Native Voices

Daniel Hart and Luana Ross (Bitterroot Salish)

Co-Directors, Native Voices

Native Voices

In a recent interview with Daniel Hart, Co-Director of the UW’s Native Voices Program, Professor Hart explained the historic and current role of “Native Voices” in Indigenous activism here on campus. The program:

“is a center where students, faculty, and independent producers create documentaries and media research that contributes to the understanding, strengthening, and support of Indigenous people and communities. Native Voices envisions filmmaking from a decolonized, community based, and global perspective. We offer students and producers the opportunity to explore documentary from an Indigenous perspective, and to create projects that speak to critical personal, social and political issues in their lives.”

—Native Voices

The program boasts numerous award winning documentaries, some of which have been screened at Sundance Film Festival, the American Indian Film Festival, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Museum of Modern Art, among others. The program formerly offered a graduate degree in Indigenous documentary filmmaking and digital media, though unfortunately has discontinued accepting applications for new students. When asked about examples of Indigenous activism, Professor Hart responded, “students were able to express their activism through our unit, through filmmaking. Our films have been activist films. I mean, 75% of what we’ve always done is to support students in their media work.”

First Nations at UW Spring Powwow

Hart began detailing the backstories of numerous films, including Powwow 101: A First Nations Documentary by Angelo Baca. Almost twenty years ago, the University of Washington administration attempted to scale back the annual UW Powwow down from its typical home in the Alaska Airlines Arena to a field house, and cut the two-day event in half to just one day. In response, Baca created Powwow 101 in order to demonstrate the importance of the event, and to show the university that Indigenous students would not allow this to happen without resistance. The effort was successful, and the Powwow was conducted as normal.

"Poly Day" by the Polynesian Student Alliance

He then went on to explain the circumstances which brought about a film on Polynesian and Native Hawaiian culture from students which identify with these groups themselves. Tired of seeing fraternities and sororities hosting annual “Luau days” filled with plastic skirts and leis, sexualized belly dancing, and other offensive stereotypes, Native Hawaiian and Polynesian students responded through film. This film became a catalyst for the now annual celebration of Poly Day, as well as other forms of genuine Native Hawaiian and Polynesian organizing and cultural activities.

A Century of Genocide in the Americas

Other pieces, including those like A Century of Genocide in the Americas: The Residential School Experience by Rosemary Gibbons and Dax Thomas have responded to broader topics regarding Indigenous issues in greater American society. Hart explains that this film, which he shows in his classes each year, “was really the first major piece created about the boarding schools, and that is grassroots political activism.”

The many other works featured on the Native Voices Program website each highlight important activism being done in Indigenous communities. The films are each available on DVD through the website, and most are available through the UW libraries for students, faculty, and alumni. We encourage readers to check out these great works, and though the Native Voices Program is no longer active, support Indigenous activist filmmaking in ways like viewing works produced through the Sundance Institute Indigenous Program and other institutions’ Indigenous-led films.

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