Against the Current

“The message I would like to send in my film is that we are not what the media portrays of us. Yes, we battle alcoholism, addiction, and domestic violence just like any other nationality or poverty-stricken community, but that does not define the whole culture. We are a sacred, resilient, powerful, strong group of people. It’s embedded in us. I want to show people who we truly are, who we once were before the cycle of trauma began. I want people to gain an understanding of not just the culture itself, but also us as a nation. Who and what we represent. “I need to find a way to shed light on the mental health issues plaguing my community. . . . I want to show some of these talented kids and our culture. I want to do what I can to inspire, encourage, and motivate my peers to take back pride in who we are as Native Americans.”