Indigenous Documentaries in our Collection

February 1, 2021 | Jamie

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Are you curious to learn more about Indigenous issues in Canada? Do you enjoy documentaries? Check out these recommendations from our collection!

All the documentaries listed below had at least one Indigenous person as a producer. Their nation is listed in brackets next to their name.

Most of these documentaries are available using our online video streaming services. Some are only available on DVD. Some videos are also available on the National Film Board website.

Note: the descriptions below are summarized from our catalogue.

 

Poster for Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance  produced by Wolf Koenig, Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki) and Colin Neale

“A feature-documentary on the confrontation of the Mohawk people of the First Nations and the Quebec police and the Canadian army in the summer of 1990.”

Also available on the NFB website.

Growing native great lakes turtle island

Growing Native Great Lakes: Turtle Island produced by Charles “Boots” Kennedye (Kiowa) and Pam Belgarde (Chippewa)

“The Great Lakes and connecting waterways have remained the center of traditional and contemporary economies for centuries.” For the Ojibwe and the Oneida of Wisconsin, natural resources are their main economy. This documentary will introduce you to those who dedicate their lives to taking care of the land.

Poster for The People of the Kattawapiskak River

The People of the Kattawapiskak River produced by Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki) and Ravina Din.

This documentary shows the living conditions of the Kattawapiskak Cree Nation in October 2011. This documentary also “examines the history and causes of a housing crisis that struck this community hard.”

This documentary is also available on the NFB website.

Gather

Gather. Produced by Sterlin Harjo (Seminole, Muskogee), Michael Roberts (Tlingit), Adae Briones (Cochiti/Kiowa), Jackie Francke (Navajo), Raymond Foxworth (Navajo), Jennifer Buffett, Wendy Schmidt, Christine Schantz, Jason Momoa and Brian Mendoza.

This documentary “follows … a growing movement to reconnect with spiritual and cultural identities” through food and science.

Only Available on DVD

Poster for Angry Inuk

Angry Inuk produced by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Inuk) and Bonnie Thompson

This documentary looks at the importance of the seal hunt for Inuit livelihood. It also looks at how “international campaigns against the seal hunt” have harmed their lives.

Also available on the NFB website.

Poster for Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World produced by Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon, Ray Halbritter (Oneida), Diana Holtzberg, Tim Johnson, Jake Kent, Linda Ludwick, Claire Mackinnon, Jan Rofekamp, Lisa M. Roth, Stevie Salas (Apache), Oliver Schwehm, and Ernest Webb (Cree).

This documentary shows the deep “and overlooked influence of Indigenous peoples” in North American popular music. This documentary features famous musicians Jimi Hendrix, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Taboo (Black Eyed Peas), Randy Castillo (Ozzy Osbourne), Robbie Robertson (The Band), and many more.

 

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Updates

October 17, 2024: Added additional ways to watch select documentaries.

October 18, 2024: Removed one documentary as it is no longer available in our collections.

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