Five Native Films You Should Be Streaming in 2024

When Lily Gladstone won the award for best female actor in a motion picture at the Golden Globes, we all were treated to a greeting in her Blackfeet language. Gladstone’s performance as a wealthy Osage woman who endures unspeakable cruelty in Killers of the Flower Moon was an unquestionably laudable moment in cinema. Yet, the way she presented herself as a proud Indigenous woman who benefited from the work of her forebearers resonated beyond the stage she spoke from. She thanked her non-Native mother for getting a Blackfeet language teacher into her school classroom and also revered actor Tantoo Cardinal (Cree and Métis), noting she was “standing on all of [their] shoulders.” Despite the power of the moment, Gladstone concluded by dedicating the award to the Native actors of the future— “This is for every rez kid, every little urban kid, every little Native kid out there who has a dream who is seeing themselves represented in our stories told by ourselves in our own words with tremendous allies and tremendous trust with and from each other.” Gladstone’s win came in a powerful year for Native films. In the spirit of inspiring cinephiles, I am honored to once again share some of my favorites.

Lakota Nation vs. United States

Chronicling a contested, problematic history, this documentary explores how the government-to-government treaties the Lakota people entered into in good faith were violated by the United States nearly as quickly as the ink dried. A masterclass in recent North American history taught by a variety of grassroots tribal teachers and distinguished Indigenous scholars such Nick Estes (Lower Brule Sioux), Layli Long Soldier (Oglala Lakota), and Mary Kathryn Nagel (Cherokee), the film confronts both the dehumanizing narratives popularized in American media and the actual oppression imposed upon the Lakota people. Focusing on their fight for the Black Hills, the interconnections between the Lakota people and sacred space where America carved its presidents show both the inherited tenacity of the Indigenous people and the persistent indifference of the country that colonized them. (AMC+)

War Pony

A fictionalized drama inspired by co-writers Bill Reddy and Franklin Sioux Bob’s experiences on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, the gritty plotlines explore the lives of two Lakota men trying to find some measure of happiness. The filmmakers do not flinch from the harsh reality of abuse, addiction, and sex trafficking, but there’s beauty in Lakota actors JoJo Bapteise Whiting and LaDainian Crazy Thunder’s nuanced performances. There are moments of levity amongst the bleakness, and the film’s undertones speak of a return to cultural healing and the connections formed within a tribal community. What resonates loudest is the subtly in which the film’s didacticism presents itself. No one preaches or teaches how to walk a good road, and yet the young men we come to root for find it nonetheless. (Amazon Prime)

Oyate

This documentary traces the progression of Lakota people as they confront the imposition of the Dakota Access Pipeline that threatens their water supply. Framed by Russel Means’ (Oglala Lakota) famed 1989 quote to a senate subcommittee—“In these Untied States of America, this great country of ours, we American Indians, can be anything we want to be except American Indians”—the film highlights the United States’ history of placing capitalist gains ahead of Indigenous rights and cultural values. Still, the Lakota people are resilient, and they lead a peaceful resistance that stems from their Dakota homelands to Washington, DC, showing both that human rights trump profits and that cultural teachings offer a sacred form of endurance to all who practice them. (Amazon Prime)

Frybread Face and Me

Set in the summer of 1990, this drama follows a pre-teen urbanite’s exodus to his Diné grandmother’s home on the reservation so his parents can finalize their divorce. Through common undertones of each person living a life scarred by disappointments, Benny and his family clash over imposed expectations before finding joy and laughter through the acceptance of one another. Written and directed by Billy Luther (Diné, Hopi, and Laguna Pueblo), the film reflects his own experiences as he was coming of age. Rich in subtle moments, the drama explores familial dynamics, gender norms, and tribal traditions while highlighting the power that comes from affirming the beauty ingrained within those who cannot always see it for themselves. (Netflix)

Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting 

Chronicling the steady, persistent battle to end the use of shameful Native American mascots in professional, college, and high school athletics, this documentary highlights the challenges and successes of activists confronting these dehumanizing practices. Rich in stories of Indigenous people who thrived in both sports and political arenas, the film conveys that fandom blinds supporters to their own ignorance of the very real racism they are perpetuating. While the fight to remove the racist iconography and faux gestures continues, the directors employ archival footage and contemporary interviews to show that progress has been made. Part retrospective and part call-to-action, the film shows that the passion of past leaders continues to thrive in the endeavors of the next generation. (Amazon Prime)

The films on this list are a testament to the power, potency, and artistry of Native filmmaking. My hope is that they resonate with you in the coming year, and that is especially true of next generation of Indigenous filmmakers whom they promise to inspire.

Ryan Winn teaches in the Liberal Studies Department at College of Menominee Nation.  

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in the Inquisitive Academic or any other opinion columns published by the Tribal College Journal (TCJ) do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TCJ or the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.