SACRED NATIONS: SHORT WORK BY CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS STORYTELLERS

Co-presented with the Roxbury International Film Festival, Harvard University Native American Program, United American Indians of New England and North American Indian Center of Boston

This program, curated by Lisa Simmons, celebrates the vibrant diversity and rich cultural tapestry of Indigenous communities around the world. The program is a carefully curated selection of films that illuminate the stories, traditions, and struggles of Indigenous peoples, offering a powerful platform for their voices to be heard. Each film has been selected with a deep respect for Indigenous perspectives, shedding light on the unique histories, traditions, and contemporary issues faced by these communities. From remote landscapes to urban environments, these films capture the essence of Indigenous identity, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of preservation of Indigenous cultures that shape our global heritage. 

Hiama  Matasila Freshwater 13 minutes
A young Solomon Islands teenager encounters bullying at school and takes fate into her own hands when she is visited by a guardian spirit of her family.

Wrung from the Inside Out  Daniel Callahan, Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. and Daniel “Vill” Villanueva 4 minutes
Wrung from the Inside Out is a dedication to the Indigenous people of the Eastern Woodlands, whose history of genocide most of society continues to sweep under the rug. The film aims to tell truths that have not yet been heard.

Diiyeghan naii Taii Tr’eedaa (We Will Walk the Trail of our Ancestors) Princess Daazhraii Johnson 6 minutes
A grandfather teaches his granddaughter, a young Gwich’in mother named Alisha, how reciprocity is embedded in all aspects of life. The northern lights warm the caribou; the caribou helps feed and sustain the community; the community honors the connections. Each element in nature is purposeful and related. In turn, these connections bring new meaning to Alisha and her wishes for her children and for all living beings.

Weckuwapasihtit (Those Yet to Come) Geo Neptune, Brianna Smith 12 minutes
On the Eastern reaches of the occupied territory now referred to as North America, the children of Koluskap call upon ancestral teachings to guide them. Revitalizing cultural practices kept from their elders, Peskotomuhkati young people lead an intergenerational process of healing through the reclamation of athasikuwi-pisun, “tattoo medicine.”

The Ghost Rainforest John Davies 10 minutes
Told through the eyes of indigenous activist Narubia Werreria, ‘The Ghost Rainforest’ follows a group of five indigenous leaders and activists from the Amazon, making an emotionally charged journey to the last remnant of a lost ecosystem; a desperately rare temperate rainforest habitat on the West Coast of Scotland.

Walking Two Worlds Maia Wikler 29 minutes
19 year-old Quannah Chasinghorse, and her mother, Jody Potts-Joseph, take a stand to defend their sacred homelands and way of life while breaking barriers in Indigenous representation.

Lisa Simmons is the founder and president of The Color of Film Collaborative, Inc. (TCOF), an organization of actors, producers, directors, and others with an interest in creating and supporting positive images of people of color in film, theater, and other media. The Color of Film Collaborative co-produces the Roxbury Film Festival, a festival that celebrates the vision and the voice of independent filmmakers of color. Discussion with curator Lisa Simmons, MA ’17, and filmmaker Daniel Callahan MFA ’18 to follow. [OC]