Native Voices Series: The Place of the Falling Waters
Format: Documentary, approximately 30 minutes.  No rating.

Summary of contents: This video discusses the importance of the natural environment to Flathead culture and that when it is manipulated (with the building of the Kerr dam) it has profound affects on the community.

Primary themes: American culture, governmental policies and encroachment has affected the Flathead culture.

This video is most useful for:
A good case study of how tribes ways of life changed completely because of white settlement, the boarding schools, and federal law.

Distribution Information:
Native Voices Public Television
VCB Room 222. Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana 59717
Phone: (906) 994-6218

Summary of contents: This video contains information American Indian cultural loss through schools, churches, and policies of the federal government.

Primary themes: Despite the fact that language and culture have been lost in many American Indian communities, new interest is reviving both.

This video is most useful forsecondary teachers and students interested in the decimation of language and culture and in learning about how American Indian communities are struggling to revitalize their language and culture.

Distribution Information:
Native Voices Public Television
VCB Room 222. Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana 59717
Phone: (906) 994-6218

Summary of contents: This video tells the story of Medicine Crow of the Crow nation including his experiences on the vision quest. It explains what vision quests are and how they fit into the history and culture of the Crow nation It also discusses the relationship between young and old in Crow society and the significance of education.

Primary themes:  Traditions and culture are important to the Crow nation today.

This video is most useful forsecondary teachers and students for discussions of the status of various American Indian nations today.

Distribution Information:
Native Voices Public Television
VCB Room 222. Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana 59717
Phone: (906) 994-6218

Summary of contents: The thoughts of American Indians and new age spiritual healers who borrow from native rituals and spirituality are examined especially concerning  the validity of such new age spirituality.

Primary themes:  Debate around the question of what it  is possible to reproduce rituals and traditions without cheapening them.

This video is most useful for providing interesting perspectives in the debate over whether new age spirituality is a distortion of American Indian spiritual practices.  Secondary teachers would benefit by watching the film to at least familiarize themselves with these issues.  Interesting also in respect to the Americanization of American Indian traditions and spirituality.

Distribution Information:
Native Voices Public Television
VCB Room 222. Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana 59717
Phone: (906) 994-6218

Summary of contents: Issues of racism as seen through the eyes of a grade school teacher on a reservation, an interracial couple, and a Native American man who experienced discrimination while working in a sheriffs office.

Primary themes: Racism and discrimination takes place in subtle and not so subtle ways.  Deals with stereotypes of Native Americans, and ignorance of racism in the community at large.

This video is most useful forproviding an informative look at issues of racism and discrimination.   Students will benefit by knowing the issues, but the film is not the best venue for discussion.

Distribution Information:
Native Voices Public Television
VCB Room 222. Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana 59717
Phone: (906) 994-6218

Summary of contents: Two Coeur D' Alene men whose lives are intimately connected by specific events in their lives, leave the reservation for Arizona to pick up the remains of one mans father who abandoned his son years before.

Primary themes: Discussion of what it is to be a Native American. (stereotypes vs. reality).  Importance of friendship and family.  What is spirituality?  Abandonment, substance abuse.

This video/film is most useful for a contemporary understanding of American Indian society.  A good forum for discussion of the strengths and challenges facing native communities.  Somewhat violent at times.

Distribution Information:
The video is available for rent from most video stores.

Summary of contents: A comparison of contemporary life on the reservation and in urban centers.

Primary themes:  American Indians can retain a sense of culture and history in both urban and reservation life.

This video/film is most useful fordiscussion of contemporary issues facing the American Indian community.  A good film for teachers to view.  May also be good for students especially in conjunction with other material.

Distribution Information:
Wishing Well Distributing
P.O. Box 1008
Silver Lake, WI 53170
Phone: (800)-888-9355