If you enjoy movies like us, you might’ve noticed a gradual growth of Native cinema entering the mainstream media. Transitioning from historical marginalization and stereotypes, Native cinema is experiencing a major renaissance to a “golden age” of authentic, indigenous-led storytelling.
The industry is shifting because we now have Native people behind and in front of the camera, allowing them to portray the complex and contemporary Native life with authentic historical narratives. This is known as “visual sovereignty” which is the practice of Indigenous people, artists, and filmmakers asserting control over their own narratives through self-representation in media, film, and art. This is super exciting to us at PNN because we whole heartily support sharing our stories, by using our voices for our own communities.
In honor of the Oscars happening March 15th, We at PNN have curated a list of indigenous movies for everyone to check out and enjoy. You might have seen some of these but we hope you’ll find one on the list that sparks your interest.
– Fish War (2024) follows the tribes’ fight to _exercise their treaty-reserved fishing rights_. After Washington made it illegal for tribes to fish for salmon in their usual and accustomed places. If you’re interested to watch, you can find it on Apple TV or Tubi for streaming.
– Bad Press (2023) follows the Muscogee Nation and their fight to maintain their freedom of press after their sole news outlet falls under the control of the chief and his cabinet. The best way to watch this film is by using your library card and creating a Kanopy account, or you can sign up for a 7 day free trial with Criterion Channel .
– If An Owl Calls Your Name_ _(2025) is a powerful documentary that follows indigenous Elders, healers, and activists from the Esk’etemc, Gitxsan, and Wet’suwet’en territories share a legacy of resilience and ancestral wisdom to mend the wounds of forced assimilation. To stream this film you can visit the website here , enter your email and make a donation of any amount for 48 hours of viewing access.
– Sugarcane (2024) is a stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life, the documentary unfolds in 2021 where evidence of unmarked graves was discovered on the grounds of an Indian residential school run by the Catholic Church in Canada. After many years, the forced separation, assimilation and abuse was brought to light that sparked a national outcry against a system designed to destroy indigenous communities. Sugarcane (2024) is available for streaming on Disney + or Hulu with additional subscriptions.
– The Salmon People’s Struggle to Survive: the Story of Muckleshoot Fisheries (2023)_ _is one of the documentaries from the Muckleshoot Tribe that was recently selected for a screening at the NorCal film festival. The documentary covers the spiritual and intertwined relationship salmon and the Muckleshoot Tribe have always had. It is free to watch on their Youtube page here .
– Muckleshoot Wildlife Program_ _(2023) is the second documentary from the Muckleshoot Tribe collection that will also be screened at the NorCal film festival. The film showcases the work Muckleshoot puts in to sustain the region’s deer, elk, and mountain goat herds and protect their Treaty Rights and traditional way of life. The film can be watched on Youtube for free here .
A non-profit company in Bellingham called Children of the Setting Sun Productions, debuted their new film at the Spokane Film Festival called “The River Remembers” on March 7th. The film is cited as “ a character-driven documentary that follows Tribal members of the Elwha and lower Klamath Rivers as the lead the largest dam removals in U.S. history, restoring salmon and renewing culture after a century of struggle. The film is a story of resilience and hope, showing that when rivers heal, people heal too.” If you’d like to stay updated on their new releases you can follow them on Facebook and check out their website .
Lastly, a noteworthy mention is a documentary we have been highly anticipating to watch called You’re No Indian, the film delves into the deeply troubling issue of tribal disenrollment and exposes the role of casinos in fueling a quiet yet devastating civil war within Indigenous communities. It’s currently not available for streaming but they are touring screenings around America and have plans to screen in Bellingham and Seattle later this year. If you’d like to stay up to date on in-person screenings make sure you follow them on Facebook and check out their website .
