Native American Heritage Month 2014 Program Lineup
KCET is honoring Native American Heritage Month in November with several documentaries that celebrate how Native Americans have shaped the nation. From stories of hardship and triumph (Navajo veterans of Canyon de Chelly) to influential leaders (Sitting Bull) and historical events (pow wows), KCET pays tribute to the vast contributions American Indians have made in enriching our country's identity and cultural heritage. With the exception of "Sitting Bull: A Stone in My Heart," this marks the KCET debut for all the films.
Here's this month's slate of programming. Click here for more Native American Heritage Month content.
Monday, November 3 at 9 p.m.
Celebrated as one of America's greatest horse tribes, the 21st century Nez Perce brought horses back to their land with the unlikely help of a charismatic Navajo horseman, Rudy Shebala. His mentorship has guided at-risk teenagers toward recreational equestrian activities, and his equine skills have brought historic Nez Perce horse culture to modern renown. But his personal demons imperil both accomplishments. "Horse Tribe" is an epic story about the connection of human to animal, history to life, individuals to community, grief to resolve, and values to action.
Wednesday, November 5 at 9 p.m. and Sunday, November 9 at 11:30 p.m.
Navajo veterans of Canyon de Chelly, Ariz. served as code talkers during World War II, Army Rangers in Vietnam, and most recently, in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, their dedication and courage in battle has not protected them from the formidable challenges facing them when they return home. The film documents how strong women, traditional healing, and talk therapy are helping these warriors return.
Friday, November 14 at 9 p.m.
An official selection at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, "Grab" offers an intimate portrait of the rarely documented Grab Day in the villages of New Mexico's Laguna Pueblo tribe. This community-wide prayer of abundance, thanks, and renewal exists at the intersection of traditional native and contemporary Western cultures.
Each year, Laguna Pueblo villagers honor Catholic saints and family members by showering food and gifts from the rooftops of their homes upon the community gathered below. "Grab" explores the origins and evolution of this 300-year-old custom, from its introduction by Spanish settlers to its modern-day twists. The film, narrated by actress Parker Posey, follows three families as they prepare for the annual event, chronicling their lives for the year leading up to Grab Day.
Sunday, November 16 at 11:30 p.m.
"Sacred Stick" examines the historical, cultural, and spiritual aspects of lacrosse. From the ancient Mayans to the world-famous Iroquois Nationals team, the movie explores the cultural diffusion and transmutation of a uniquely indigenous sport that, like Native Americans themselves, adapted and endured within the dominant culture.
For the Generations: Native Story and Performance
Friday, November 21 at 9 p.m.
The documentary examines the efforts of contemporary Native performers to recast themselves in the 21st century. Told through original performance footage and the artists' own words, "For the Generations" explores health and fitness issues that plague Native youth on and off the reservation.
Sunday, November 23 at 11:30 p.m.
"As Long as We Dance" is a glimpse inside the 11th and final "New Faces of an Ancient People Traditional American Indian Powwow" held in State College, Pa. It features the stories of American Indian dancers, drummers, vendors, and organizers from various tribes who travel thousands of miles to participate in the event each year and shows the impact it's had on them and the surrounding central Pennsylvania community. The powwow is a place where people find themselves, connect with their culture, and pass on their traditions to the next generation.
Our Fires Still Burn: The Native American Experience
Tuesday, November 25 at 9 p.m.
This compelling documentary invites viewers into the lives of contemporary Native American role models living in the U.S. midwest. It dispels the myth that American Indians have disappeared from the American horizon, and reveals how they continue to persist, heal from the past, confront the challenges of today, keep their culture alive, and make great contributions to society.
Sitting Bull: A Stone in My Heart
Friday, November 28 at 9 p.m.
This award-winning documentary makes extensive use of Sitting Bull's own words (as portrayed by Adam Fortunate Eagle), giving the viewer an intimate portrait of one of America's most legendary, yet least known, figures in all his complexities as a leader of the Sioux Nation. The movie presents the story of a warrior, spiritual leader, and skilled diplomat.
Augmented by the narrative's historic perspective, over 600 images, and a compelling original score, the film brings to life the little-know side of Sitting Bull, as well as the story of a great man's struggle to maintain his people's way of life against an ever-expanding westward movement of white settlers.
