Netflix offers movies and shows with Indigenous creators, actors, topics, and themes. You need to have a Netflix subscription to watch videos. Trailers for a few of these titles are highlighted below; films / series include closed captions.
This docuseries follows the Chinle High basketball team in Arizona's Navajo Nation on a quest to win a state championship and bring pride to the isolated community. Duration: 35 min episodes.
An adaptation of Ojibwe author Richard Wagamese's 2012 novel Indian Horse, the film follows Saul Indian Horse, a young Canadian First Nations boy who survives the Indian residential school system to become a star ice hockey player. Canada's indigenous residential schools, addiction, trauma, and racism are all topics highlighted by the film. Duration: 100 mins.
The film centers on the interaction between Áila, an indigenous woman with a stable and happy domestic life, and Rosie, a more impoverished First Nations woman who has just been a victim of domestic abuse, after they meet in the street. After their chance encounter, Áila decides to bring Rosie home with her and over the course of the evening, the two navigate the aftermath of this traumatic event. Duration: 105 mins.
Part of a docuseries about popular music, the episode titled "What Can A Song Do?" is of special interest with a feature from the Halluci Nation, a collective of Frist Nation's DJs. The group talks about the roots of electronic pow wow music and the club scene. Duration: 45 min.
In a world where magic is real and four kingdoms rule, there lives a brave and rebellious child named Maya, who embarks on a quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Inspired by indigenous mesoamerican mythologies, Maya and the Three is an Netflix family animated series spanning nine episodes.
A short documentary that follows Lorena Ramirez, a member of the la comunidad Rarámuri (Tarahumara) in northern Mexico. A young indigenous woman, Lorena has had massive success as an ultramarathon runner on the global scene. Duration: 28 min.
Suffering from widespread drug use, alcohol abuse, domestic violence and one of the highest teen suicide rates in the world, the lives of a group of Inuit students are transformed when they are introduced the sport of lacrosse. Based on a true story. Duration: 102 min.
Hulu offers movies and shows with Indigenous creators, actors, and themes. You need to have a Hulu subscription to watch videos. Trailers for a few notable titles are highlighted below; films / series include closed captions.
Additionally, Peacock, NBCs streaming service, recently released an original TV series that also explores Native experiences.
A comedy television series created by Sterling Harjo and Taika Waititi, the show follows the lives of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma, as they spend their days committing crime and fighting it, in an effort to get to the exotic land of California. Duration: 30 min. episodes. Rated TVMA.
Songs My Brothers Taught Me is a compelling portrait of modern day life on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation that explores the bond between a brother and his younger sister who find themselves on separate paths to rediscovering the meaning of home. Duration: 94 min.
In Fort Berringer, New Mexico, soon-to-retire Captain Joseph Blocker is ordered to escort Yellow Hawk, a Cheyenne war chief who is dying of cancer, and his family back to their tribal lands in Montana. Duration: 134 min. Rated R.
A comedy sitcom available through Peacock, NBCs streaming service, about two lifelong friends, Nathan Rutherford and Reagan Wells, whose relationship is tested when a crisis hits their small town: After the mayor decides to move a statue of Nathan's ancestor. Nathan begins a quest to keep the statue in its place, causing Reagan to juggle loyalty to her friend and to her people, the Minishonka Nation. Duration: 25 min. episodes.
ISU Library subscribes to Kanopy, a vast collection of documentaries and feature films. Strong focus on educational, social, political, and cultural issues. This is a brief selection of Kanopy's Native American titles. Films include closed captions.
IN WHOSE HONOR? looks at the issues of racism, stereotypes, minority representation and the powerful effects of mass-media imagery, and the extent to which one university will go to defend and justify its mascot, taking a hard look at the University of Illinois and it's former mascot, Chief Illiniwek, that was officially retired in 2007. Duration: 49 min.
By recounting the life story of Dennis Banks, the Native American who co-founded the American Indian Movement (AIM) in 1968 to advocate and protect the rights of American Indians, the film provides an in-depth look at the history and issues surrounding AIM's formation. Banks was Ojibwe and AIM was especially active in the Midwest region. Duration: 93 min.
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.
This exciting and compelling one hour documentary invites viewers into the lives of contemporary Native American role models living in the U.S. Midwest. Duration: 58 min.
Declared wards of the state, Native Americans were promised housing, education, and healthcare in numerous treaties with the US Government. Due to chronic underfunding, American Indian health care facilities predictably run out of funds by June every year. This documentary film highlights the tragic impact of failed promises of healthcare services from its inception under the Department of War up to the present. Duration: 58 min.
This documentary sheds light on the profound and overlooked influence of Indigenous people on rock music and how these pioneering musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives.. Focusing on music icons like Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Charley Patton, Jesse Ed Davis, Robbie Robertson, Randy Castillo, Stevie Salas, and more. Duration: 103 min.
As the Treasurer of the Blackfeet tribe, Elouise Cobell noticed issues with the trust account and raised questions about the missing money which lead her into a 30-year fight that resulted in the largest class action suit ever filed against the US federal government. Duration: 76 min.
In 1877, the Ponca people were exiled from their Nebraska homeland to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. To honor his dying son's last wish to be buried in his homeland, Chief Standing Bear set off on a grueling, six-hundred-mile journey home. Duration: 56 min.
Rock is a popular music genre that began evolving in the US beginning the 1940s and 50s. Rock and roll is stereotypically assumed to be a "white genre" but many minority groups have contributed to it from the start, including many Native musicians. Several important figures have been included in the YouTube videos below, spanning different decades and subgenres.
Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr was an American rock and roll guitarist that rose to fame in the 1950s and 60s. He was of mixed Shawnee descent and grew up in North Carolina. "Rumble" is one of his most recognizable tracks and was first released in 1958. One of the first songs to utilize heavy guitar distortion and tremolo, it is the only instrumental that has ever been banned from radio in the U.S. under the fear that it would incite violence.
Jesse Ed Davis was a guitarist of Comanche, Creek, Seminole, and Kiowa descent who grew up in Oklahoma. Well known for his work with Taj Mahal, John Lennon, George Harrison, and John Trudell, he also enjoyed a successful solo career. He passed away from a drug overdose at the age of 43 and was inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame in 2018. This 1968 performance of "Ain't That A Lot of Love" in London, England was part of the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus special.
Born in Canada, Buffy Sainte-Marie is an Indigenous singer-songwriter, composer, and social activist known for her folk rock sound. Her lyrics cover topics such as love, war, religion, and mysticism. "Soldier Blue" is from her 1971 album, She Used to Wanna Be a Ballerina.
Redbone is a popular rock band that was originally formed with all Native members that claimed a mix of Yaqui, Shoshone, Cheyenne, Chippewa, and Mexican heritage. The original line-up consisted of brothers Pat and Lolly Vasquez-Vegas, Peter DeBone, and Tony Bellamy. The first Native band to achieve a number one hit, "Come and Get Your Love" released in 1974 is one of their most popular songs. After being featured in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), the song has experienced a strong resurgence and climbed charts once again.
The first video is a live performance of the song featured on The Midnight Special show in 1974 where the group opened up with a traditional dance.
The second is the official music video, which was only released in 2020; it features contemporary digital art and explores Native experiences in a modern world.
Randolpho "Randy" Castillo was a successful drummer of mixed Apache and Mexican heritage raised in New Mexico. Castillo was the drummer for many top heavy rock acts of the 1980s and 90s, including Lita Ford, Ozzy Osborne, and Motley Crue. His longest gig was with the Ozzy Osborne band, which he completed five major tours with. Castillo passed away in 2002 at the age of 51 from cancer. He is remembered as one of the most accomplished drummers of his time.
The first video features an extended drum solo from The Ultimate Sin Tour with Ozzy Osborne in 1986.
The second is a live performance of "No More Tears" during a tour of the same name in 1992. Castillo can be seen jamming throughout the video and is credited as one of the song's writers.
They are a rock band from Chiapas, Mexico known for performing in their native Tzotzil, a common Mayan language spoken in the south of the country. Released in 2015, "Vayijel" was their first hit single and the music video was shot on location in their comunidad.
Starting in 2010s, there has been simultaneous emergence of indigenous influenced/produced electronic music in North America. It is often referred to as electronic powwow in the US and Canada, and tribal (pronounced tree-ball) in Mexico and Latin America. Despite some regional differences, underlying rhythms and instruments solidify the subgenre's indigenous identity. Below are some major figures in the electronic indigenous scene.
Formerly known as A Tribe Called Red, the Halluci Nation is a group of First Nations DJs that have been releasing music since the early 2010s. The group were trailblazers in first releasing electronic based powwow music, single handedly creating the genre in Canada and the US. It is most commonly refered to as electronic powwow or powwow step. The current line-up consists of Tim "2oolman" Hill, a Mohawk of the Six Nations of the Grand River, and Ehren "Bear Witness" Thomas of Cayuga First Nation.
This first video is for their song, "Electric Pow Wow Drum", whose title inspired the genre label of electronic powwow. It interpolates from A Black Lodge Singers song, who in turn borrowed from a traditional Cree song.
"Sisters" is a track from one of their earlier albums Nation II Nation released in 2013. It features vocals from Northern Voice and shows a positive view of modern Native women. The song is frequently used in MMIWG and No More Stolen Sisters events.
The music video for "Indian City" was released in 2017 and features drums and vocals from Atikamekw group, Black Bear. It shows talents from several dancers representing different tribal regalia and powwow dance styles.
Erick Rincon is one of the most prolific DJs in the Mexican tribal scene and rose to fame alongside other other DJs who banded together to form 3BallMTY (pronounced tree-ball Monterrey.) Unlike electric powwow, which mixes electronic and powwow, tribal mixes indigenous music elements with electro-cumbia and other Mexican regional sounds. Rincon left the group in 2016 to pursue solo projects and "Tierra Azteca" is one of his more well known singles.
Dj Otto (Alberto Presenda) is a Mexican DJ from Cunduacán, Tabasco in Mexico. He is one of the original founding members of the popular DJ collective called 3ballMTY. "Quetzal" is one of the tracks from his 2015 project Ah Lo Tribal and its name is a reference to the Aztec deity, Quetzalcoatl. The song's background lyrics are in Nahuatl, one of the most widely spoken indigenous languages in Mexico, and features prehispánico (Prehispanic) percussion and flute.
Born Jaime Luis Gomez, rapper Taboo is probably best known for being a member of prolific pop/rap group, the Black Eyed Peas. He identifies as a mix of Mexican and Shoshone. An outspoken supporter of the Dakota Access Pipeline Protests, Taboo produced a song for the movement, "Stand Up / Stand N Rock" in 2016, which shows footage from the protest camps.
Born Dan General, DJ Shub is a Mohawk (Turtle Clan) from the Six Nations of the Grand River in Canada. A former member of The Halluci Nation, known as A Tribe Called Red at the time, he went solo in 2014. His song, "Indomitable" won the 2017 Native American Music Award for Best Music Video. The video was shot on location at the Grand River Champion of Champions Powwow, and features fancy dancer/music producer, Classic Roots, and drums/vocals from the Northern Cree Singers.
Traditional song and dance were banned throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centauries in both countries but powwows are celebrated today as a staple cultural. COVID-19 had disproportionate impact on many indigenous communities, resulting in mass powwow cancellations in 2020 and 2021. This section in the guide hopes to recognize the spirit of powwows by celebrating tribes with ties to the Midwest, as well as showing specific types of powwow dances.
The Meskwaki Powwow has been held annually in Tama, Iowa since 1913 and usually takes place in August. The video shows performances, the powwow grounds, and interviews from elder Dean Whitebreast, Larry Lasley Sr., Sean Keahna Sr., and Sean Keahna Jr.
The Ho-Chunk tribe holds their annual powwow in Black River Falls, Wisconsin over Labor Day weekend in September. This video shows performances, the powwow grounds, and interviews from Chief Clayton Winneshiek and dancer Sarah Cyrena Cooper.
Much like a rodeo trail, many native performers follow the powwow trail, which spans the entire United States in all four seasons of the year. The following video interviews University of Wisconsin student, Dylan Jennings, a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, who is a powwow trail dancer and drummer.
A style of dance that was popularized to Western audiences by Jemez Pueblo dancer, Tony White Cloud, starting in the 1930s. In modern Hoop Dance, a solo dancer will use a number of hoops during their performance to make a variety of poses and shapes. This creative video features Patrick Willie, member of the Navajo nation, a well known hoop dancer and YouTuber.
This video shows a Chicken Dance performance at the Prairie Band Potawatomi Powwow. The style originated from Northern Plains tribes but is performed at most powwows today. Dancers imitate chicken movements, which is where the style gets its namesake. Regalia worn by dancers in the video shows simple style topped with a roach headdress decorated with two feathers.
Fancy Dance is a style that is performed by both men and women. Dancers are judged in their fast, fluid movements, particularly their footwork. Regalia is brightly colored with men wearing two bustles and a mix of roach style and war bonnet headdresses; women wear heavily fringed shawls and decorated dresses. This video shows several performances from a Menominee Nation Powwow.
Central to powwow, drums accompany any dance and/or singing performance, and are usually located near the dancing areas. Drum groups are typically male dominated but women may also drum in most cases. Each drum consists of at least five players who sing in a vocable style (syllables rather than actual words) while drumming. This video shows a Yankton Sioux drum group performing at the United Tribes Technical College Powwow.
This is a dance performed by women that originated from the Ojibwa Tribe but is now seen at events across the US. Dresses are adorned in layer of bells and the dance promotes healing. This video is a performance by the Meskwaki under head dancer, Alexis Syrette.
South America has a rich history of indigenous influence, which continues in modern music. Countries like Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Paraguay have some of the largest populations of indigenous peoples in the Americas. This page highlights a few musicians who are representing indigenous culture through a variety of genres, such as folk, electronic, and rap.
Luzmila Carpio is one of the most famous indigenous singers on the South American continent. Born in Bolivia she has been singing since the mid 1960s in Quechua, one of the dominant native languages spoken in modern South America. Her material consists of primarily traditional Andean styles but in 2015, ZZK Records remixed some of her songs into a project titled, 'Luzmila Carpio meet ZZK' bringing a futuristic vibe to them.
Renata Flores is a Peruvian artist that sings in Quechua. Her lyrics often address issues faced by indigenous communities in Peru, such as indigenous education and violence towards women. "Tijeras" is one of her most viewed music videos on YouTube. A majority of the song is in Quechua with a few lines in Spanish, and features a blend of trap beats and a traditional Andean style, danza de tijeras.
Lido Pimienta was born in Colombia and is a combination of Afro-indigenous heritage. On her indigenous side, she is part of the Wayuu people who are native to northern Colombia. Her music blends electronic and pop genres, while her lyrics focus on the struggles of oppressed groups. One of her first break throughs was 2018s "La Capacidad." The video switches between official music video footages as well as some behind the scenes conversation.
Portavoz and Luanko are rappers from Chile of Mapuche descent. The song's title, "Witrapaiñ", translates to 'We're on Our Feet' and is rapped in a mix of Mapudungun and Spanish, talking about the struggles to defend their ancestral lands and keep their culture alive. Portions in Mapudungun contain Spanish translated lyrics.
Tiktok is a video sharing social media platform where users can post short videos, from genres like dance, comedy, and education. Since 2019, many young Native content creators have flourished on the app and below are a few selected videos to enjoy. Those without accounts are able to access content, but only account holders can comment and give likes.
Santee Siouxx is Dakhóta and Odawa from Canada. She uses humor in many of her videos as a way to talk about important issues that affect Natives and many of her videos feature traditional regalia. This is part of a Tiktok trend where accounts share what specific tribe(s) they belong to within the umbrella term 'indigenous'.
Notoriouscree (aka James Jones) is a member of the Cree Nation. His channel focuses on the history and traditions of indigenous peoples. The video below references the tragic history of Residential/Boarding Schools in Canada and the U.S., which were created with the goal of total Native assimilation into white culture. Iowa had two such schools: the Indian Training School in Toledo and White's Iowa Manual Labor Institute in West Branch.
Brettstoise (aka Brett Mooswa) is an indigenous content creator from the Saskatchewan province in Canada. He produces short comedic skits about the Native experience in modern day North America. The following video pokes fun of stereotypes where natives are portrayed as overly regal.
Embrace_theweird is a two-spirit content creator of Nakoda & Lakota heritage living in the U.S. Her channel covers a variety of topics both native and non-native related. In this video, she explores fashion trends from Native reservations in the 1990s, showcasing more contemporary looks from indigenous people.
Desertndn, prounced desert indian, (aka Haatepah Clearbear) uses his platform to raise awareness about his culture, and modern Indigenous issues. He is of Kumiai and Chichimeca-Guamare descent, groups that are Indigenous to Mexico. This video pokes at the assumption that all Natives are affiliated with US tribes.
Erin Tapahe is a Navajo woman and one of the core members of the Art Heals: The Jingle Dance Project. This video shares some of the photography that came out of that project in response to a CNN segment that labeled Native Americans as "Something Else." Many other Native Tiktokers also created videos critiquing the incident.
