This November honors the rich and diverse cultures of Native Americans. Take a look at Video Librarian's list of films and documentaries for your library, classroom, and community organization to celebrate Native American Heritage Month by hosting a public screening.
Warrior Lawyers: Defenders of Sacred Justice (2019)
"Through this depiction, the documentary offers an informative and engaging exploration of the ways in which tribal governments provide benevolent and restorative forms of legal redress for community members, and it opens room for discussion of how the general U.S. legal system can be reformed along these lines. Extremely thought-provoking and empathetic, Warrior Lawyers is thus highly recommended for media librarians seeking to add documentaries on legal issues and Native American tribal practices."
Read our review of Warrior Lawyers: Defenders of Sacred Justice
Dances with Wolves (1990)
While Kevin Costner is the (white) protagonist here, this 1990 epic still boasts a strong Native American pedigree. Much of the dialogue is spoken in Lakota. Actors Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Tantoo Cardinal, Jimmy Herman, and Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse are all Indigenous. The film celebrates Native American culture and is a testament to Native customs and traditions.
Read our review of Dances with Wolves
The Seventh Fire (2015)
This documentary explores both Native American culture as well as youth violence and incarceration. Produced by Terence Malick, the film explores members of the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota. One figure is seventeen-year-old Rob Brown, recently sent to prison for the fifth time. As he deals with his role in bringing violence and crime into his community, we also see his protégé Kevin Fineday, Jr, who wants to become the most reputable Native gangster on the reservation. The film deftly combines Native culture with an eye-opening account of cycles of violence.
Read our review of The Seventh Fire
Barking Water (2009)
Before the critically acclaimed Reservation Dogs, Sterlin Harjo directed this independent film about a road trip of a dying Seminole man and his former lover. They travel to Wewoka, the capital of the Seminole Nation. It is a breathtaking film few people have seen, and has serious accolades: it won the award for best drama film at the 2009 American Indian Film Festival.
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Based on the epic by James Fenimore Cooper, this film is set during the French and Indian War and boasts an impressive cast. Daniel Day-Lewis, Colm Meaney, Terry Kinney, and Madeleine Stowe all appear. The film explores issues of violence, allyship, and war, and is a memorable experience for all.
Read our review of The Last of the Mohicans
Our Story: The Indigenous-Led Fight to Protect Greater Chaco (2022)
"While the narration is occasionally unorganized and the interviews could have been steered a bit better, this outstanding short documentary makes an excellent argument for a just transition to sustainable energy production and spells out clearly the demands of native activists for this transition. Our Story comes highly recommended."
Read our review of Our Story: The Indigenous-Led Fight to Protect Greater Chaco
If you're interested in incorporating Native American stories into your classroom, please read our essay "Teaching Indigenous Peoples' Day with the Documentary Dawnland".