Native American Heritage Month is celebrated in the month of November every year to uplift the indigenous culture and shed light on the Native American experience.
While these things are rarely showcased in textbooks or taught to children, there are still other forms of media that people can consume to educate themselves on the lives of Native Americans.
This year, to celebrate the people that originally built the nations, here are some films you can stream that showcase the beauty of being indigenous:
1. 'Gather' (2020)
Streaming on Amazon Prime, "Gatherer" is a documentary by Sanjay Rawal that follows Indigenous people in their journey to food reclamation and sovereignty.
"Gatherer" shows how being in control of traditional foods and going back to traditional eating and living practices creates a stronger community among Native people, AARP writes.
2. 'Dances With Wolves' (1990)
"Dances With Wolves" is an Oscar-winning film about a former Union Army lieutenant discovering and growing to love the ways of the Sioux, The Culture Trip reviews.
This film, which is available on Hulu, does not only feature dialogues spoken in Lakota or Pawnee, but it also tells stories of pains and transitions in periods of tensions in the Lakota experience.
3. 'Smoke Signals' (1998)
If you are looking for a film written, directed, and acted by Natives, "Smoke Signals," which can be watched on YouTube, might be for you.
"Smoke Signals" offers a light-hearted approach to the harsh realities of living in the Native community and families at the reservation in Idaho, AARP notes.
Read More: Native American Heritage Month: 4 Notable Indigenous People In STEM You Should Know About
4. 'Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock' (2017)
ACPLWY describes the depiction of the events in "Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock" riveting and inspiring, as it follows the historic #NODAPL movement.
This movie about the peaceful resistance led by the Natives to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline running through Lakota lands can be streamed on Vimeo.
5. 'Words From A Bear' (2020)
Streaming on Amazon Prime, "Words From A Bear" is a documentary film about N. Scott Momaday and his writings dedicated to the Native community.
According to Facing History, this documentary does not only follow the experiences of Momaday as he questions human existence, but it also shows his Indigenous identity and oral history.
6. 'Keep Talking' (2017)
"Keep Talking" highlights four Native Alaskan women who are fighting to save an endangered language called Kodiak Alutiiq in their community.
Streaming on Mubi, this film shows how these young Natives try to save the language on their own, and even learning the dances of their ancestors while overcoming personal trials in the process.
7. 'Warrior Women' (2018)
"Warrior Women" is the story of Madonna Thunder Hawk, one of the leaders and organizers of the American Indian Movement, which fought for Native liberation in communities.
This film explores the balance of motherhood and a movement whose legacies are passed down from generation to generation when Native resistance is met with state-led violence.
"Warrior Women" is available to stream on Mubi, should you want to watch a film that not only empowers Indigenous communities, but also highlights the bravery of Indigenous women while doing so.
