he lost.

The Untold Tales of Tuteremoana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8vES2ElITg

The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana (2022) is a New Zealand Māori fantasy-drama anthology series. Created by Hiona Henare, it presents three distinct, 500-year-old oral tradition stories from the Ngāi Tara people. The series is filmed entirely in nature (Aotearoa), features an all-Māori cast, and highlights indigenous language and cultural history.

The Winter Bear Project

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnFNJ0XQ_Jc

The Winter Bear is a play that tells the story of an Alaska Native teenager who rises above his past traumas to become a leader with the help of mentor Sidney Huntington. The Winter Bear Project combines the play with outreach developed in cooperation with rural Alaskan communities.

They Can't Kill Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbi5PydqZ08

Native American tribes have a rich and complex history that often goes unheard. In "They Can't Kill US," we aim to shed light on these cultures and communities by conducting interviews with members of various tribes.

Tiga Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyaSxrULbOU

Tiga the wolf pup, Gertie the Gopher and Gavin the Goose are stuffed toys who live with Jodie and Jason, their Dad and Grandmother Kokum. The toys and the kids have a secret. When there are no adults around Tiga, Gertie and Gavin come to life to play with Jodie, Jason and their friends. Every time Kokum, or any other adult, is around they turn back into toys.

Tiger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT3MmRJRRS8

Tiger (2025) is a 13-minute documentary short, directed by Loren Waters (Cherokee/Kiowa), profiling acclaimed Muscogee artist and elder Dana Tiger. The film explores themes of Indigenous resilience, grief, and the revitalization of the family's iconic 1980s Tiger t-shirt business following the loss of her father, legendary painter Jerome Tiger, and her brother.

To Brooklyn and Back: A Mohawk Journey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF79gUfCPXE

Little Caughnawaga: To Brooklyn and Back (2008) is a documentary directed by Reaghan Tarbell that explores the lives of Mohawk ironworkers from Kahnawake, Quebec, who established a community in the North Gowanus/Boerum Hill area of Brooklyn from the 1920s to the 1960s. The film highlights their culture, the role of women, and the "high steel" work.

Tribal Elder Stories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdHT5YyjC3Q

Indigenous elders share captivating stories of their culture, traditions, and history. Explore their wisdom and learn about the rich heritage passed through generations.

Tribal Police Files

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sleRXmdc7PA

Tribal Police Files takes viewers on a front seat ride-along with First Nations police services. From the daily challenges of life on-duty to the ongoing involvement in rebuilding their communities off-the-clock, officers share the most dangerous moments they have faced in the line of duty while stressing the importance of cultural practices and staying strong for their families

Tshakapesh Superhero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT4D6kN4oY4

Tshakapesh Superhero is a Canadian animated series (2020) based on Innu mythology, featuring an immortal, legendary figure who defends Earth alongside his sister Imala and friends against the villainous Carcajou. The show, available on APTN and ICI TOU.TV, promotes indigenous culture and environmental stewardship across its 13 episodes.

Underexposed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXoKFVeXw9I

Underexposed is a visually stunning doc series that travels the world following a group of action-sport photojournalists and their mentors as they face adrenaline-packed challenges to find their stories, capture their shorts and sell the next big thing in extreme sports.

Unsettled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-b6pOHRbKc

Cheri Maracle stars as an Indigenous woman who was removed from her family as a child, during the Sixties Scoop, and is now attempting to reconnect to her heritage and her birth parents. A visit to her First Nation reserve in Northern Ontario becomes a more permanent stay when the business run by her husband fails, leaving their family destitute, and forcing them to relocate from Toronto to the reserve.

Unshackled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJKVwNXkQcU

Unshackled! is a long-running, Chicago-based Christian audio drama that features true stories of personal transformation. The show includes episodes highlighting Native American experiences, such as the two-part testimony of Cherokee member Charlene Phillips and a 2025 program (Program #3876) featuring stories from the Navajo nation.

Untamed Gourmet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc0b84xHfto

Untamed Gourmet explores the connection between food and the land. In a time where food is readily available to us from anywhere in the world, we sometimes forget that every- thing we eat has a connection to the natural world. Each episode follows a chef in a new area, sourcing and preparing dishes from fresh regional ingredients with the help of a local guide.

Urban Native Girl

In season one of Urban Native Girl we meet and come to understand the struggles and hopes of Lisa Charleyboy, a fashionista, entrepreneur and urban Indigenous innovator. After years of slogging through both the fashion and journalism world - and being told that glam- our and Aboriginal don't mix. Lisa sets out to transform her small online blog into a glossy print magazine, in the hopes of launching an international brand.

Urban Rez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh3gs3eRYTs

Urban Rez is a 2013 American documentary film about the repercussions of the Urban Relocation Program, the greatest voluntary upheaval of Native Americans during the 20th century. It was directed by Larry T. Pourier and written by Lisa D. Olken. The film examines policies that encouraged Native Americans to relocate.

Waabiny Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yntksHDIfsA

Waabiny Time means "playing time" in Noongar and is a landmark in Australian TV; a kids' variety program that uses Noongar Language. Presenters Kylie Farmer and Lee West take children from the ages of three to six on an educational and entertaining adventure, guiding our young viewers through stories, songs and activities that are authentically Indigenous and encourage participation.

Waila! Making The People Happy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62_VoJuGcVk

Waila music is the best-held secret of the desert southwest. Waila, also called Chicken Scratch, is the contemporary dance music of Native American tribes in southern Arizona. Waila has evolved since the 1870's having adopted different musical styles and instruments of those eras. Waila! Making the People Happy take you to the Native Communites of Southern Arizona to experience first hand the people, places, and culture that make this music unique.

Walking Into The Unknown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Q_auksYVM&pp=ygUtV2Fsa2luZyBJbnRvIFRoZSBVbmtub3duIG5hdGl2ZSBhbWVyaWNhbiBzaG93

Walking Into The Unknown is an Emmy-nominated documentary featuring Ojibwe physician Dr. Arne Vainio, who navigates the healthcare system to address high-risk health issues in Native American men. The film documents his personal journey with screenings and lifestyle changes to combat diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, aiming to inspire and educate.

Wapos Bay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmdexQSYaEk

Ten-year-old T-Bear, 9-year-old Talon and 6-year-old Raven star in Wapos Bay, a light-hearted stop-motion animation series about growing up in a remote Cree community. In Wapos Bay, modern life and ancient traditions meet. Hunting and gathering, dog sledding and shimmering northern lights are part of every day, but so are video games, TV and cell phones. Guided by elders, extended family and their own insatiable curiosity, the three children learn how to balance traditional ways with newer ones. Their discoveries unfold against the backdrop of northern Saskatchewan's varied seasons - winter, spring thaw, spring, summer, fall and freeze-up. As they explore the world around them, the three children acquire some valuable lessons about respect, cooperation, honesty and tolerance. And of course, they also teach the adults a few things.

Washakie Last Chief of the Eastern Shoshone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm4vcpHkGNo

Washakie: Last Chief of the Eastern Shoshone is a documentary film and educational resource from Wyoming PBS highlighting the life of the renowned 19th-century Shoshone leader. It chronicles his 60-year leadership, friendship with mountain man Jim Bridger, and his efforts to secure the Wind River Reservation for his people.

Waterbuster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnhJHNxh7wg

Waterbuster (2006) is a documentary by J. Carlos Peinado that explores the devastating impact of the Garrison Dam project on the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation in North Dakota. The film blends personal history, as Peinado explores his own roots, with the broader story of cultural and land loss, showcasing Native resilience and survival.

We Breathe Again

https://youtu.be/yFLpGj_e4oA?si=fnRgAI4mROywrrlQ

We Breathe Again is a 2017 documentary film exploring the lives of four Alaska Native people navigating personal histories of trauma and suicide, seeking healing through their culture. The film, featured on PBS America ReFramed and produced by Native Movement, showcases intimate stories of resilience against high rates of suicide.

Weaving Worlds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_pNohCBiB8

Weaving Worlds (2007) is a documentary by Navajo filmmaker Bennie Klain that explores the lives of contemporary Navajo (Diné) weavers. The film focuses on the intersection of art, economic survival, and cultural tradition, highlighting the weavers' struggle for self-sufficiency amidst the pressures of globalization and their complex relationships with reservation traders.

Whaledreamers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpAECjeRWmI

The story of the return of an aboriginal whale dreaming tribe from the edge of extinction and the long journey of the whales, to survive the slaughter by man, and engage us all into waking up in time.

What Was Ours

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEi_3MZJ5aY

What Was Ours is the story of how a young journalist and a teenage powwow princess, both of the Arapaho tribe, traveled together with a Shoshone elder in search of missing artifacts in the vast archives of Chicago's Field Museum.

Why Treaties

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0MT9POjCg8

Why Treaties? (produced by Lakeland PBS) is a documentary exploring the 1863 "Old Crossing Treaty," where Red Lake and Pembina Ojibwe bands ceded 11 million acres to the U.S. It examines 19th-century treaty contexts, broken promises, and the lasting impact on indigenous land rights, sovereignty, and culture in Minnesota.

Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8OuLAlkA08

An immersive journey into the world of wild horses, Wild Beauty illuminates both the profound beauty, and desperate plight currently faced by the wild horses in the Western United States. Filmmaker Ashley Avis (Disney’s Black Beauty) and crew go on a multi-year expedition to uncover the truth in hopes to protect them, before wild horses disappear forever.

Wild Game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDWlu6nrKq8

Chef Rich Francis explores indigenous communities across Canada, learning about the traditional and modern methods of harvesting and preparing the food that has shaped their cultures over the millennia. This documentary series also brings us into the hunting, harvest- ing and fishing technique either used today or in the past, and brings everything together in a final scene where Rich draws on what he's learned, and uses his contemporary culinary techniques and understanding to reimagine a new dish for the community to enjoy.

Wolf Joe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PigB8TF5o5M

This exciting and brand-new animated series for 3 to 6-year olds follows Joe, a young First Nations boy who, with his two best friends,Nina and Buddy, has fun-filled, kid-friendly adventures in the beautiful northern Canadian Indigenous community of Turtle Bay.

Through superhero role-play, Joe, Nina and Buddy are inspired and empowered by the universal values of The Seven Teachings Wheel and the spirit animals of Wolf, Lynx and Bear that connect them to their culture. On completing every challenge, they are rewarded with a deeper understanding of these teachings in a fun way that will resonate with kids all around the world. Welcome to the world of WOLF JOE: a journey of heritage, heroism, and strength of community. It's a kid-nature team up like no other!

End of Story

HomePage Art: Ruby Layne

Interview with USDA’s Tribal Ambassador Gilbert Louis III

By NAT Staff

(Photo Credit: USDA)

Introduction

Indigenous peoples have long protected local ecosystems and preserved biodiversity through land management and farming practices. They taught colonists how to cultivate crops like corn, beans, and squash, which were crucial for their survival, especially during the harsh winters. Without the assistance of Native peoples, many settlers would not have been able to survive. In modern times, the community’s agriculture involves a blend of traditional practices and modern techniques, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and cultural preservation.

Following the forced removal of five tribes from their lands in the Southeast, cattle ranching quickly became one of the leading economic activities in Indian Territory. Many Indian agents, working with different tribes, believed establishing successful ranching operations would assist in the long-range goal of assimilation. Today many Native nations still participate in cattle ranching as an economic activity, continuing many ranching traditions. Native American ranching techniques, deeply rooted in sustainable practices, involved careful land management and a strong understanding of ecosystems.

The Pilgrims relied on Native peoples to learn how to live off the land.
(Photo Credit: Modern Farmer)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) supports America’s agricultural producers through effective, market-based risk management tools to strengthen the economic stability of agricultural producers and rural communities. They interact with the community through various initiatives aimed at improving access to and effectiveness of their programs, including federal crop insurance.

The United States has a unique government-to-government relationship with federally recognized Tribes as defined through treaties, statutes, court decisions, Executive Orders, and Departmental Regulations.

Interview

Gilbert Louis III serves as USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s first Tribal Ambassador, providing insights to Native American farmers and ranchers. In this role, he travels throughout Indian Country promoting risk management programs and practices to build prosperous and resilient agriculture in Tribal communities.

A proud member of the Pueblo of Acoma Tribe, Louis hails from a multigenerational family of ranchers, and brings forward his practical experiences to the job.

NAT

Tell us about your background with the USDA?

GL

I've been involved with USDA since around 2018, when I was on the Board of the Council for Native American Farming and Ranching, which is an advisory committee of USDA. It was established to address the unique challenges faced by Native American farmers and ranchers in accessing USDA programs and resources. Going back, the agency was under the false impression that Indian people had help from the Bureau of Indian Affairs or their local tribes and were referred back to their tribe for assistance. The Council’s job was to serve as an advocate and advisor for farmers, ranchers, and tribal entities. We delivered a strong message there’s a number of USDA programs we're allowed to participate in – and don't be apprehensive about signing up because USDA and its Risk Management Agency (where I presently serve) are there to be of help. We personalized the message where people can understand it, which eradicated some of the skepticism that may have been out there.

NAT

Skepticism?

GL

For example, when Native Americans hear about the insurance benefits being offered, some people can be a little bit skeptical of the government, just because treaties are still being broken to this day.

NAT

You mentioned “insurance” as an available USDA Risk Management Agency program to tap into. What’s that benefit about?

GL

I myself participate in the precipitation insurance, which is basically a rainfall insurance. If it's a bad drought, we get paid. You'll get a payment from USDA and/or the insurance company. This protects your business operations and helps to ensure you’re still farming and ranching next year.

NAT

Going back to the Council, do you feel it got a lot accomplished, along the way?

GL

So, the Council met a couple times a year and were giving feedback to USDA on tribal issues and concerns – and how they can better improve federal services. We were accomplishing our mission but there’s still a lot to do.

At a conservation planning training and workshop, Louis describes
the process and evaluation of soil sampling, including how to analyze
soil depth and identify soil types and horizons. (Photo Credit: FirstNations.org)

NAT

And your leadership role with the Council, how did that ultimately translate to your present position as Tribal Ambassador?

GL

I've been connected to agriculture all my life, and also was the Chairman on the Livestock Raising Board for five years, here in Acoma, New Mexico. I attended an agricultural conference in Las Vegas. There, I met some USDA personnel at their booth and while talking with them, noticed my picture on their promotional flyer. I said, “Hey, that's me on that flyer you got right there, that postcard, that's me, man.” I joked around and said, “I'll send you guys the bill for using my picture.” But I also mentioned if you guys have any jobs available, I’d love to help Indian Country. They asked me to send a resume and it just kind of happened like that. And I met with the Undersecretary for USDA’s Risk Management Agency, Marcia Bunger, and we just kind of kept in touch. A couple months later, they explained they tried an advocacy-type program with African Americans, and would like to do something similar with Native people. They asked if I’d be interested in becoming their Tribal Ambassador which I was happy to accept. Yeah, it was very fast paced, and honestly at one point I wasn’t sure if I could do it.

NAT

Do you feel being a multi-generational rancher played a role in their decision?

GL

I believe so. I think about my grandparents all the time and why they got into agriculture, raising animals and harvesting fields to provide for their family. It was a monetary situation where they can take their cattle to sale, their livestock to sale. Or, if they need food on the table, they have their animals and their crops. It was kind of a safety net, I would say, for my grandparents to provide for their family. And so, I'd like to keep that same mindset and provide for my own family – not just my immediate family, but my extended family, my aunts, cousins, you know, whoever I can help out. And help the community, too. I recently donated a steer to a neighboring tribe. Harvesting a buffalo the whole tribe will come out and ensure that we're all sharing in that bounty. It was a lot more than just, oh, yeah, we're big-time ranchers or big-time farmers. No, it wasn't that. It was having enough to provide for our people and making sure that our people are surviving and we're healthy. And so again, my family roots run deep. I have a beef company but at the end of the day, I told the people, I'll donate my steer. And so, my job as Tribal Ambassador is to advocate for our farmers and ranchers and to let them know various programs are available to be of support.

Ambassador Louis, a third-generation farmer and
rancher, poses with his father. (Photo Credit: USDA)

NAT

Speaking about roots and traditions, can you provide an example of how today’s Native farmers and ranchers honor old ways?

GL

As Native Americans, we pray to our cattle, we wash our cattle, we talk to our cattle. To us, they're sacred. Those are our prayers. And not only that, they provide the bounty for our people, the nourishment. You know, every time I take a cattle to get processed, I pray to it, I give it thanks, and I apologize to the mom, giving her thanks, even though she’s not present. I tell her that her calf is going to provide for our people, and we're very grateful and not to feel bad or hurt. Yeah, tradition and culture are all tied into it.

NAT

Tell us a bit about yourself as a young person leading to your time with Acoma Fire Department? 

GL

I was always in trouble and in high school getting into fights. And at 17, I had a kid and I was freaking out. At that point I made my mind up and said, “Okay, you need to stop messing around. You need to graduate, get a good job, and not just any job. You need to get a career and provide for this child that's coming.” So, I did that, graduated from school and joined the Acoma Fire Department. I stayed there for three years until I turned 21 then went into Albuquerque Fire Rescue. And believe me, I wanted to quit during the Academy, it's military style and our instructors are yelling at us, and my legs are shaking. And I'm standing there in the hot sun, thinking I can go back to Acoma Fire Department and don't need this. But then the thought crossed my mind, you're doing this for your son, you want him to have a better life, you want him to have a house in Albuquerque. And so, I stuck it out and lo and behold, 20 years later, I took retirement. I now offer peer support to the department’s Retirees Association and mentorship to youth seeking careers as first responders, including my own son, Julian. After spending a little time in retirement, I started looking for another job which led me to USDA.

(Photo Credit: New Mexico State University, Jane Moorman, Photographer)

NAT

Does the Ambassador’s Office sponsor events, like symposiums or conferences? Basically, how do you promote the USDA opportunities available?

GL

Yes, we attend events to get the word out there and there's also an opportunity for the Native agricultural community to voice questions and concerns. And some of these events are big, like the Intertribal Agriculture Council which took place in Las Vegas. and the Gathering of the Nation's Pow Wow here in New Mexico. You would have a booth usually at the conference so people can learn and network with you. And so again, my job is to relay USDA and its Risk Management Agency’s programs and how they benefit farmers and ranchers.

NAT

If you had to sum it up, what’s the goal here?

GL

At the very minimum, to get farmers, ranchers and tribal entities to visit their local USDA building, to learn of various opportunities. The goal of the USDA is to make sure that America keeps farming and ranching right. We want to reach out to Indian Country and let people know that they can participate in our programs – what's available and why these programs are here. Recently, I heard the term warrior. A warrior not only protects his people, but provides for them as well. It really struck a chord on me as to who we are, as Native Americans.

End of Interview

To learn more about opportunities, contact Ambassador Louis at:

glouisrma@gmail.com, or via phone 505-250-3960. He’s also available for consultation on issues and challenges faced by farmers and ranchers.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) serves America’s agricultural producers through effective, market-based risk management tools to strengthen the economic stability of agricultural producers and rural communities. They are committed to increasing the availability and effectiveness of Federal crop insurance as a risk management tool. RMA’s vision is to secure the future of agriculture by providing world class risk management tools to rural America.

The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy. Their vision is to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive. USDA preserves our Nation's natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.

Native American NFL Players: Today’s Stars and Past Heritage

By NAT Staff and Ruby Layne

The 1911 Carlisle Indians football team. Legendary Coach "Pop" Warner (standing, third from right)
and world-renowned Jim Thorpe (seated, third from right) are pictured. (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Introduction: Historical Perspective of Native Americans Playing Football

Native peoples have a rich history in the sport of American football. From the Indian teams of the 1920s to the National Football League (NFL) champions of today, Native Americans have made their mark.

The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was founded in 1879 by an American cavalry officer, Richard Henry Pratt, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Its purpose was to facilitate the assimilation of the Native American population into mainstream society. In 1893, the Carlisle Indian Football Team played their first season recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They were consistently outsized by other teams, and relied on speed and guile to remain competitive. Their coach, Pop Warner, gave rise to “trick plays” and other innovations which are now commonplace, including the overhand spiral throw, hand-off fake, double wing, the crouching start for backs, and the reverse hand off on kick offs.

In 1903, Coach Warner first employed his infamous "hidden-ball play" against heavily favored Harvard, where Warner was the former coach. The trick play was on the opening kickoff. When Carlisle’s returner, Charles Dillon, caught the ball the Carlisle players suddenly formed a circle around him. With the aid of a specially altered jersey, the ball was placed up the back of Dillon’s jersey. Then, the team spread out in different directions, where each player feigned carrying the ball – except Dillon – the man with the ball. The ruse confused Harvard and while everyone was scrambling to find the ball carrier, Dillon ran untouched into the end zone. With the touchdown, Carlisle extended its lead to 11–0 but Harvard came back and eventually won 12–11. The close match, and its one-of-a-kind trick play, resulted in national attention.

Pop Warner was the creator of many
modern football techniques.
(Photo Credit: Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame)

On November 9, 1912, Carlisle’s opponent was the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Warner spoke to his team beforehand, saying "These men playing against you today are soldiers. They are the Long Knives. You are Indians. Tonight, we will know if you are warriors." Carlisle routed Army 27–6,  and that game was played only 22 years after the last Army battle with the Lakota/Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. The game featured two-time gold medal Olympic champion Jim Thorpe and nine future generals, one being (linebacker) President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Carlisle's last season was 1917, when the school folded at the end of the academic year.

The Oorang Indians played in the NFL in 1922-1923 and had all Native American players,
including Jim Thorpe (third from left, back row), who was a player-coach. (Photo Credit:
Adam Bauer, Cumberland County Historical Society in Pennsylvania)

The Oorang Indians were a traveling team in the National Football League from LaRue, Ohio (near Marion). The franchise was a novelty team put together by Walter Lingo to market his Oorang (Airedale Terrier) dog kennels. With Jim Thorpe serving as its leading player and coach,  the team played in the early days of the NFL. Of the 20 games fielded, only one was at home in nearby Marion. With a population well under a thousand people, LaRue remains the smallest town in America to host a professional sports team franchise.

The Oorang Indians in full regalia. They were the first iteration of what’s now known to be
halftime football shows. (Photo Credit: Mike Selinker)

Rather than retiring to the locker room at halftime, the Oorang’s showcased Lingo's Airedales to the crowd. In addition to watching the dog performances, there were Native cultural dances, tomahawk and knife-throwing demonstrations, shooting exhibitions and on occasion, player Nick Lassa (also called "Long-Time-Sleep") wrestled a bear. The extravaganza that took place was the cornerstone of today’s halftime shows.

Current NFL Players

Creed Humphrey
Center: Kansas City Chiefs
Potawatomi

“What makes me proud is just representing my family. My family lives in Shawnee.
They live in that area. I’ve been around them my whole life, and I’ve been representing
the Tribe my whole life.” (Photo Credit: Cal Sport Media, Alamy.com)

Creed Humphrey is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he was named the Big 12 Conference offensive lineman of the year in 2019 and 2020. A native of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Humphrey plays center for the  Kansas City Chiefs and was on the team that won Super Bowl LVII. Humphrey has openly expressed pride in representing his tribe, and that connection was recognized by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation in a welcome-home celebration after the Super Bowl victory.

Malcolm Luciano Rodriguez
Linebacker: Detroit Lions
Cherokee

"It's one of those things where I keep doing what I'm doing, being the
way I've always been, and keep influencing young kids, especially members
of the tribe, that they can do whatever they want; they just have to keep working
and doing their best." (Photo Credit: Cal Sport Media, Alamy.com)

Malcolm Luciano Rodriguez is a linebacker for the Detroit Lions, and played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He’s a descendant of a Mexican father and his mother hails from the Cherokee Tribe. At Oklahoma State, he was the dominant linebacker, earning First-Team All-Big 12 honors and was a Butkus Award semifinalist. In 2022, the Lions recruited him in the sixth round of the draft. His achievements on the field, and others, resulted in Rodriguez being named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.

Keenan Allen
Wide Receiver: Los Angeles Chargers
Lumbee

“I am grateful to be Indian – Native American. At the end of the day, they started this,
and that’s why we are in America right now.” (Photo Credit: Cal Sport Media,
Alamy.com)

Keenan Alexander Allen is a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers. He played college football for the California Golden Bears and was selected by the Chargers in the 2013 NFL draft. Allen won multiple honors after setting records for receptions and receiving yards by a rookie. In eleven seasons with the Chargers, he is a six-time Pro Bowler and is one of two players in franchise history to accumulate more than 10,000 receiving yards. Beyond his on-field prowess, Allen remains a source of inspiration and pride for the Lumbee Tribe.

Austin Corbett
Offensive Guard: Carolina Panthers
Walker River Paiute

“Keep pushing through, and don’t let others tell you what you can do.
There’s no reason we shouldn’t see Natives throughout whatever interests
they have. Native Americans are such a great people.” (Photo Credit: Cal Sport Media, Alamy.com)

Austin Corbett, a former center, plays offensive guard for the Carolina Panthers. He is Walker River Paiute and grew up in Reno, Nevada, about an hour outside Schurz, the tribal community. Corbett played for Reed High School in Sparks, Nevada and for the University of Nevada’s Wolf Pack. The Cleveland Browns selected Corbett in the second round of the 2018 draft before he moved on to play for the LA Rams and ultimately the Panthers. Accomplishments include being on the Rams’ winning Super Bowl LVI team, selected as a first-round draft pick in 2018, earning First-Team All-Mountain West honors at the University of Nevada, and being a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy. Corbett was also named a recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award by the Carolina Panthers for his resilience and leadership.

James Winchester
Long Snapper: Kansas City Chiefs
Choctaw

(Pictured right). “Being an Indigenous player in the game means more
than winning, to be connected to a nation in Oklahoma and to the state
of Oklahoma. There’s just so much Native American history there in
Oklahoma, and obviously pride for my family.” (Photo Credit: Zuma Press,
Alamy.com)

James Winchester is Choctaw and a long snapper for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, and joined the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2013. A year later, he joined the Kansas City Chiefs, the team that led him to success. A three-time Super Bowl champion, Winchester lifted the famous Lombardi trophy after the team’s 2019 victory. He also holds the franchise record for postseason appearances alongside Travis Kelce.

Eli Ankou
Defensive Tackle: Buffalo Bills
Ojibwe Dokis First Nation

“I want to show kids – whoever they are – they can do it too. If you give yourself
a chance, if you work for it, you know you can, you can pretty much do anything.
It doesn't have to be just football, but I think football is a great conduit for me to
express that.” (Photo Credit: Associated Press)

Eli Ankou is a Buffalo Bills defensive tackle, who played college football for the UCLA Bruins. Ankou grew up in Canada and played high school ball for the St. Peter Catholic High School Knights in Orleans, Ontario, and Red Lion Christian Academy. He continues to be recognized for his resilience and determination in building an NFL career as an undrafted player.

Ankou uses his platform to promote awareness and support for Indigenous culture and causes, particularly the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). He also co-founded the Dreamcatcher Foundation with his wife, Shayna, which focuses on empowering women and children, distributing sports equipment, and raising awareness for MMIWG. Ankou also hosted the Emmy-nominated documentary, "GONE," produced by the NFL. The film’s subject matter goes beyond traditional sports narratives, bringing light to the critical social issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across North America.

Teton Saltes
Offensive Tackle: New York Jets
Oglala Lakota

"On the reservation back home, football is not a very big sport there. They’ve
never really had someone to look up to in that sport back home. Now, I’m kind
of out there and making a little bit of a name for myself. They’re able to see that.
It’s so important for me to be a role model." (Photo Credit: Zuma Press, Alamay.com)

Teton Saltes is an offensive tackle for the New York Jets. Born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, he witnessed the immense hardships faceby his tribe. In school, he made history as the only University of New Mexico athlete to win a major college football award, the Wuerffel Trophy. He was also Captain of the AFCA Good Works Team.

Beyond sporting accomplishments, Saltes's advocacy efforts include addressing the United States Congress and testifying before the New Mexico state legislature, passionately advocating for mental health support for student athletes. He is an active board member of the BEAR Project, a literacy and life outreach program, headquartered on his home reservation. These efforts, among others, demonstrate unwavering commitment to community betterment.

In 2024, Saltes was inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.

Retired Notables

Sam Bradford
Quarterback: St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals
Cherokee

“I often thought about the interactions I have had with so many Native
Americans across the state and country. I cannot tell you how many times
I have been out in public and someone has stopped me and the first thing
out of their mouth was, ‘I’m Native too.’  It was a connection we shared.”
(Photo Credit: Jason O. Watson, Alamy.com)

Samuel Jacob Bradford was quarterback for nine seasons, beginning with the St. Louis Rams. The 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, who led the University of Oklahoma Sooners to their BCS National Championship, was also first overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. As a Ram, Bradford was named AP NFL Rookie of The Year and set many records, including most passing attempts (590) and completions (354) by a rookie, and longest streak of passes without an interception (169). Following the Rams, he traveled to the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals, as a starting and backup quarterback.

Embracing his connection to Indian Country, Bradford has spoken to tribal youth about health and leadership initiatives. One event was sponsored by former Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, its purpose to advocate outdoor activity and healthy lifestyles. The Oklahoman was also honored by the Cherokee Nation for his success and being a role model.

Outside of serving the community, Bradford is an investor in farming communities and an avid golfer. In May 2025, he qualified for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, a USGA event for amateur golfers.

Tyler Bray
Quarterback: Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers
Potawatomi

“I've spent some time in Oklahoma learning about heritage, where my
grandma is from. It is great to be able to represent as a minority in the NFL.”
(Photo Credit: Zuma Press, Alamy.com)

Tyler Bray, a member of the Potawatomi tribe, rose to prominence as a standout quarterback during his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee. In 2013, Bray transitioned to professional ranks when he entered the NFL Draft. His 5-season tenure with Kansas City was followed by a move to the Chicago Bears, where he continued to make valuable contributions to his team. In 2021, Bray joined the San Francisco 49ers. Although he didn't secure a spot on the final roster, Bray's perseverance and commitment to the sport underscore his deserving place among notable Native American players.

Bray is the founder of the Bray Quarterback Institute, which offers personalized training focused on perfecting footwork and arm mechanics. It also organizes events like The Valley Showcase football camp, in partnership with the Nathan Fellner Memorial Scholarship Foundation, to provide coaching and opportunities for young athletes.

Levi Horn
Tackle: Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings
Northern Cheyenne

“We as Native Americans have always known words
have power and I spread hope through the power of
positivity. I first shared when I was six years old that
I wanted to play in the NFL and was laughed at. I look
to empower our youth to set a dream and shoot for it.”
(Photo Credit: North American Indigenous Athletic Hall of Fame)

Levi Horn is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne. At a struggling high school in Spokane, Washington, Horn earned both conference and state honors. This caught the attention of universities and he committed to the University of Oregon, before transferring to the University of Montana. His junior year, he played tackle for the Grizzlies and was named All Big Sky Conference. In 2009, Horn was named First Team All-American AFCA and received the University of Montana Paul Weskamp Award.

Horn then signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2010 during the NFL draft. He played with the Bears for two years and then went on to play with indoor football teams, including the Spokane Shock, BC Lions, New Mexico Stars, and Los Angeles Kiss.

Horn now resides in Lame Deer, Montana and coaches at his alma mater. As a role model, he regularly visits reservations to speak about the importance of having a dream, representing the Rise Above organization that “empowers Native youth to lead healthy lives through education, prevention skills, and mentorship programs.” Horn was selected as a spokesperson for Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign, a public awareness initiative to improve children’s health. In 2024, he was inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.

Tuff Harris
Defensive Back, Punt Returner, Running Back: Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, and Pittsburgh Steelers
Crow and Northern Cheyenne

“I may be the only Crow and Cheyenne that a person
will ever meet, so I need to be a good ambassador.”
(Photo Credit: TuffHarris.com)

Tuff Harris is a member of the Crow Tribe and also of Northern Cheyenne descent. Born on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana, Harris played college football for the Montana Grizzlies, where he set school and Big Sky Conference records as a punt returner, including longest return, most return yards in one game, and most yards in a season. He also broke the all-class record (10.77 seconds) in the 100, being named the “Fastest Man in Montana History.” Harris’ early career was rewarded by being inducted into the Montana Football Hall of Fame.

After going undrafted in the 2007 NFL draft, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins as a free agent. After being waived by the Dolphins in the offseason, he went on to play for the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans, before landing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Harris never found a starting position, he excelled on special teams and was awarded honors throughout his career.

In public speaking events and interviews, Harris is passionate about inspiring and encouraging people to take hold of their futures and to push past barriers and walls. He is also the founder One Heart Warriors, a faith-based discipleship training program for young adults seeking growth, strength and direction.

Historical Figures of the Past

Jim Thorpe
Running Back, Defensive Back, Punter and Placekicker: Canton Bulldogs, Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants
Sac and Fox Nation

"I am no more proud of my career as an athlete
than I am of the fact that I am a direct descendent
of that noble warrior [Chief Black Hawk]."
(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Unbeknownst to many, the legendary Jim Thorpe was the first president of the National Football League, initially called the American Professional Football Association, founded in 1920. His international status helped the sport of football gain attention and respect during its early years.

The Sac and Fox Nation member played football for 12 seasons and was the first Native American inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His accomplishments include winning two NCAA All-American awards as a halfback for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, leading the Canton Bulldogs to multiple championships, and being a charter inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. In a 1950 Associated Press (AP) poll comprised of 400 sportswriters and broadcasters, the two-time Olympic gold medalist (pentathlon and decathlon) was voted the greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th century. Thorpe received more votes than any other nominee, including Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, and Ty Cobb. In addition to football, Thorpe was a Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Boston Braves (now Atlanta Braves).

In 1972, he was inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1999, both ESPN and the United States Congress named Mr. Thorpe Athlete of the Century. ABC reaffirmed that title in a 2000 poll.

Joe Guyon
Running back, Quarterback, Kicker, Tackle: Canton Bulldogs
Oneida

“It was hard trying to make anything of yourself.
Sports were one of the few ways a youngster could
pull himself up.” (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Joseph Napoleon "Big Chief" Guyon hailed from the Ojibwa Tribe. A football legend, enshrined in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame, Guyon played for the Carlisle Indians and Georgia Tech in 1917, when they won the national championship. He performed for a number of professional clubs, including the Canton Bulldogs and New York Giants, and was selected as a member of the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1920s. “Big Chief” was also an outfielder in minor league baseball until he was 43 years old, batting 332.

Pete Calac
End, Wingback, Tailback, Fullback: Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Oorang Indians, Buffalo Bisons
Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians

(Editor’s Note: There are no known quotes
from Pete Calac regarding his Native heritage.)
(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Pedro "Pete" Calac played in the Ohio League and during the early years of the NFL. Born on the reservation, Calac and had no knowledge of football before attending Carlisle Industrial Institute, where he ultimately became captain. He recalled in Robert W. Wheeler's book, Jim Thorpe: World's Greatest Athlete, Thorpe took him under his mentorship and they soon became friends and football teammates. While at Carlisle, Calac played other sports including lacrosse, baseball, basketball, and track. Over the course of his 10-year professional career, he played for the Canton Bulldogs, Oorang Indians, Buffalo Bisons, Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators, the latter two football teams at that time. Calac was also named Third-Team All-Pro in 1920 and won the 1921 Philadelphia City Championship, playing for the Union Quakers.

Jim Ailinger, best known as the last surviving player from early NFL days, shared a memorable experience with Calac. While with the Bisons, the team travelled to Philadelphia for a game against the Frankford Yellow Jackets. Philadelphia, a large metropolitan area, was unfamiliar territory for Calac and several of the rural players, including Ailinger. When they went out for dinner, the waiter asked Pete what he wanted and unsure how to reply, he said, "A lot of meat and a lot of potatoes.”

Sonny Sixkiller
Quarterback: CFL and WFL
Cherokee

"Sometimes people seem to prejudge me. They think, 'If he's a guy
getting all this publicity, he's gotta be cocky.' But I can't see being
like that." (Photo Credit: University of Washington)

Alex L. "Sonny" Sixkiller is a former quarterback and sports commentator. At the University of Washington, Sixkiller is renowned as a legendary player. After achieving 385 completions for 5,496 yards, 35 touchdowns and being the nation’s number one passer during his sophomore year, Sixkiller was inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor and the Huskies Hall of Fame. Talented and popular, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and inspired a hit record called, “The Ballad of Sonny Sixkiller.” He was also a cast member in the 1974 film, The Longest Yard.

Sixkiller had tryouts with the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers and signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He joined the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League in 1974 and played with The Hawaiians in 1975.

A member of the Cherokee Nation, Sixkiller is currently a senior manager for business development for Huskies Sports Properties, a part of Learfield, who acts as the exclusive multimedia rights holder for the university's athletic programs.

John C. "Skee" Levi
Fullback: Hominy Indians
Arapaho

(Editor’s Note: There are no available personal quotes
from John Levi where he references his heritage. The
most prominent mention is in the context of the Korean War
Legacy Foundation, where he spoke about the mistreatment
of Native Americans within the educational system. Levi served
as a medic for the First Marine Division during the Korean War.)
(Photo Credit: Kansas Sports Hall of Fame)                                                                                                           

John Levi was a member of the Arapaho Tribe and in Arapaho, his name translates to “Charging Buffalo.” He played college football for the Haskell Institute and Jim Thorpe once called Levi the greatest athlete he'd ever seen. In 1923, the Minneapolis Star wrote, “Running back John Levi is about as easy to stop as a 200-pound eel. With his speed and his shifting sidestepping style of running, tacklers slide off of him like rain off a slicker. In 1927, the Charging Buffalo played for the Hominy Indians who were facing the New York Giants, the reigning NFL champions.

The game’s final score: Hominy Indians 13, Giants 6.

Wahoo McDaniel
Linebacker and Punter: Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos, New York Jets and professional wrestler
Choctaw and Chickasaw

(Editor’s Note: There are no available personal
quotes from McDaniel during his football career,
where he references his heritage.) (Photo Credit:
Uncredited)

Edward Hugh McDaniel, aka “Wahoo” McDaniel was both a football player and wrestler. He was born in the small town of Bernice, Louisiana and was a member of the Choctaw Nation. In college, McDaniel was a key member of the powerful Oklahoma Sooners and today holds the team’s record for longest punt, 91 yards. His 9-year career began in 1960 with the Houston Oilers during their inaugural AFL Championship-winning season. He then traveled to the Denver Broncos for two years and landed wit\h the New York Jets in 1964, before finishing his career with the Miami Dolphins. During off-season, McDaniel was a wrestler to supplement his income and after retiring from football, transitioned to full-time wrestling.

Jets football fans loved his custom jersey which had the name "Wahoo" sewn on the back above #54. Whenever he made a tackle, the public address announcer would ask the crowd WHO made that tackle and the crowd shouted back, "Wahoo! Wahoo! Wahoo!"

“Unlike 95% of the Native American wrestlers,
I actually was one.” (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

His wrestling achievements include five-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion and six-time Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion. McDaniel was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, WCW Hall of Fame, and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

(End of Story)

(Homepage Image Graphic Artist: Mark Martinez)

About the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame

The North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) honors the indigenous sport cultures of North America, by recognizing outstanding leadership and achievement in individual and team athletics. By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of the annually inducted individuals and sports teams, the hope is their stories will inspire future generations to follow their dreams in athletics and life.

Native Americans in Congress: Past & Present

By NAT Staff

Identified by Time Magazine as “one of the sharpest minds in the House,” Congressman Tom Cole, a
member of the Chickasaw Nation, is serving his tenth term. Rep. Cole is current Chairman of the
House Appropriations Committee, responsible for drafting and approving the federal budget.
He’s also Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus and Deputy Whip for the Republic Conference.

Going Back

In 1870, Hiram Revels made history as the first Native American to join the United States Congress as a Senator. Since then, over 20 Native peoples have come to take their seat at Congress, with 5 members currently presiding. Here is a look at the history of Native American representation in Congress, past and present.

Senate

Picture	Senator (lifespan)	Tribal ancestry	State	Party	Term start	Term end	Notes
	Hiram Revels (1827–1901)	Lumbee	Mississippi	Republican	Feb. 23, 1870	March 4, 1871	Retired
	Charles Curtis (1860–1936)[1]	Kaw, Osage, Potawatomi	Kansas	Republican	Jan. 29, 1907	March 4, 1928	Resigned after being elected Vice President
	Robert Owen (1856–1947)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Democratic	Dec. 11, 1907	March 4, 1925	Retired
	Ben Nighthorse Campbell	Northern Cheyenne	Colorado	Democratic (1993–1995)	Jan. 3, 1993	Jan. 3, 2005	Retired
	Markwayne Mullin (born 1977)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Republican	January 3, 2023	Incumbent

Senator Robert Owen

Senator Owen Latham Owen of Oklahoma was a member of the Cherokee Nation and an attorney. He taught orphaned children and represented the Five Civilized Tribes as a federal Indian agent before entering politics as a Progressive Democrat. His achievements helped pave the way for his election to the U.S. Senate in 1907, one being winning a court case on behalf of the Eastern Cherokees seeking compensation from the government for lands they lost during the Indian Removal Act.

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, then-chairman of the Senate Committee
on Indian Affairs, speaks during an oversight hearing on tribal lobbying matters.

Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell  (Northern Cheyenne) was elected to the Colorado State Legislature as a Democrat in November 1982, where he served two terms. In 1986, he was elected to the US House of Representatives, where he served six years. In 1989, he authored the HR Bill 2668 to establish the National Museum of the American Indian. Nighthorse was the first Native American ever to chair the Indian Affairs Committee, and sponsored legislation settling Native American water rights and protecting Colorado’s wilderness areas. He also sponsored legislation creating the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site and the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park.

House of Representatives

Picture	Representative (lifespan)	Tribal ancestry	State	Party	Term start	Term end	Notes
	Richard H. Cain (1825–1887)	Cherokee	South Carolina	Republican	March 4, 1873	March 4, 1875	Retired
					March 4, 1877	March 4, 1879
	John Mercer Langston (1829–1897)	Pamunkey	Virginia	Republican	Sep. 23, 1890	March 3, 1891	Lost Reelection
	Charles Curtis (1860–1936)	Kaw, Osage, Potawatomi	Kansas	Republican	March 4, 1893	January 28, 1907	Resigned to become U.S. Senator from Kansas
	Charles Carter (1868–1929)	Chickasaw	Oklahoma	Democratic	November 16, 1907	March 4, 1927	Lost renomination
	William Hastings (1866–1938)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Democratic	March 4, 1915	March 4, 1921	Lost reelection
					March 4, 1923	January 3, 1935	Retired
	Will Rogers Jr. (1911–1993)	Cherokee	California	Democratic	January 3, 1943	May 23, 1944	Resigned to join the U.S. Army
	William Stigler (1891–1952)	Choctaw	Oklahoma	Democratic	March 28, 1944	August 21, 1952	Died in office
	Ben Reifel (1906–1990)	Lakota Sioux (Rosebud Sioux)	South Dakota	Republican	January 3, 1961	January 3, 1971	Retired
	Clem McSpadden (1925–2008)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Democratic	January 3, 1973	January 3, 1975	Retired to run unsuccessfully for the nomination to the 1974 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
	Ben Nighthorse Campbell (born 1933)	Northern Cheyenne	Colorado	Democratic	January 3, 1987	January 3, 1993	Retired to run successfully for the 1992 United States Senate election in Colorado
	Brad Carson (born 1967)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Democratic	January 3, 2001	January 3, 2005	Retired to run unsuccessfully for the 2004 United States Senate election in Oklahoma
	Tom Cole (born 1949)	Chickasaw	Oklahoma	Republican	January 3, 2003	Incumbent	Longest serving Native American in the House[2]
	Markwayne Mullin (born 1977)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Republican	January 3, 2013	Incumbent	Has announced retirement to run for the 2022 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma
	Sharice Davids (born 1980)	Ho-Chunk	Kansas	Democratic	January 3, 2019	Incumbent	First LGBTQ Native American elected
	Deb Haaland (born 1960)	Laguna Pueblo	New Mexico	Democratic	January 3, 2019	March 16, 2021	Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
	Yvette Herrell (born 1964)	Cherokee	New Mexico	Republican	January 3, 2021	January 3, 2025
	Mary Peltola (born 1973)	Yup'ik	Alaska	Democratic	September 13, 2022	January 3, 2025	First Alaska Native elected to Congress
	Josh Brecheen (born 1979)	Choctaw	Oklahoma	Republican	January 3, 2023	Incumbent

Rep. Ben Reifel

Ben Reifel, the son of a Brule Sioux Indian mother and a German-American father, was born in Parmalee, SD, on the Rosebud Reservation  in 1906. There, he was an agricultural extension expert and administrator to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Reifel was a 5-term U.S. Congressman who was actively involved in advocating the interests of Indians during his tenure in Washington. He served in the Appropriations Committee and was instrumental in securing appropriations for the high school facilities at Sisseton and Mission, which benefited South Dakotan Indians immensely. He was also instrumental in securing funding for the EROS (Earth Resource Observation Satellite) Project for the Sioux Falls area. After his retirement, Reifel continued to work on behalf of Native communities and was Chairman of the American Indian National Bank. He was named Outstanding American Indian, Sheridan Indian Days, WY, and received the Indian Council Fire Achievement Award.

Rep. Charles Carter

Charles David Carter was an Oklahoman politician of Chickasaw and Cherokee descent, elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and served from 1907 to 1927.

Prior to his 20-year tenure in Congress, Carter was auditor of the Chickasaw Nation and a member of the Chickasaw Council. He was also superintendent of schools of the Chickasaw Nation, and appointed mining trustee of Indian Territory by President William McKinley in November 1900. He’s most well-known for the significant roles he played in keeping Indian homesteads under the protection of the federal government.

Carter served as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs and was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2006.

In the Administration

Vice President Charles Curtis (1929-1933)

Charles Curtis was a republican from Kansas who served as Senate Majority Leader and 31st Vice President of the United States under Herbert Hoover. He was the great-great-grandson of White Plume, a Kaw chief who aided the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804. He was the first person of color to cross racial boundaries and become Vice President.

Curtis receives peace pipe from Chief Red Tomahawk, leader of the
Sioux Nation and credited with having killed Sitting Bull. (Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

Former Rep. Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), served as the Secretary of the
Interior under the Biden administration. Here she poses for the history-making
ceremonial swearing-in. (Photo Credit: Joshua Roberts / Reuters file)

Present Members of Congress

There are currently four Native American members in Congress. They are Rep. Tom Cole (Chickasaw), Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee), Rep. Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk) and Rep. Josh Brecheen (Choctaw).

Tom Cole (R-OK)

Identified by Time Magazine as “one of the sharpest minds in the House,” Tom Cole, an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, is serving his tenth term. Rep. Cole was appointed to the Rules Committee in 2013 and has remained on the distinguished panel since then. He has presided on the House Appropriations Committee as Vice Ranking Member and is a Member of 16 caucasus including the Congressional History Caucus, the Republican Study Committee, and the Pro-life Caucus. Among his leadership positions, Rep. Cole is Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus. A member of the Air Force, Army and National Guard Caucuses, Cole’s an ardent supporter of a strong military and also an advocate for small businesses. He is known to be Capitol Hill’s foremost expert on issues related to Native Americans.

The National Congress of American Indians has recognized Cole’s distinguished service with the Congressional Leadership award on three different occasions, more than any Member of Congress. He was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2017. His late mother, Helen, was also inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame and served as a state representative, state senator and the Mayor of Moore, Oklahoma.

Tom Cole is the Chairman of The Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over spending measures, including appropriations bills that fund all federal government agencies. There are 12 subcommittees, each with jurisdiction over an annual appropriations bill.

Rep. Tom Cole at a rally for the Violence Against Women Act. (Photo Credit: Kolby KickingWoman via Indian Country Today)

Cole and Congresswoman Betty McCollum honoring Native American code talkers awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.

In June 2024, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)’s bill, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024, which he co-led with Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03), passed through the House Education and Workforce Committee markup. This legislation will investigate, document, and report on the histories of Indian boarding schools, Indian boarding school policies, and the long-term impacts of Indian boarding schools on Native American communities.

Following the passage of this bill through full committee markup, Congressman Cole released the following statement:

“Indian boarding schools have had devastating impacts on Native communities. Yet, for so many years, the true stories about what happened to these Native children are unknown,” said Congressman Cole. “As an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and the longest-serving Native American in the House of Representatives, it is a priority of mine to properly represent our Indian communities in Congress. Therefore, I am committed to investigating the tragic abuses that occurred at these boarding schools and bringing light to this dark chapter in our nation’s history. This Commission will hopefully bring these communities one step closer to healing and peace for themselves, their families, and future generations, and I would like to thank Chairwoman Virginia Foxx for moving this bill through the legislative process.”

Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)

Senator Markwayne Mullin is a successful business owner, working cow-calf rancher, and proud husband of 25 years to Mrs. Christie Mullin, and together the two are parents to six wonderful children: Jayce, Jim, Andrew, Larra, Ivy, and Lynette. Mullin was sworn into office on January 3rd, 2023, following ten years of service to Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives. A lifelong Oklahoman, Senator Mullin grew up on his family’s ranch in Westville where he and his family still reside to this day.

As one of the only current business operators in the U.S. Senate, Mullin brings over 25 years of firsthand experience and entrepreneurial leadership to address some of the biggest issues impacting the U.S. economy and Oklahoma’s small business community.

Mullin is the first Native member of the U.S. Senate since the retirement of Colorado’s Ben Nighthorse Campbell at the beginning of 2005, as well as the first Native American senator to represent Oklahoma since Cherokee Nation citizen Robert Owen retired in 1925. According to the U.S. Senate’s website, Senator Mullin is the fourth American Indian to ever serve in the U.S. Senate, following Campbell, Owen and Charles Curtis – who was part of the Kansas delegation more than a century ago. Senator Mullin is an enrolled member of Cherokee Nation and is the first Tribal citizen to serve in the U.S. Senate in nearly two decades

Senator Mullin serves Oklahoma on the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Committee on Appropriations, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee; and the Indian Affairs Committee.

“The Indian Affairs Committee plays a vital role in ensuring that the federal government upholds its trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations. I look forward to strengthening tribal sovereignty, pursuing self-determination policies, and fostering economic growth in Indian Country. Let’s get to work,” Mullin stated in a press release.

Cherokee Nation Chief Bill John Baker wrapping a ceremonial blanket around
the Congressman. (Photo Credit: Fort Smith Times Record)

The Senator is well-known in news media and often requested to be interviewed.

In June 2024, Senator Mullin helped introduce the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act to ensure that pharmaceutical companies continue to develop drugs to treat rare diseases affecting children, including types of cancer. The bipartisan legislation would extend the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) program, which incentivizes drugmakers to create these novel treatments by bringing them on the market on an expedited timeline.

“Over the past decade, the Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) Priority Review Voucher (PRV) program has successfully helped incentivize and expedite the development of new treatments and cures for young children with rare conditions including pediatric cancer and rare genetic disorders,” said Senator Mullin. “Our commonsense bill will reauthorize and extend the PRV to provide greater stability and fuel innovation to benefit a far greater number of pediatric patients living with rare diseases. One in ten Americans are living with a rare disease, but less than 10 percent of all rare diseases have an approved treatment option. It is important we do all we can to improve access to innovative health care options — especially for children. Thank you to Sen. Casey for joining me on this important legislation.”

Sharice Davids (D-KS)

Rep. Sharice Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, serves as the Chief Deputy Whip for the Democrat Party. Her committee positions include the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Small Business, and the Committee on Agriculture. Rep. Davids is the Vice Chair for Member Services for the New Democrat Coalition, and serves as Co-Chair for the Congressional Equality Caucus, the Congressional Native American Caucus, the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus, the Congressional FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus, and the Animal Protection Caucus.

She is co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and a Democratic Regional Whip for Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Rep. Sharice Davids presiding over the House of Representatives.

Davids is committed to limiting the influence of special interest groups and to ensure all Americans have affordable, accessible health care. She advocates for employment opportunities for veterans and service members who incurred illness or injury while serving in the military, and works to help veterans transition their skills from service to business through legislation that examines barriers, including lack of access to credit. In addition, she voted to address the veteran suicide crisis and veterans experiencing homelessness.

Before being elected to Congress, Rep. Davids lived and worked on reservations where she fostered economic development opportunities, community programs and tribal initiatives.

Davids is known to be a vocal advocate for the underserved, and
issues including reproductive healthcare decisions

In June 2024, Representative Sharice Davids appeared on MSNBC’s “Velshi” to discuss the Supreme Court’s recent decision to preserve access to Mifepristone, a safe and effective form of medication abortion. She also expressed concern over Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s continued legal attack on the medication, which was approved decades ago and is used in more than 60 countries to safely end a pregnancy.

During the segment, Davids said, “The access has been protected for now, and seeing some of these extreme politicians and actors pushing these extreme policies is not just scary; it’s dangerous. We have to make sure we’re keeping our eye on the ball and not letting people like Kris Kobach, who, by the way, does not speak for the vast majority of Kansans, as we saw in August of 2022. The vast majority of Kansans do not want politicians interfering in our reproductive health care decisions.”

Josh Brecheen (R-OK)

Rep. Josh Brecheen (pronounced Bra-keen) is a committed Christian, husband, father, and is a fourth generation rancher in Coal County, Oklahoma. Prior to his time in Congress, he owned and operated a small excavation and trucking business, Rawhide Dirtworks L.L.C. He served as an Oklahoma State Senator from 2010 to 2018, obtaining an overall voting record as the third most conservative senator among those with whom he served. He was the original author of measures that included capping state debt, banning dismemberment abortions, and a true repeal and replacement of the common core educational standards—the nation’s first. From 2004 to 2010, Brecheen worked for U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. as a field representative, working directly with Oklahoma constituents and evaluating federal programs for waste and inefficiencies.

Brecheen is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he earned a dual degree in agriculture. He served the Oklahoma FFA Association as State President in 1999 and later worked seasonally for the National FFA Organization as an ALD conference presenter. Until 2010, he brought inspirational messages into approximately 500 public schools, universities, and conferences through his motivational speaking business, Brecheen Keynotes and Seminars and also as a free service when employed by Tom Coburn.

Brecheen grew up in the professional cutting horse industry and in his youth was a two-time national qualifier for the National Cutting Horse Association Eastern Championship show. After college, Brecheen started training cutting horse futurity prospects as a “non pro” and has been raising quality cow horses for over 20 years.

As a member of Congress, he is focused on reining in our unsustainable debt and deficit spending, which he is convinced is undermining our national security.

Rep. Brecheen serves on the Homeland Security Committee, a standing committee formed in 2005 to ensure that the American people were protected from terrorist attacks. The committee focuses on legislation and oversight related to the security of the United States. He is also a member of the Budget Committee, whose principal responsibility is to develop a concurrent resolution on the budget to serve as the framework for congressional action on spending, revenue, and debt-limit legislation.

In June 2024, Congressman Josh Brecheen voted for a conservative National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes several amendments to fight back against the Biden Administration’s social engineering experiment on our troops, which has led to record low military recruitment. The bill included Congressman Brecheen’s amendment, which would prohibit drag shows and drag queen story hours at our military bases.

Oklahoma state Sen. Josh Brecheen is running for the congressional seat left open by
Republican Rep. Markwayne Mullin's Senate bid. (Photo Credit: Sue Ogrocki / AP file)

A former state senator, Josh Brecheen is a
member of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma. (Photo Credit: Brecheen campaign).

End of Story

Homepage Image: Artist David Parkins

David Alan Parkins is a British cartoonist and illustrator who has worked for D.C. Thomson, publisher of The Beano and The Dandy. After the Beano's 60th birthday celebrations in 1998, Parkins took over illustrating the comic's long-running character "Dennis the Menace". In freelance, he’s worked on postcards, textbooks, newspapers, magazines, comics, and illustrated over fifty children's books. The artist has additionally drawn political cartoons for The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times, the Times Higher Education Supplement, The Economist, the Literary Review of Canada, and Nature. In 2013, Mr. Parkins became an editorial cartoonist for The Globe and Mail.

(Accompanying Story)

The Iroquois and Founding of the U.S. Constitution

By NAT Staff

When the Founders met in 1787 to create the U.S. Constitution, there were no contemporary democracies in Europe from which they could draw inspiration. The only forms of government they had encountered were those of the Native American tribes. Of particular interest was the Iroquois Confederacy, who had already formed a multi-state government that ensures individual governance and freedoms. The structure of the Confederacy represented five tribes:

Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida and Seneca and was federal in nature, operating under The Great Law of Peace, a doctrine of 117 codicils where individual tribes handled their own affairs but came together to solve issues of common importance. The founders were impressed by how the Iroquois legislated their affairs and shortly thereafter, they drafted the U.S. Constitution echoing the Great Law of Peace. Historians agree the Iroquois wielded a major influence in the writings of the U.S. Constitution.

Mohican Chief Hendrick Theyanoguin, Mayor Abraham Yates, Jr., and Benjamin Franklin at the Albany Conference, 1754. (Illustration by John Kahionhes Fadden)

Before the Congressional Congress, leaders of the Confederacy attended the Albany Congress in 1754, where Benjamin Franklin was impressed by the Great Law of Peace and wrote what’s known as the Albany Plan of Union. It advocated for the colonies to improve security and better defend themselves from foreign powers. In 1776, during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia invited the Iroquois to make an address, where they were well received by the patriots.

An Onondaga sachem giving John Hancock the Iroquois name Karanduawn
(meaning “Great Tree”) at Independence Hall. (Illustration by John Kahionhes Fadden)

In 1988, Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution. It reads, "The confederation of the original 13 colonies into one republic was influenced by the political system developed by the Iroquois Confederacy, as were many of the democratic principles incorporated into the constitution itself.” In addition, the resolution stated, “the continuing government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States established in the Constitution,” which reaffirmed the legitimacy and sovereignty of Native nations and their governments.

About the Iroquois Confederacy

The Iroquois Confederacy dates back several centuries, to when the Great Peacemaker founded it by uniting five nations: Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida and Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined the Iroquois, also known as the Haudenosaunee. They were known during the colonial years to the French as the Iroquois League, and later as the Iroquois Confederacy. The English called them the Five (later Six) Nations. Today, each of the tribes who comprise the Confederacy administer their own affairs and have independent tribal councils.

The Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center provides for the viewing of 3000-plus artifacts, and features story telling lectures, and a gift shop adorned with Mohawk baskets, beadwork, books, t-shirts, silver jewelry, and acrylic paintings.

 

Heritage Special: Honoring and Understanding Traditions, Customs and Beliefs

By NAT Staff

(Homepage image courtesy of artist Russ Docken and Wild Wings LLC)

(Photo Credit: Running Strong for American Indian Youth)

Native American Heritage Month

In 1990, President George W. Bush approved a congressional joint resolution, designating November as "National American Indian Heritage Month," now known as Native American Heritage Month in honor of American's first citizens.

Early Proponents

One of the proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca and Director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, New York. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans" and for three years they adopted such a day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association formally approved a plan endorsing “American Indian Day”. It directed its President, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, to call upon the nation to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation, the first appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.

Photo of Red Fox James. Curtesy of Harris & Ewing, Library of Congress Public Domain

Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfoot Tribe, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to honor America’s first citizens. On December 14, 1915, he presented endorsements from 24 state governments at the White House. However, there is no record of a national day ever being proclaimed.

State Celebrations

The first official American Indian Day celebrated by a state was declared in May 1916 by the Governor of New York, Charles S. Whitman. In Illinois, legislators enacted such a day in 1919, and other states designated Columbus Day as their Native American Day.

Pow Wows and Festivals

A Pow Wow (also Powwow or Pow-Wow) is considered the most popular event held by tribal communities, and Native organizations serving urban and rural populations. Pow Wows are a gathering to meet and dance, sing, socialize and honor traditions. There are generally dancing competitions featuring traditional dances, often with prize money awarded. Pow Wows vary in length from a one-day gathering to well-known Pow Wows which can be up to one week long.

The Gathering of Nations three-day festival is the nation’s largest. It features over three thousand traditional singers and dancers competing for prizes. (Photo Credit: Derek Mathews, Courtesy of Gathering of Nations Limited)

There are six types of dances generally performed. They are the Men's Traditional Dance, Men's Fancy Dance, Men's Grass Dance, Women's Traditional Dance, Women's Fancy Shawl Dance, and the Jingle Dress Dance.

Each one signifies a meaning and is considered a celebration of history. And, there are inter-tribal dances where anyone may join and dance within the arena circle.

The participants who dance are not considered “performers” per se, as their motivation is to honor tradition and pay homage to their ancestors’ beliefs and way of life.

(Photo Credit: Derek Mathews, Courtesy of Gathering of Nations Limited)

Eleanor Spears Dove, Narragansett elder, samples a strawberry from a basket passed at the Narragansett Strawberry Thanksgiving, another popular event.

A Pow Wow is a great opportunity for photographers. However, there are instances where it is not permitted to photograph dancers. Ask the MC or an organizational staffer when it’s appropriate to take pictures. It is also suggested to request the permission of performers, as well.

Honor Thy Family and Elders

The Jones Benally Family (Photo Credit: Rachel Running)

For Native Americans, family can extends further than parents and siblings. Some families are known to form an extended family. In these extended families, other households come together and represent a separate community within the tribe. Some family structures are matriarchal and others more patriarchal but being part of an extended family allows each individual to claim or be delegated responsibilities.

Young people and others revere elders as mentors and leaders. (Photo Credit: Running Strong for American Indian Youth)

Elders are regarded as highly respected people who provide wisdom and council. One is regarded an Elder when they reach their older years, although the age may vary from tribe to tribe. In some instances, if a person is a source of spiritual and meaningful wisdom, they are considered an Elder regardless of age.

The majority of tribes and Native American urban organizations maintain Elders’ programs, which signifies how much they are appreciated. It is not uncommon to see children serving Elders food at community gatherings, or acquiring comfortable seats for them.

Smudging

Sacred smoke created from burning medicinal or sacred plants is a footprint of many cultures and religious followings worldwide. In North America, the practice is called smudging. The general purpose of a smudging ceremony is to purify and cleanse the negative thoughts and energy of a person. It is also used to purify a physical location.

There are four elements involved in traditional ceremonies. The first is a shell container to represent water. The earth plants which comprise the second element are cedar, sage, sweetgrass, and tobacco. The fire produced from lighting the sacred plants (one or more) represents the third element, and the smoke produced from the fire signifies air, the fourth element.

Elements included in ceremonies are cedar, sage, sweetgrass, and tobacco. (Photo Credit: Mother Earth Essentials)

The smoke which heals the mind, heart and body is wafted over the person (by hand or with an eagle feather) and the person being smudged ushers the smoke toward their direction and gently inhales. Afterwards, the ashes are returned to mother earth by disposing them on bare soil, where all negative thoughts and feelings have been absorbed by the ashes. Some enthusiasts smudge themselves, and others can lead a smudge by holding the container and directing the smoke to cover others.

In recent years, hospitals and health providers have modified their policies and procedures to accommodate smudging, because it is vital to so many Indigenous patients. Some school districts acknowledge smudging is important for Indigenous students, and there are written guidelines and protocols for schools to follow.

Connection to Mother Earth (Unci Maka)

Photo Credit: Native Hope

Every day is Earth Day throughout Indigenous communities, and the connection to Mother Earth is deeper than that of many conservationists. All life passes through Mother Earth, and perhaps most profound are the words of Chief Seattle in his Treaty Oration of 1854:

"Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed by some sad or happy event of days long vanished. Even the rocks, which seem to be dumb and dead as they swelter in the sun along the silent shore, thrill with memories of stirring events connected with the lives of my people, and the very dust upon which you now stand responds more lovingly to their footsteps than yours, because it is rich with the blood of our ancestors, and our bare feet are conscious of the sympathetic touch.”

Painting depicting Native American Harmony stereotype. (Photo Credit: Historic Ipswich)

As Ojibwe legend reads, the Creator sat alone in deep thought and created Mother Earth. From the soil of the Earth, two companions came forth, a man and a woman. Beside the man the Creator placed a bow and arrow. This signified the man was the protector and provider of food. Next to the woman he placed a birch bark basket filled with seeds, representing the natural resources given to the Ojibwe people. Then, the Creator blew life into the woman and the man and proclaimed, "Take care of Mother Earth, and she will take care of you. Take only what you need and remember to put down tobacco before you accept this gift from Mother Earth."

Mythology

Photo Credit: NAT Archives

Before the age of global positioning systems or compasses, people looked to the stars to find their way. And before civilizations knew what stars were, people formed their own beliefs about their significance. In North America, indigenous tribes had differing ideas about what the stars meant, some believing that the night sky had spiritual meaning, and some attributing human-like qualities to the twinkling objects.

Archaeoastronomy is the study of how people of the past understood the stars and the sky, however this broadly applies to all ancient cultures. The Mayans, Celts, and Egyptians alike all had their own methods for tracking the movement of the stars and heavenly bodies, but all of these cultures have the common belief that the phenomenon above their heads was somehow larger and greater than they were. As such, the vast majority of ancient cultures associated the origins of everything, including the sky, moon, sun and earth with some form of mythology related to the stars. Astronomy played in an important role in early Native American cultures, serving as the basis for governance, agricultural practices and more. And studying the stars also caused tribes to theorize about the beginning of life in the universe.

The Pawnee’s Guiding Principles

Polaris

The Skidi band of the Pawnee Indians referred to a ring of stars in the sky as “The Council of Chiefs.” The Pawnee believed the circle represented their governance style of elders holding council to resolve important matters. This constellation was paramount to the way the Pawnee interacted daily as well as their religious beliefs. They used the stars to set agricultural patterns and embody their own societal values. The Council of Chiefs was connected to their “Chief Star,” what is now referred to as Polaris, which represented their primary god Tirawahat. They built their lodges with openings at the top – not only to allow smoke to escape from warming fires inside, but to allow a clear view of the “Council” stars. Today, those stars are known as the Corona Borealis.

The Anasazi

The Crab Nebula

In New Mexico, researchers found a cave painting that appears to depict a supernova explosion; the orientation of a crescent moon and stars indicate that the art may represent the Crab Nebula, formed in 1054 A.D. by supernova. The Anasazi way of life remains somewhat of a mystery, but researchers found that the tribe built a solar observatory, suggesting that the sky was extremely important to the Anasazi way of life.

Navajo Creation of the Sky

A Navajo legend describes the Four Worlds that had no sun and the Fifth World, which represents Earth. According to the legend, the first people of the Fifth World were given four lights but were dissatisfied with the amount of light they had on Earth. After many attempts to satisfy the people, the First Woman created the sun to bring warmth and light to the land, and the moon to provide coolness and moisture. These were crafted from quartz, and, when there were bits of quartz that were left behind by the carving, they were tossed into the sky to make stars.

Hopi Blue Star

Like the Navajo, the Hopi believe there were worlds before this one. The modern era is believed to be the Fourth World, and each world that came before this one ended with the appearance of “the blue star.” In carvings created by the Hopi in the American Southwest, it seems what they saw may have led them to a belief in aliens, a belief that certainly retains a place in the culture of the U.S. to this day.

The divisions between Native American cultures were not unlike the divisions between the societies of today, so few myths extend beyond a single tribe. With the same sky overhead, ancient myths from around the world do share much in common. The History & Culture channel of the Chickasaw TV website features the tribe’s myths about Creation and the Great Flood, two stories repeated again and again throughout most cultures of the world, proving that, even when the world seemed impossibly large, many people were not far from each other, in terms of what they believed under the night sky.

Photo Credit: R.C. Gorman. Available at Amazon

Frybread

Photo Credit: The Stay-at-Home Chef

According to the Navajos, frybread was founded in 1864 at the time the tribe was force-relocated 300-miles to Bosque Redondo, New Mexico. It was difficult to farm the new land, as it could not support the tribe’s needs for vegetables and beans. In turn, frybread was created as an additional food source using flour, sugar, salt and lard provided by the government.

The delicacy connects one generation to the next and reminds many of the painful narrative of the past. Served both at home and at gatherings, frybread varies from region to region, meaning there are different recipes. One can generally find frybread at State Fairs and Pow Wows.

The Annual Honoring Native Foodways event at UNC Pembroke, where many original dishes are celebrated. (Photo Credit: The Sioux Chef Instagram)

The recipe contains flour, water, salt, a small amount of oil, and baking powder. Ingredients are kneaded into dough. It is then rolled into small balls and placed into frying-hot oil. Some variations of this popular recipe include substituting mayonnaise for the oil, which produces a crispy, crunchy texture. In many households, frybread is mixed early in the morning and left in a large bowl covered with a cloth to leaven, and used throughout the day to prepare fresh bread when needed.

Frybread was named the official state bread of South Dakota in 2005.

Death Ceremonies

Photo Credit: Chris Parfitt

There are 574 tribes across America. Many have their own variation on funeral proceedings, which includes the use of languages, symbols, ceremonial objects and practice. Traditions say the natural world is a sacred place and birth, life and death exist in an endless cycle.

Tree Burial was a Sioux tribal tradition and practiced by other tribes. It was also the custom of aboriginal peoples in Australia.

In traditional funerals, the family attends to the deceased, where they wash and dress the body and place it in a shawl or casket. The body may be honored for days prior to burial and embalming is avoided. Through modern technology, the body is preserved with refrigeration techniques, as well dry ice.

The Shoshone-Bannock protocol is the body lies in state, inside a tipi with a fire burning outside. Women feed visitors and children are taught the manner of how to enter the tipi and other traditional ways. Some families dress the deceased in moccasins, to wear as they travel to next world.

Around the year 1500, the conquistadors of Spain and missionaries introduced Catholicism to the Pueblo tribes of New Mexico. Native Americans added those religious practices to tribal ceremonies, which resulted in a mixture of Indigenous customs and Catholic beliefs.

Historians believe burials similar to this re-enactment may have taken place in Readington Township, New Jersey, in the Cushetunk Mountain area. (Photo Credit: Hunterdon Review)

In all, every family and tribe follows their chosen way to honor the departed, and the length of mourning can vary by tribe.

Medicinal Peyote and Worship

Photo Credit: ICEERS

Peyote is a small cactus and Mexican Indians have consumed the plant for over 2,000 years to cure any number of ailments. Over the past 200 years, peyote use has been noted among Native Americans, mostly tribes located in the Southern Plains.

Medicinal uses for Peyote vary. It is applied externally for rheumatism, wounds, burns, snakebites, and skin diseases. The cactus can be boiled in water to produce “peyote tea”, its purpose to help heal medical ailments including tuberculosis, pneumonia, scarlet fever, intestinal diseases, diabetes, and the common cold. The peyote ceremony (or “meeting”) may differ among tribes, but it is always dedicated for healing a chosen individual and during ceremonies, everyone prays for the person who is ill.

Photo Credit: Transpersonal Spirit

It is important to remember peyote is considered a narcotic. Many people feel it is improper, and the healing ceremony should be restricted to pray for the medically challenged. Over the fifty-year period (1880s-1930s), the federal government attempted to ban peyote. But with the establishment of the Native American Church (NAC), they failed in the effort. Federal law now permits peyote use among members of the NAC, and to non-Natives residing in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon.

Vision Quests

A Vision Quest is a “rite of passage”, and generally undertaken by young males entering adulthood. Individual Indigenous communities have their own names for the rite of passage, and "Vision Quest" is the English-language connotation.

Among the cultures who practice this rite, ceremonies are generally led by Elders, and supported by the young man's family, friends and community. The process entails fasting for four days and during the Vision Quest, the young person prays and cries out to the spirits fr a vision, one that will help them find purpose in life, their role in a community, and how they may best serve the People. An elder monitors the participant over the four-day period, and the experience is interpreted by the quester and elder together.

A Vision Quest site located at Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah. Most locations feature a circle of rocks about ten feet wide. (Photo Credit: Emaze)

Sweat Lodge

A sweat lodge is a low-profile hut, typically dome-shaped or oblong and constructed with natural materials, for example saplings covered with blankets and animal skins. The structure is called the lodge, and the ceremony is regarded as a purification, or simply a “sweat”.

Andrew Soliz stands next to his backyard sweat lodge. (Photo Credit: Don Leach of Los Angeles Times Coastline Pilot

In all cases, the sweat is intended as a spiritual ceremony – it is for prayer and healing, and the ceremony is led by elders (or qualified parties) who understand the associated language, songs, traditions, and safety protocols.

Many tribes conduct sweat lodge ceremonies. The Chumash of California build their sweat lodges in coastal areas in close proximity to their residences. The ancient Mesoamerican tribes of Mexico, Aztec and Olmec, practiced their ceremonies as a religious rite of penance and purification.

Photo Credit: First Nations Health Authority

The ceremony often includes traditional prayers and songs and in some cultures, offerings to the spirit world may be a part of the experience. Or, the sweat may be a component of a longer ceremony, like a Sun Dance.

Some key elements associated with sweat lodges include:

Training – It is necessary the leader of a lodge go through intensive training, where they are able to pray and speak fluently in that culture’s language. As well, they understand how to facilitate the proceedings in a safe manner. Leadership roles are generally granted by the Elders, not self-designated.

Orientation – The lodge door may face a sacred fire and be orientated in cardinal directions representing symbolism from that culture. The physical location of the lodge is considered an important factor in the ceremony's connection with the spirit world.

Construction – Sweat lodges are built with care and knowledge, holding respect for the environment and the materials being utilized.

Clothing – Participants usually wear simple garments, like shorts or a loose dress. Modesty is important, and don’t forget to bring plenty of water!

Due to some peoples’ underlying health issues, there have been reports of lodge-related deaths resulting from overexposure to heat, dehydration, smoke inhalation, or improper lodge construction. Before joining a lodge, be certain to ensure the facilitators are spiritually qualified and follow proper safety protocols.

(Editor’s Note: The Mythology section of this article was culled from NAT Archives, and its author is Grady Winston from Legends of America

Homepage image courtesy of artist Russ Docken and Wild Wings LLC.

Comcast Commits $650k to Native Women Lead Fund

By NAT Staff

Native Women Lead cofounders from left: Alicia Ortega, Jaime Gloshay, Jaclyn Roessel, Stephine Poston, Vanessa Roanhorse and Kim Gleason (Courtesy of Native Women Lead)

Comcast announced a $650,000 commitment to Native Women Lead (NWL), becoming the nonprofit organization’s first and largest corporate partner of its Matriarch Revolutionary Fund, the first-ever impact investment fund in the U.S. focused on established Native women-owned businesses.

Through Comcast’s support, NWL can continue its goal of building a $10 million Matriarch Revolutionary Fund that when fully resourced will help empower 200 Native women-owned businesses at $50,000 - $250,000 each. Comcast’s grant will also support NWL’s broader network of over 20,000 Indigenous women across Turtle Island, or North America, grow their businesses, communities, and environment with values-aligned integrated capital.

As business owners, Indigenous women face institutional racism and predatory lending when it comes to accessing capital and federal funding. In 2017, the Native Nations Institute found that the number of Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loans awarded to Native-owned businesses constituted less than 1%.

Jaime Gloshay (Courtesy of Comcast)

“It’s important for us to design capital, tools, and products that meet the needs of Native communities,” said Jaime Gloshay, Co-Founder of Native Women Lead. “As our first corporate partner, Comcast’s grant is truly significant and will help us amplify our work, support our entrepreneurs in reclaiming our narrative, and give us the opportunity to center and uplift the people who are making meaningful change in our communities.”

Native women also experience some of the highest poverty and wealth gaps in the country. According to the Center for American Progress, they are paid 60 cents for every $1 paid to White, non-Hispanic men, yet 66% are their family’s primary breadwinners and economic drivers in their communities.

“Access to capital remains a significant barrier for women entrepreneurs, but is particularly challenging for Indigenous communities,” says Dalila Wilson-Scott, EVP and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Native Women Lead to help empower these talented, innovative business owners realize overdue economic opportunities for themselves and their community.”

A REA program apprentice (Photo Credit: Roshan Spottsville)

In addition to the Matriarch Revolutionary Fund, Comcast’s grant will help NWL scale and fund the newly launched Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship (REA) program that will support 10 Indigenous women on a five-month paid apprenticeship toward becoming an emerging fund manager. Following the apprenticeship, participants will also be presented with job placement opportunities at several investment fund companies or firms throughout the United States.

“We want to see our women writing the checks themselves,” said Vanessa Roanhorse, Co-Founder Native Women Lead.

“I want to see our entrepreneurs thrive – that has been the magic of Native Women Lead. Being able to see someone succeed closes that belief gap in oneself and empowers one another to continue to push and take this journey of entrepreneurship with that curiosity, with that awe, with that wonder, and to be open to the challenges of business ownership,” Jaime Gloshay added.

NWL was founded in 2017 to inspire innovation by investing in Indigenous women entrepreneurs. Today’s grant announcement continues Comcast’s multi-year partnership with the organization and is part of Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to reach tens of millions of people in order to advance digital equity and help create a future of unlimited possibilities.

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About Native Women Lead

Native Women Lead’s mission is to revolutionize systems and inspire innovation by investing in Native Women in business. We do this by co-creating with and convening our community to build coalition while honoring our culture, creativity, and connections. Our core values (BEWE) reflect our understanding that Native Women are the Backbone of our communities, we are Emerging as entrepreneurs, and we are Weaving our ideas, resources, and community to manifest change while Empowering one another. For more information, visit www.nativewomenlead.org. To learn more about REA and to access the application visit here.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences.

Lakota Nurse Tackles Health Equity in Documentary

Who Cares: A Nurse’s Fight for Equity, is a landmark documentary illustrating the life-changing role nurses play in supporting the health and well-being of their communities, far beyond providing care at the bedside. The film examines the health, social and cultural challenges nurses face in America’s diverse communities.

Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)—the country’s largest philanthropy focused solely on health—the documentary highlights how important it is that nurses factor patients’ social, cultural and spiritual backgrounds into their care.

Who Cares centers around psychiatric nurse practitioner Whitney Fear, who practices at a federally qualified health center in Fargo, North Dakota. She’s a Lakota nurse who grew up on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation. For the past decade, Fear has drawn from her personal background to elevate awareness about the unique needs and experiences of patients in her community. The film aims to capture the dramatic and difficult nature of nursing through the passionate and often dry-humored lens through which nurses like Fear view the profession.

Photo Credit: Marilyn Angel Wynn, Native Stock

“Nurses have unique insights into the challenges that patients, families and communities face, far beyond their medical conditions,” said Beth Toner, RN, MJ, MSN, Senior Communications Officer at RWJF. “As the COVID pandemic made clear, nursing doesn’t just happen in hospitals and physicians’ offices. Nurses often provide care to communities and populations who have been marginalized and left behind. The people we care for need us to meet them with support wherever they are. Healthcare leaders should consider how to support nurses with the training, resources and systemic structures that allow us to deliver the best possible care to everyone.”

Beth Toner, Senior Communications Officer at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age all affect their health, Fear says. The documentary highlights these complex, yet addressable challenges in the Fargo community. According to Fear, achieving health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. In her role as a nurse, she routinely sees how poverty, race/ethnicity, discrimination, access to health care and education—otherwise known as the social determinants of health—affect longevity, vulnerability to chronic conditions and more.

Nurse Advocate Whitney Fear, RN, BSN, PHN

“The needs in rural, underrepresented communities can feel overwhelming, especially in the face of issues like COVID, but a little compassion goes a long way in caring for people in need,” said Fear. “Nurses can have a positive impact on the health and overall wellness of our patients. That impacts lives for generations.”

The documentary is the latest offering from SHIFT Nursing, an online community for nurses that first launched in 2020 with SHIFT Talk, a podcast ‘for nurses, by nurses’—where nurses ‘get real’ about the challenges they and their patients face. The documentary and podcast are supported by RWJF as part of the foundation’s 50-year commitment to nurses and the leading role they play in achieving health equity for their patients. Directed by Jordan Fein and produced by Alkemy X, the film captures the difference Fear makes with personalized, empathetic and holistic care.

The documentary focuses on different aspects of caring for vulnerable people and the challenges that result when it seems like no one cares about a community. It illustrates how Fear and her colleagues care for people with substance use disorders, provide culturally competent care to Native communities and identify and address sex trafficking.

Since launching during the Year of the Nurse and Midwife in August 2020, SHIFT has given voice to America’s nearly 4 million nurses during a global pandemic that’s taken an incalculable toll on the profession.

Who Cares: A Nurse’s Fight for Health Equity, SHIFT Talk and related resources can be found at SHIFTNursing. Follow conversations about the film on social media at the following hashtags: #WhoCaresNursesCare #WhoCaresAboutHealthEquity #WhatNursesCareAbout #NursesCareAboutHealthEquity.

To view the film, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so1G2QuGsWQ&ab_channel=SHIFTNursing

About Whitney Fear

Whitney Fear is a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and carries the rich experiences of a decade long career in behavioral health/community health. During her career, she has gained knowledge and experience in helping individuals who encounter difficulty in gaining access to healthcare services. Fear believes that patients already possess the potential to reach their healthcare goals, and the provider is there help them to unlock that potential. She is originally from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to improving health and health equity in the United States. In partnership with others, they are working to develop a Culture of Health rooted in equity that provides every individual with a fair and just opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are, where they live or how much money they have. Follow the Foundation on Twitter or on Facebook.

StrataTech Joins Google’s Indigenous Program to Train 10,000 Students

By NAT Staff

StrataTech CEO, Mary Kelly (right), pictured with Mike Rowe (center) during his visit to the Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville, FL

StrataTech Education Group announced its participation in the Grow with Google Indigenous Career Readiness Program. The initiative helps prepare Native students at more than 50 organizations for the workforce through digital skills, training, and career workshops. By providing $1 million to the Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA) to embed the program in schools, Google’s aim is to help train 10,000 Native students on digital skills and career readiness by 2025.

“Transportation barriers can be a major obstacle for those pursuing an education, more so for Indigenous students who live on reservations,” said Mary Kelly, CEO and President of StrataTech Education Group.

Mary Kelly hopes to increase access for Natives seeking an education and eliminating traditional obstacles (Photo Credit: StrataTech)

“By helping with the cost of transportation – especially when gas prices are at or close to $5 a gallon – and offering resources designed for Indigenous students, we hope to alleviate some of the obstacles that might prevent them from pursuing a career in the skilled trades. We are thankful to Grow with Google and Native Partnerships for sharing this micro-grant to help StrataTech in our mission of increasing access to education for all.”

As part of Google’s commitment to supporting Native American jobseekers, the program partners with Native-serving organizations to help students develop the digital skills they need to find and secure internships and jobs that will help them build successful careers. Over the next four years, the Partnership with Native Americans will provide curriculum and trainers at Tribal Colleges and Universities, Native American-serving nontribal institutions, high schools, and vocational programs.

“We are excited to partner with Google to launch the Grow with Google Indigenous Career Readiness Program. PWNA appreciates Google taking the initiative to bridge the digital divide in Indian Country. The gap that exists goes beyond the cable infrastructure, hardware, internet access, and extends to the technical skills for education and employment,” said Joshua Arce, President & CEO, Partnership With Native Americans. “Google has demonstrated their willingness to meet the students where they are at, with the tools that they have, to provide a best-in-service digital training program designed to increase technical proficiencies and employable skills for Native students. Grow with Google training translates into immediate incentives and adds technical skills to a student’s digital toolbox that they can build on in the future."

Started in 2021, the Grow with Google Indigenous Career Readiness Program provides Native-serving organization career centers with funding and a semester-long in-person and online digital skills program. The program combines existing Grow with Google workshops with job seekers including design thinking, project management, and professional brand building. Partnership With Native Americans works with Native-serving organization career centers to onboard the program.

A student benefactor of the Grow with Google Indigenous Career Readiness Program (Photo Credit: University of South Dakota)

“Every student should have the opportunity to learn digital skills for today's in-demand jobs," said Tia McLaurin, Community Engagement Manager, Google. "We're proud to work with the Partnership With Native Americans to bring the Grow with Google Indigenous Career Readiness Program to StrataTech Education Group to help more students prepare for the workforce and thrive as they start their careers."

Grow with Google’s Indigenous Career Readiness program builds on a $10 million, multi-year grant to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) to create a National Digital Navigator Corps. The Corps will span 18 rural and tribal communities across the United States and impact thousands of people through one-on-one technology training and community outreach to connect people to the internet, appropriate devices, and training.

ABOUT GROW WITH GOOGLE
Grow with Google was started in 2017 to help Americans grow their skills, careers, and businesses. It provides training, tools, and expertise to help small business owners, veterans and military families, job-seekers and students, educators, startups, and developers. Since Grow with Google’s inception, it has helped more than eight million Americans develop new skills. Grow with Google has a network of more than 8,500 partner organizations like libraries, schools, small business development centers, chambers of commerce, and nonprofits to help people coast-to-coast.

ABOUT STRATATECH EDUCATION GROUP

StrataTech Education Group focuses on the education, growth and development of specialized career education schools, particularly skilled-trade programs designed to address the nation’s growing infrastructure needs. Holding an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, StrataTech Education Group’s portfolio includes The Refrigeration School, Inc., Tulsa Welding School, Tulsa Welding School Jacksonville, and Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center.

ABOUT PWNA
Partnership With Native Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to championing hope for a brighter future for Native Americans living on remote, isolated and impoverished reservations. Collaborating for nearly 30 years with our reservation partners, we provide consistent aid and services for Native Americans with the highest need in the U.S. Much of our work centers around material aid, educational support and community-based services. PWNA also connects outside resources directly to reservations through its distribution network and reservation partnerships. We care about quality of life for Native Americans and respect their self-determined goals for their tribes.

Marvel Unveils First Native American Avenger

By Danielle Dawson and NAT Staff

Joe Gomez

The year 2021 marks 80 years of Captain America and the world-renowned comics giant, Marvel Entertainment, has something special in store. Meet warrior Joe Gomez, the Avengers’ first Native American Captain America Hero, who is a proud member of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas. The superhero is featured in the United States of Captain America mini-series, now in international release.

The saga of the new hero begins when Captain America’s original shield is stolen. And when the mysterious shield thief targets a cultural landmark in Kansas, hoping to put a permanent stain on Captain America’s image, Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson are hot on his trail when they meet the Kickapoo Tribe’s own Captain America.

The character was co-created by Christopher Cantwell and Dale Eaglesham, who are working in close partnership with geoscientist and Lipan Apache writer Darcie Little Badger and artist David Cutler, a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation.

The inspiration for the Indigenous hero is a combination of Gomez’s recognition of Captain America and what the mantle stands for, as well as his personal honoring of Kickapoo traditions as a grass dancer, where he is a pinnacle and protector of his people.

Co-Writer Darcie Little Badger

Per co-writer Darcie Little Badger, “Something I love about Joe is his day job. It represents everything he stands for as a hero. See, Joe Gomez is a construction worker, a builder in a world plagued by destruction… Work like that may seem thankless, but Joe genuinely enjoys helping his community survive and thrive… I know lots of people like Joe—many of them my Indigenous relatives—so it was wonderful to help develop a character with his values, strength, and extreme crane-operating skills.”

Brought to life by a diverse lineup of all-star talent, Gomez and other heroes are slated to fight alongside the iconic shield bearer, coming from all walks of life and with their own thrilling origins, heartfelt motivations, and bright futures explored by their creators in each issue.

Boosting diversity in the Marvel Universe has become a priority since the notable success of 2018’s Black Panther, but this landmark announcement is only the latest in a marathon of inclusivity. Joe Gomez is set to don the iconic shield after Aaron Fischer, the very first openly gay Captain America (created by Josh Trujillo and Jan Bazaldua), and Nichelle Wright, a black woman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Mohale Mashigo and Natacha Bustos). Arielle “Ari” Agbayani, a Filipino-America hero (created by Alyssa Wong and Jodi Nishijima) has now also been announced to feature in September, following Joe.

At the beginning of 2020, Marvel had published the anthology special Marvel's Voices, in which comic book creators from diverse backgrounds crafted short stories starring the Marvel Universe's various superheroes. Previously, Marvel’s Voices had solely existed as a monthly podcast where those of color were given a space to talk about their previous and upcoming work in the industry. Each contributor for this collection was invited to tell a story uniquely important to them. This book is not just the product of their talents but their unique perspectives and love for Marvel, even featuring a collection of essays from cultural journalists discussing a diverse range of topics and themes.

Then, just in time for National Native American Heritage Month, Marvel's Voices: Indigenous Voices special features an all-star ensemble of Indigenous comic book creators to deliver four short stories from across the Marvel Universe. It features a cast of legacy Indigenous characters in stories not only written by Indigenous authors, but also drawn by Indigenous artists.

Cover art for Marvel’s Voices: Indigenous Voices

The first short story is by Black-Ohkay Owingeh author Rebecca Roanhorse, Tongva artist Weshoyot Alvitre, and Lee Loughridge. The next tale is by Darcie Little Badger, Kyle Charles and Felipe Sobreiro, and the closing story is written by Stephen Graham Jones, David Cutler, Roberto Poggi and Cris Peter.

Author Rebecca Roanhorse, who felt a “connection with the superhero”.

When Marvel approached Roanhorse to contribute to an anthology featuring Indigenous creators telling the stories of Indigenous characters, she was immediately interested. Roanhorse said she also felt a connection with the Indigenous superhero, since Roanhorse is also part Indigenous herself. And fan reactions have largely been positive — from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers. "I don't think it can really be underestimated, the amount of excitement and what it means to comic book readers — especially younger ones and even fans who have grown up with these characters — because they were Indigenous and they could see themselves," she said. "I think people are very excited about it, I think it was really speaking to a need that I think is out there."

Comic artist and illustrator, David Cutler, advocates bringing forward First Nations heroes. Born in Newfoundland, he is a member of the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation.

Cutler provided similar sentiments when he was asked his thoughts on the Captain America project. “I can't really express the pride I feel being a part of the team that gets to introduce Joe to the world,” he said. “The Marvel Universe is the biggest stage there is and bringing a new First Nations hero to that venue means more than I can say.”

The anthology series highlights three Indigenous characters and contexts.

Maya Lopez (Echo), a half-Cheyenne and half-Latina warrior, is one of the few deaf comic characters. She is an Olympic-level athlete possessing "photographic reflexes" or the uncanny ability to perfectly copy other people's movements just by watching them.

Danielle "Dani" Moonstar (Mirage), a Northern Cheyenne mutant, originally code-named Psyche, has empathic psi abilities that allow her to communicate with animals and people, as well as create three-dimensional images of visual concepts from within the minds of herself and others.

Silver Fox (pictured left) of the First Nation Blackfoot Confederacy is a mutant whose superhuman powers were never fully revealed. She possesses accelerated healing abilities and an age suppressant. Due to being an experienced markswoman and a highly trained hand-to-hand combatant with strong leadership skills, she became a member of the most formidable covert ops team the CIA had to offer.

Similarly, Indigenous writer, Taboo, from the Black Eyed Peas, teamed up with co-writer Benjamin Jackendoff and artist Scot Eaton for Werewolf by Night, a new four-issue miniseries that re-imagines a classic horror icon in a brand new cultural context. The storyline also features a Native American US Marshal, Red Wolf, who appears in pursuit of the young werewolf and reports of missing Native people.

Taboo and Earl's writing possesses a specific Indigenous angle, acknowledging the long and ugly history in genre fiction where people of color are depicted as monstrous. Instead of the character being an unknowable horror in the vein of the story’s original concept, he is the protagonist and main character. The emphasis on his werewolf side's emotional intensity humanizes him in a way that horror stories of the past would not. He is not a predator, but rather a protector of other Native people living on his reservation, an idea demonstrated by a scene at the start of the issue, where the character, Jake Gomez, protects Hopi lands from trespassers with ill-intentions.

The new Werewolf by Night is a Native American teen trying to solve a mystery while living alongside his loved ones on a Hopi Reservation in Arizona.

Jake's “werewolf” is presented in the same style of a conventional hero like Spider-Man or Captain America. He embraces his transformation and uses it for good as he fights for the safety of his people, thereby including the reader into the cultural context of his life on a reservation and reversing a dated dynamic where marginalized communities are carelessly represented.

Native American and Indigenous heroes are stepping into the spotlight by way of stories written by Native creators. By placing them front and center, Marvel offers up spellbinding stories from the many voices waiting to be heard. The purpose of these Native-themed works is not about a company boasting about inclusion, but rather they signify the diversity and culture of Native peoples.

Hopefully, Captain America Joe Gomez will inspire more creative outlets.

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About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in motion picture and television entertainment, licensing and publishing.

Adjoining Story

Comics by Indigenous Creators - A Reading List

By Ariel Baska

November comes the tradition of Thanksgiving. As a child in school, I was exposed to the holiday as a story of bonding between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. My teacher talked of sharing, all while neglecting to mention anything meaningful about the people, the languages, or the cultures of the indigenous peoples.

Now, however, I have been seeking out the storytelling of indigenous authors and creators within comics. The power of the word and the image together, I believe, in some ways makes the comic book the ideal medium to connect with mythic symbols, concealed histories, and tales of daring. I have compiled this sampling of the wonderful and multi-faceted works by and about indigenous creators! Some of these can be difficult to find, but if I included them here, I did so because I believe they are worth the trouble.

#1

La Voz de M.A.Y.O.: Tata Rambo
Writer: Henry Barajas (read the interview with Henry here)
Artist: J. Gonzo
Letters: Bernardo Brice
Editor: Claire Napier
Publisher: Image Comics

La Voz De M.A.Y.O: TATA RAMBO is based on the oral history of Ramon Jaurigue, an orphan and WWII veteran who co-founded the Mexican, American, Yaqui, and Others (M.A.Y.O.) organization, which successfully lobbied the Tucson City Council to improve living and working conditions for members of the Pascua Yaqui tribe. Thanks to this period of activism, the Yaquis were federally recognized as one of the remaining Native American tribes. Meanwhile Ramon's home life suffered as his focus was pulled from family to wider community, and from domesticity to the adrenaline of the campaign.

Why This Is So Good: This comic reads like a piece of detective fiction, fused with memoir, as the author digs and uncovers pieces of his family’s past. Writer Henry Barajas tells the story of the Yaqui tribe and the part his great-great-grandfather (Tata Ramon) played in preserving the land and the voice of the people. To do so, Ramon had to document the existence and experience of the Pascua Yaqui, when no treaties or clear documents existed.

The strength of this work lies as much in the telling though, as the demonstration of how these rich stories and traditions passed down orally can be lost to time and relegated to irrelevancy by the powers that be without the written word. The historical record provided in this volume is deeply personal, exquisitely drawn in solid lines that echo images from underexposed historical texts. A winning portrait of the treasures so easily lost to time.

Release Date: November 2019

Available Digitally at Comixology

#2

Secret Path
Writers: Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire
Artist: Jeff Lemire
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Secret Path is a ten song digital download album by Gord Downie with a graphic novel by illustrator Jeff Lemire that tells the story of Chanie “Charlie” Wenjack, a twelve-year-old boy who died in flight from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School fifty years ago.

Chanie, misnamed Charlie by his teachers, was a young boy who died on October 22, 1966, walking the railroad tracks, trying to escape from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School to return home. Chanie’s home was 400 miles away. He didn’t know that. He didn’t know where it was, nor how to find it, but, like so many kids—more than anyone will be able to imagine—he tried.

Why This Is So Good: This wordless story, narrated only by the music and lyrics of Gord Downie, is masterful at communicating the horrors of the residential school system, and one boy’s deep longing for home. Downie’s expressive voice on the digital download album, paired with Lemire’s stark lines and blue ink washes convey a perfect sense of reflexive melancholy, that visibly brightens every time Chanie’s memories flood back to him. The imagery chosen matches the lyrics tonally to a tee, without ever becoming tediously concerned with illustrating a lyric. The choice is always resonance rather than consonance. For telling the story of why children suffered so much in the residential school system, you could not do better than this book, which clarifies in imagery the uniformity expected, the separation enforced, and the misery created. A truly lovely book with an important story to tell.

Release Date: October 2016

(Note: Though not directly created by indigenous peoples, Secret Path highlights indigenous experiences.)

#3

The Outside Circle
Writer: Patti LaBoucane
Artist: Kelly Mellings
Publisher: House of Anansi Press

In this important graphic novel, two Aboriginal brothers — both gang members — surrounded by poverty and drug abuse, try to overcome centuries of historic trauma in very different ways to bring about positive change in their lives. Pete, a young Aboriginal man wrapped up in gang violence, lives with his younger brother, Joey… A jail brawl forces Pete to realize the negative influence he has become on Joey and encourages him to begin a process of rehabilitation through a traditional Native healing circle. Powerful, courageous, and deeply moving, The Outside Circle is drawn from the author’s twenty years of work and research on healing and reconciliation of Aboriginal men who are gang-affiliated or incarcerated.

Why This Is So Good: This story is unique amongst the stories I’ve included on this list, in that it outlines a social evil created by colonial rule, and discusses a realistic path forward. Two brothers face a disproportionately white judicial system to become a part of the disproportionately brown criminal justice system.

While the horrors of gang warfare are acknowledged, and no excuse given for these crimes, the narrative deftly integrates a secret history of poverty and violence. In frames flowing with tears and roots, LaBoucane and Mellings draw apt visual metaphors for the pain and loss at the heart of such acts. At the same time, they highlight the power of restorative justice and reconnection with native identities for those who’ve become trapped in the endless cycle of violence. The severed connection to self, restored through ritual and healing practices, becomes central to unity and ultimately, freedom of the most important kind. This book is drawn from the author’s real-life experiences, and her passion for this work is the heartbeat that drives the story. An ultimately hopeful story of moving on.

Available at Kindle

#4

Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band
Writers: Christian Staebler and Sonia Paoloni
Artist: Thibault Balahy
Publisher: IDW Publishing

Experience the riveting, powerful story of the Native American civil rights movement and the resulting struggle for identity told through the high-flying career of West Coast rock 'n' roll pioneers Redbone. You've heard the hit song "Come and Get Your Love" in the movie Guardians of the Galaxy, but the story of the band behind it is one of cultural, political, and social importance.

Why This Is So Good: Not only is this the story of a highly influential rock group, Redbone, who made a powerful impact on the international music scene, but it is equally the story of the members and their shared cultural identity as Native Americans, and what that identity means. Co-written by a French super-fan of the group, the graphic novel documents a series of interviews with embedded flashbacks, that tell the history of the band in brilliant detail, and the history of America we never learned in school.

The lifeblood of this book though, is the artwork. Thibault Balahy crafts expressive faces, lined in unusual patterns, sometimes quite abstractly. He pairs this with two-toned, yet utterly brilliant watercolors that feel stream-of-consciousness. The drops from the brush run away with the intensity of emotions that appear to bleed through each page. Read Comic Bookcase’s review! (https://www.comicsbookcase.com/reviews-archive/redbone-native-american-rock-band)

Release Date: October 2020

Available Digitally at Comixology

(Note: Though not directly created by indigenous peoples, Redbone highlights indigenous voices.)

#5

SixKiller #1
Writer: Lee Francis IV
Artist: Weshoyot Alvitre
Publisher: Native Realities

Alice In Wonderland meets Kill Bill set in Cherokee Country. When Alice Sixkiller's sister is murdered she embarks on a mysterious journey of revenge. But her quest won't be easy, especially as her schizophrenia pulls her further and further down the rabbit hole. As she is swept away from reality, the stories and characters of her people give her purpose and direction: to find her sister's killer and exact vengeance. This debut comic… weaves a surreal tale of intrigue, identity, blood memory and issues of violence against Native women.

Why This Is So Good: Representation matters, and this issue is a shining example of representation done well. The book depicts a female lead with a serious mental illness, who uses elements of indigenous culture in her attempts to understand her own world. She is not “slightly depressed” or just a little too spunky for her own good. She is a thorny, difficult character experiencing the complexities of grief. In the hands of lesser writers and artists, this story might become gratuitous or exploitative. Instead, her encounters with a rabbit and her conversations with her totemic figures place the story in the realm between madness and magical realism. Her fragmented sense of self is reflected effectively in the opening scenes, and the psychological depth explored in the connections to Lewis Carroll only enrich the experience.

Available at Red Books and Comics

#6

Tribal Force #1
Writer: Jon Proudstar
Artist: Ron Joseph
Colors: Weshoyot Alvitre
Letters: Lee Francis IV
Publisher: Native Realities

In the Diné belief there are Five Worlds of existence. These worlds are barred from mortals. Nita Nitaal Nakia is the first to break the boundaries placed by the gods. What she sees as dreams or nightmares are glimpses into possible futures, parallel realities, mirrors of uncountable existences. With an inexhaustible array of possible endings, the unique factor presented before her is the last spoke in the wheel of reality. The last chance for everything to go right. With the wrong outcome as the end of human civilization as we know it.

Why This Is So Good: This story packs a punch, and not just because of the super-powered Navajo warrior at the heart of it. The story blends history and science fiction and ancient legend with trauma and healing, telling the story of a girl who is facing abuse at the hands of her father. The mechanism at play in this comic is nothing new, but the many levels on which the narrative structure works are revelatory. The pairing of the gritty and the fantastical works so well that it’s almost heartbreaking that only the first issue is currently available. Nonetheless, an essential read on this list.

Available at Red Planet Books and Comics

#7

Sovereign Traces, Volume 1: Not (Just) (An)Other
Editors: Gordon Henry Jr. and Elizabeth LaPensée
Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Publisher: Makwa Enewed

By merging works of contemporary North American Indian literature with imaginative illustrations by U.S. and Canadian artists, Sovereign Traces, Volume 1: Not (Just) (An)Other provides a unique, extended possibility for audiences to engage with works by prominent authors such as Stephen Graham Jones, Gordon Henry Jr., Gerald Vizenor, Warren Cariou, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Louise Erdrich, Joy Harjo, Richard Van Camp, and Gwen Westerman. Through this exciting medium, Sovereign Traces beckons to audiences that are both new to and familiar with Native writing, allowing for possibilities for reimagined readings along the way. Readers will find works of graphic literature, uniquely including both poetry and fiction, newly adapted from writing by American Indians and First Peoples.

Why This Is So Good: Many of the most acclaimed voices of Native American authors are represented here, all literary prize-winners, every last one. Does that fact make you as skeptical as it made me? I usually would place little hope that a novelist or poet could transform their work seamlessly into a new medium, but the artists and writers here blend their talents and produce something shockingly good.

The first story, “Werewolves on the Moon” calls on the supernatural stories of werewolves as a child and his older sister are called in for a school conference about his controversial drawings. The story never explicitly calls on their Native American identity. However, many themes that emerge in the other explicitly indigenous stories can be found here too, making it a perfect starting point for an anthology wrapped in gorgeous language and multi-layered imagery.

Also, because each author is so impressive, each story or poem is accompanied by a mini-bio, to give you a better sense of the larger context of their work. For an introduction to the world of American Indian literature, brought to life in imaginative color, you could do no better.

Available at Amazon

#8

MOONSHOT: The Indigenous Comics Collection
Editors: Elizabeth LaPensée and Michael Sheyahshe
Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Publisher: Inhabit Education Books

MOONSHOT: The Indigenous Comics Collection brings together dozens of creators from North America to contribute comic book stories showcasing the rich heritage and identity of indigenous storytelling. From traditional stories to exciting new visions of the future, this collection presents some of the finest comic book and graphic novel work on the continent.

Why This Is So Good: This collection explores superheroes and science fiction just as much as it does legends and lore, with contributions from some of the greatest talents working in comics and advocating for Native voices. This graphically superb anthology begins with an excerpt from David Mack’s extraordinary work in the Daredevil Vision Quest series, an Indian Sign Language telling of the perspective of Echo. Echo’s real name is Maya Lopez, and Mack created her for Marvel as an indigenous Latina deaf superhero who works with Daredevil. Those words, strung together in that order, may seem extraordinary in and of themselves, but Mack’s stunning artwork paired with deep insight into Echo’s experience make this first piece breathtaking.

The stories that follow have less realism than this origin story, but because they follow this one story, they feel more grounded in the power of symbol, in the unending thrill of stories. Even as we encounter bears climbing between earth and sky, spaceships, and monsters, we remember the power crafted by the image.

Available at Amazon

#9

This Place: 150 Years Retold
Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Publisher: Highwater Press

Explore the past 150 years in what is now Canada through the eyes of Indigenous creators in this groundbreaking graphic novel anthology. Beautifully illustrated, these stories are an emotional and enlightening journey through indigenous wonderworks, psychic battles, and time travel. See how Indigenous peoples have survived a post-apocalyptic world since Contact.

Why This Is So Good: The book itself positions each story within a timeline of oppression, giving context to the events that were happening simultaneously to each story told. The beauty of this collection is that while all of the tales have a distinct historical setting, the tales they tell are not all explicitly historical. A favorite segment of this anthology, Red Clouds, written by Jen Storm, and illustrated brilliantly by Natasha Donovan, features a spirit called the Manitou, which can become a force for good or evil. The magic of the story lies in the tension of the spirit force and how it will respond to encroachment from white settlers, while Donovan’s otherworldly illustrations of the creature amongst the aspen are spine-tingling.

Many of the other stories function as comic biographies, but the illustrations are gorgeously stylized, and integrate aspects of indigenous lore that are unfamiliar but fascinating. This anthology helped me better understand the history of our neighbors to the north, and gave me a far deeper appreciation for the power of art to reclaim history.

Available at Kindle

#10

Trickster, Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection
Editor: Matt Dembicki
Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Publisher: Fulcrum Books

All cultures have tales of the trickster – a crafty creature or being who uses cunning to get food, steal precious possessions, or simply cause mischief. He disrupts the order of things, often humiliating others and sometimes himself. In Native American traditions, the trickster takes many forms, from coyote or rabbit to raccoon or raven. The first graphic anthology of Native American trickster tales, Trickster brings together Native American folklore and the world of comics.

Why This Is So Good: In Trickster, 24 Native storytellers were paired with 24 comic artists, telling cultural tales from across America. Ranging from serious and dramatic to funny and sometimes downright fiendish, these tales bring tricksters back into popular culture.

The thematically grouped different perspectives makes the short-form comics contained in this volume a highly accessible look at the same theme across American Indian cultures. Anthology volumes such as these can be a mixed bag, and this one is no exception, but the approach only increases their impact both individually and collectively. This patchwork quilt of a book reveals small glimpses into a fascinating mythos, told in a unique style of storytelling that echoes the rhythms of nature and rich ancestral traditions.

Available at Amazon

About the Author

Ariel Baska is a horror and documentary filmmaker. She recently wrapped her short, Our First Priority, which she wrote, directed, and Kickstarted. Ms. Baska is the founder, co-host and executive producer of Ride the Omnibus, a podcast parked at the intersection of pop culture and social justice. Her reviews of horror films can be found at Ghouls Magazine, while her comic book analysis and criticisms can be discovered at Comics Bookcase.

In her former career as an educator, she authored four books on topics covering gifted education, and receiving the National Association for the Gifted (NAGC) A. Harry Passow Classroom Teacher Award.

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About Comics Bookcase

Comics Bookcase is the foremost commentary/curation website dedicated to comic books and graphic novels. They cover all manner of releases, both through a network of comic shops that represent the direct marketplace, as well as traditional booksellers. Their website is updated daily with new features, interviews, reviews, and reading lists. The over-arching goal of Comics Bookcase is to “connect readers old and new with all the good stuff comics have to offer.”

Tribes Take Measures to Slow Spread of Coronavirus

By Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press

(Editor’s Note: The following three articles are former lead stories. NAT’s Breaking News section is regularly updating information relevant to the Covid-19 pandemic.)

 

There are 574 federally recognized tribes, 229 presiding in Alaska. Many successfully manage their health care systems. 

Sharon Bahe has made her home on the Navajo Nation a refuge, placing cedar branches and burning sage to help purify the space and praying for protection for herself and her children home from boarding school and a toddler with severe asthma.

Her community of about 500 in northern Arizona has become a hot spot for the new Coronavirus, with several cases confirmed. While other kids play outside, she tells hers they can't “until the virus goes away.”

Officials on the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation, broadened a stay-at-home order from Chilchinbeto to the entire reservation: No visitors in, and residents can't leave their homes except for essential tasks, including to get food and medical supplies.

The order is among the strictest yet in Indian Country, though tribes across the U.S. for weeks have been preparing amid worries that the outbreak could quickly overwhelm a chronically underfunded health care system and affect a population that suffers disproportionately from cancer, diabetes and some respiratory diseases.

They've shut down casinos, hotels and tourist destinations — often their primary revenue sources — and reminded citizens of the resiliency of their ancestors.

“Tribes are really just big families in a lot of ways," said Matthew Fletcher, a law professor at Michigan State University. "The threats to your family are something you're going to take seriously.”

Matthew Fletcher is a Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law, and Director of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center. (Photo Credit: National Public Radio)

Tribal elders, revered for their knowledge and cultural guidance, are the biggest concern, and outreach and other efforts are underway on the Navajo Nation, which spans three states in the U.S. Southwest. Many families there live miles apart in homes that hold multiple generations but can lack electricity, running water and reliable internet.

For most people, the Coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. But for the elderly and people with existing conditions, it can cause more severe illness. The vast majority of those who are infected recover.

A federal funding package in response to the virus included $40 million for tribes for epidemiology, public health preparedness, infection control, education and other things.

But the money hasn't reached tribes because there's no mechanism for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to get it to the Indian Health Service, the agency responsible for providing primary medical care to Native Americans. Tribes and tribal organizations run some hospitals and clinics under federal contract.

Dean Seneca, a member of the Seneca nation who has worked more than 18 years in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, told Indian Country Today that tribal epidemiology centers did not have the capacity to track the disease. (Photo Credit: UB Today)

“Everyone is on high alert right now. They're waiting, they're asking us,” said Stacy Bohlen, Executive Director of the National Indian Health Board who is from the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

In the meantime, tribes are taking action to slow the spread of the virus.

In South Dakota, Oglala Sioux Tribe President Julian Bear Runner prohibited church groups from bringing volunteers to help repair homes on tribal land. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe canceled about 300 spring turkey and prairie dog hunting permits for non-tribal members.

In Montana, the Northern Cheyenne and the Crow tribes enacted a 10 p.m. curfew, partly to ensure law enforcement isn't bogged down, and restricted movement on and off their land. They also asked residents who attended hugely popular basketball tournaments off the reservation to self-quarantine.

The Bay Mills Indian Community has special hours for the elderly at a grocery store on the densely populated reservation in northern Michigan and a gas station with full service to limit exposure to the pumps, said tribal Chairman Bryan Newland.

It also is among tribes nationwide that have closed casinos and is paying its 400 employees. The National Indian Gaming Association has asked Congress for at least $18 billion in federal aid over six months to address shortfalls from closing casinos, which tribes depend on because they don't have a property tax base.

For others, it's tourism, but those operations, too, are shutting down. They include Monument Valley on the Navajo Nation and the famed blue-green waterfalls of the Havasupai reservation in northern Arizona.

 Waterfalls of the Havasupai Reservation (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Monument Valley (Photo Credit: Pinterest)

Tribal leaders say all tribes are at risk but some face unique situations. Of the country's 574 federally recognized tribes, 229 are in Alaska where supplies must be flown in or shipped on barges. Kevin Allis, chief executive of the National Congress of American Indians, said that could expose isolated Alaska Native villages and create a disaster.

The villages have clinics, but residents must travel to regional hubs or farther for serious medical issues.

“This is a very scary situation for them,” Allis said.

Some health care clinics and hospitals that serve Native Americans have closed or scaled back services to focus on the Coronavirus. Community health representatives on the Navajo Nation have been driving long distances to people's homes to teach them about the virus and what to do if they exhibit symptoms.

They're using a new Navajo phrase that translates to “a step above the big illness,” said Mae-gilene Begay, who oversees the program.

The Navajo Nation had at least 14 confirmed cases as of Friday evening. Others have been confirmed at health care facilities for Native Americans in the Portland, Oregon, area and in the Great Plains. The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma said one of its citizens has died from COVID-19.

Bills in Congress seek to create parity for tribes, giving them direct access to a federal drug repository and gear if they exhaust their supplies, and the ability to apply directly to the CDC for a health emergency preparedness program. A federal funding package gives $64 million to IHS.

But Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico said that "can't be the end of the work.”

Bahe was busy getting supplies to stay home for the long term. Her children kept themselves occupied on electronic devices while she stressed frequent hand-washing and general cleanliness. She said she already had enough oxygen and medication for her toddler.

“I was telling my kids we have to keep doing what we're doing because we're not sick yet,” she said.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez declared a public health state of emergency on March 11, two days before the Administration announced a national state of emergency. He stated, “We call upon our Navajo people to stay home and remain calm to prevent the spread of the virus among our communities,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez in a release. “We also ask the public to be vigilant and respectful of first responders, health care workers, and emergency management officials who are responding to these cases. Please continue to pray for these individuals, their families, and all of the people of our Nation as we get through this together.”

Navajo Nation President Nez urged tribal members to listen to authorities and leadership throughout the crisis. (Photo Credit: Navajo Nation, Office of the President and Vice President )

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez wore a mask and gloves while addressing tribal lawmakers. He said the tribe was preparing food packages for elders and will take over all billboards on the 27,000-square-mile (69,930-square-kilometer) reservation to enforce CDC guidelines. It's also considering roadblocks.

President Nez presiding over a recent Tribal Council meeting. (Photo Credit: Navajo Times)

“I love you, Navajo Nation, but please listen to authorities, leadership when they say, ‘Stay home,’” he said. “That's the best way to fight this virus.”

The Indian Health Service is talking weekly with tribes to keep them informed. The agency said all of its facilities can swab patients for COVID-19, though supplies are depleted nationwide, and testing is done at outside labs. Chief medical Officer Michael Toedt highlighted a drive-up testing location in northwestern New Mexico and the replacement of office visits with calls and video conferencing.

Newland and other tribal leaders said they're still not assured they will get needed resources that should be guaranteed through acts of Congress and treaties with the U.S. from generations ago.

“What we really want to know is where can we get our test kits, where do we get economic relief, and we want information as close to real time as possible about how closely we are affected in terms of concerned cases,” Newland said. “Other than that, we can figure it out.”

“I love you, Navajo Nation, but please listen to authorities, leadership when they say, ‘Stay home,’” he said. “That's the best way to fight this virus.”

The Indian Health Service is talking weekly with tribes to keep them informed. The agency said all of its facilities can swab patients for COVID-19, though supplies are depleted nationwide, and testing is done at outside labs. Chief medical Officer Michael Toedt highlighted a drive-up testing location in northwestern New Mexico and the replacement of office visits with calls and video conferencing.

Newland and other tribal leaders said they're still not assured they will get needed resources that should be guaranteed through acts of Congress and treaties with the U.S. from generations ago.

“What we really want to know is where can we get our test kits, where do we get economic relief, and we want information as close to real time as possible about how closely we are affected in terms of concerned cases,” Newland said. “Other than that, we can figure it out.”

Associated Press writers Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Paul Davenport in Phoenix and Rachel D'Oro in Anchorage, Alaska, contributed to this report. Fonseca is a member of the AP's Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FonsecaAP

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Felicia Fonseca is a correspondent for the Associated Press, and her works have been published worldwide. Based in Arizona, she studies and writes about Native American tribes and their efforts to build sustainable economies.

Lead Story Image: Web MD

To learn more about Native American health programs and organizations, visit Native America Today’s Community Resources Section.

Native American Tribe Takes Trailblazing Steps to Fight Covid-19 Outbreak

By Nina Lakhani, The Guardian

The Lummi Nation, a sovereign Native American tribe in the Pacific north-west, will soon open a pioneering field hospital to treat Coronavirus patients, as part of a wave of strong public health measures which have gone further than many world governments.

Tribal leaders have been preparing for Covid-19 since the virus first appeared in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, with medical staff beefing up emergency plans, reorganizing services and gathering medical supplies, including test kits and personal protective equipment.

The Lummi reservation is located in Whatcom county – 115 miles north of Seattle, Washington, where the first US Covid-19 case was confirmed in January, followed by the first death in February.

So far, the tribe has reported three Covid-19 cases, but expect numbers to rise as the pandemic progresses.

“We quickly recognized the need to make sacrifices for the greater good, in order to protect our people and the wider community,” said Dr. Dakotah Lane, medical director of the tribal health service, who is in strict self-quarantine after coming into contact with a Covid-19 patient.

Dr. Dakotah Lane (pictured above) in self-quarantine. (Photo Credit: Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

As the Trump administration was weighing options, the tribe swiftly introduced mitigation and prevention measures such as social distancing, drive-through testing, telemedicine clinics, and a home delivery service for the elderly.

The tribal council declared a state of emergency on 3 March – 10 days before the Administration did the same – and approved $1m to prepare and respond for the evolving pandemic, which includes setting up the hospital.

A community fitness center, located next to the tribe’s health clinic, has been re-purposed into a makeshift hospital, with beds, protective gear and other essential equipment in place. It will open once the pharmacy is fully stocked. The 20-bed hospital will treat less critical inpatients, in order to free up intensive care units in nearby facilities, and prioritize Native Americans from any tribe.

“Our unique approach has piqued a lot of state and federal interest, we’re offering them a different model which shows that tribes are part of the solution in recovery efforts,” said the tribal chairman, Lawrence Solomon. “No private organization is going to try what we’re doing.”

Lummi Nation Tribal Chairman Lawrence Solomon reports the Lummis have created a health model that demonstrates tribes are part of the solution. (Photo Credit: Lummi Nation)

The tribe’s proactive response to the evolving global pandemic has been possible thanks to vast improvements to the quality and capacity of its community healthcare system over the past decade.

Like an increasing number of tribes, the Lummi Nation has opted for “self-determination” which enables greater financial flexibility and clinical autonomy – as opposed to depending on the federally controlled Indian Health Service (IHS) which has suffered decades of severe under-funding.

As a result, the Lummi Health Services raises substantial revenue by treating patients on Medicaid and Medicare – the third party billing program created by the Affordable Care Act in 2010. This extra cash has allowed them to invest in infrastructure and build capacity: the tribe now has eight doctors compared with just three in 2013, including three physicians with public health expertise.

A patient being cared for at an Indian Health Service facility. (Photo Credit: Pinterest)

CDC modeling suggests that anywhere between 2.4 million and 21 million people in the US could require hospitalization during the course of the pandemic, potentially overwhelming the hospital system.

The Lummi want to help. Dr Lane said: “The Lummi believe in controlling our own destiny. We don’t count on help reaching us, but the hospital is something we can do to help the community.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nina Lakhani is a British freelance journalist reporting from Central America and Mexico for The Daily Beast, The Guardian, BBC, Al Jazeera, Global Post and The Telegraph. In London, she worked for the Independent and Independent and Sunday. Before journalism, Nina was a mental health nurse. She can be found on Twitter@ninalakhani

To learn more about Native American health programs and organizations, visit Native America Today’s Community Resources Section.

Tribal Programs That Prepare for Public Health Crises Readying for Coronavirus

By EILIS O'NEILL, from KUOW

The Shoalwater Bay Reservation in southwest Washington is right on the Pacific Ocean. It's small and isolated, with about 100 residents, one gas station, and a small casino.

Kim Thompson is the tribe's Health Director. As she gave a tour of the clinic recently, she said they're not ready for novel Coronavirus cases yet — but they're trying to get there.

"This is where we have it set up so patients can come in through this back door," avoiding contact with other patients, she said.

Thompson said the clinic will soon be able to take swabs from patients and send them off to a commercial lab to test for the novel Coronavirus.

"We haven't set up the gowns or everything yet, since we don't have all the testing materials yet," she added.

Kim Thompson (pictured above) is Health Director of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe. Thompson said the clinic will take swabs from patients and send them to a commercial lab for testing. (Photo Credit: KUOW)

Across the country, public health workers on Native reservations are scrambling to prepare for COVID-19. In South Dakota, an Indian Health Service clinic confirmed a case. And, in Washington state, one of those who died at the hard-struck nursing home in Kirkland was a member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. But tribes are expecting much worse to come, and they're trying to get ready.

At Shoalwater Bay, Thompson said getting supplies and the money to pay for them has been difficult.

"Funding is a unique challenge," she explained. "We have a budget that we're allotted every year by Indian Health Services. And, when that money runs out, we have to count on our third-party revenue" — that is, payments from insurance companies.

"The smaller tribes are the most hit," said Vicki Lowe, the director of Washington state's American Indian Health Commission, and a descendant of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.

She said many tribal programs that prepare for public health emergencies like this one are strapped.

Some rely on less than $5,000 a year.

"So, when there's an outbreak, an emergency like this, it just stretches them even thinner," she said.

To avoid spreading the novel Coronavirus, some tribes are closing their casinos. Others are enacting rigorous cleaning procedures.

"If [tribes] have to shut down a business, they might lose some of their cash flow to help fund their [public health] staff," Lowe said.

The Indian Health Service is distributing additional Coronavirus funding, but it works out to only about $70,000 per tribe, and smaller tribes could get much less than that.

The American Indian Health Commission in Washington state was created in 1994 by federally recognized tribes, Urban Indian health organizations, and other Indian organizations to provide a forum for addressing tribal-state health issues. The Commission’s mission is to improve the health of AI/AN people through tribal-state collaboration on health policies and programs that will help decrease disparities.  They work on behalf of the 29 federally-recognized Tribes and 2 Urban Indian Health Organizations in the state.

Experts say that's a drop in the bucket compared to what's needed to pay for testing kits and for personal protective equipment for health care workers. And isolating and caring for infected community members will also require resources.

Lowe said, in some ways, Washington state's 29 tribes are better positioned than tribes in other states to respond to an emergency like this one, because of work the state's American Indian Health Commission has done.

In 2009, some local health jurisdictions didn't distribute tribes' allotments of H1N1 vaccines and antivirals to the tribes. Since then, the AIHC has worked to strengthen relationships between local health jurisdictions and tribes so they can coordinate effectively during public health emergencies.

But big obstacles remain.

Beyond funding, Lowe said, another challenge for tribes is that many of their members are medically vulnerable.

"American Indians and Alaska Natives do suffer from higher cardiovascular disease, asthma," she said.

"Those chronic diseases make them at higher risk if they do contract the virus," she added.

"And we could imagine a situation where every speaker of a language could pass away," said Tony Johnson, chairman of the Chinook Tribe, just next door to Shoalwater Bay.

"The fluent first language speakers of the languages of the Pacific Northwest are basically all in the demographic that is at really high risk," he said.

Johnson said memories of smallpox are also putting Native people on edge during this new pandemic.

"We live in a community where not very long ago more than 90% of our community died from imported disease," he said.

Chinook Tribal Chairman Tony Johnson. The Chinooks are just next door to the Shoalwater Bay Reservation. (Photo Credit: The Astorian)

Johnson said he wants to make sure that doesn't happen now. He's taking precautions such as not allowing his 9-year-old daughter to visit her grandparents. To protect the community's elders, Johnson has also cancelled all tribal events, including a big annual story-telling gathering and an event to encourage community members to participate in the 2020 census.

Many tribes have had to do that — and they're worried that their communities might get under-counted as a result, which would exacerbate funding problems down the road.

That said, "our real goal is to take care of our community that's endangered by this virus," Chinook chairman Tony Johnson said, "as long as it takes to get a vaccine."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eilís O'Neill was the EarthFix reporter at KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio in Seattle. Eilís (eye-LEASH)  fell in love with radio as a 14-year-old high school intern at KUOW. Since then, she’s wandered the world recording people’s stories and telling them on the air. O’Neill worked at KALW in San Francisco and WAMU in D.C.; she’s freelanced for public radio programs such as The World and Marketplace from places such as Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile; and she’s written for The Nation and other leading magazines.

To learn more about Native American health programs and organizations, visit Native America Today’s Community Resources Section.