One of the most poorly understood topics in Canada and the United States is the history, culture and traditions of the indigenous Native Americans.
To learn about the fascinating history of the Native American peoples, a great way to educate yourself about what isn’t being taught well in school is to watch documentary films.
I have collected here some of the best documentaries I have seen about Native American history, culture and traditions.
1. 500 Nations
500 Nations is an eight-part American documentary television series that was aired on CBS in 1995 about the Native Americans of North and Central America.
2. How The Native Americans Built A Legendary Civilisation
An excellent documentary episode from 1491: America Before Columbus, which explores the indigenous peoples of the Americas and their culture, history and traditions.
3. America Before Columbus: The Secret Continent
This is the story of the Columbian Exchange, the greatest cultural exchange in history. We explore life in America and Europe in 1491, and why America was “discovered” and not the other way around.
4. America’s Wild West: Discovery of a Land
This is the true story of the early American frontier. The “13 Colonies,” eager to go west of Appalachia despite the British crown’s forbiddance, decide the question in the American Revolution.
5. The Indigenous People of America
The story of the indigenous people of the Americans ranging from the empires of Mesoamerica such as the Aztec and Mayan Empires, the Inca Empire of South America and the Iriquois, Sioux, Apache, Navajo and Pueblo of North America.
6. America’s Great Indian Nation
The story of the Iroquois, Seminole, Shawnee, Navajo, Cheyenne, and Lakota Sioux nations filmed on location at their native tribal lands across America telling the story of their struggle to protect their lands, cultures, and freedoms.
7. The Military Prowess Of The Native Americans
At the end of the 15th century two worlds which had stood apart for generations violently collided: The kingdoms of Europe and the indigenous nations of the Americas. How did these two cultures interact and what series of events lead to the formation of the Canada and USA that we know today?
8. The History of the Indian Wars
The story of the Indian Wars and the colonial settlement of the American West.
9. The Colonial Battle For North America
The battle for North America rages on as the Americans claim a manifest destiny to take the continent; the First Nations of the West were forced to fight for their survival.
10. More Than Bows And Arrows
A documentary film released in 1981 that attempts to rectify misconceptions about early Native Americans, demonstrating that their contributions to the world’s knowledge, and influence on the development of America, in particular, has been considerable.
11. Experience A Native American Pow Wow
This documentary speaks with people from Indigenous tribes across the United States about the importance and the history of the Wacipi – or as it is called in English, the Pow Wow.
12. Native Way Forward
This documentary film shines a light on the present-day lives of Native young adults, and explores what’s possible for their futures. Hear Native leaders telling their stories in their own words, and illuminating the path for Native youth everywhere.
13. The Great Native Nations of North America
The fascinating history and cultures of some of the largest Native American groups: Sioux (Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota), Apache, Sioux, Navajo, Comanche and Iroquois (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora).
14. Inhabitants
A documentary about how Native Americans are restoring their ancient relationships with the land. The five stories include sustaining traditions of Hopi dryland farming in Arizona; restoring buffalo to the Blackfeet reservation in Montana; maintaining sustainable forestry on the Menominee reservation in Wisconsin; reviving native food forests in Hawaii; and returning prescribed fire to the landscape by the Karuk Tribe of California.
15. The Warrior Tradition
The Warrior Tradition, tells the astonishing, heartbreaking, inspiring, and largely-untold story of Native Americans in the United States military. Why would Indian men and women put their lives on the line for the very government that took their homelands?
16. Awakened First Nations
The story and prophecies of the spiritual destiny of the First Americans and how they will help awaken the world. This documentary film takes a rather fascinating look at the overlap of Native American and Christian prophecy.
17. 8th Fire: Native American Prophecy
An Anishinabe Prophecy: We are approaching a fork in the road. One road will lead to materialism and destruction for almost all living creatures. The other road will lead to a spiritual way upon which the native people are standing/ This path will lead to the lighting of the 8th fire, a period of eternal peace, harmony and a New Earth where the destruction of the past will be healed.
18. The Osage Murders: The True Story Behind “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Throughout the mid-1920s, the Osage Nation suffered a series of mysterious murders, and the body count kept piling up until the federal investigators got involved. But who was killing all of these people, and why? Explore the history behind the Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon.
I also a run a cultural ecotourism organization called Sacred Treks that helps people travel with a purpose on mindful trekking pilgrimages and connects them with the world's most knowledgable certified hiking guides.
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