The Best Native Films (by or about Indigenous Peoples)

After my Dances with Wolves post, I held an informal poll over on the Native Appropriations Facebook page (are you a fan? you should be!) of the best Native films. I think the resulting list is a nice mix of documentary, comedy, and drama, and brings in some international perspectives as well. Let me know what you think. Here, in no particular order, are the films recommended by Facebook readers, with links, director, and year!

• Smoke Signals: Chris Eyre, 1998
• Dance Me Outside: Bruce McDonald, 1994
• Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: Yves Simoneau, 2007
• Four Sheets to the Wind : Sterlin Harjo, 2007
• Elijah: Paul Unwin, 2007
• Rabbit Proof Fence: Philip Noyce, 2002
• Whale Rider: Niki Caro, 2002
• Powwow Highway: Jonathan Wacks, 1989
• Incident at Oglala: Michael Apted 2002
• Lakota Woman: The Siege at Wounded Knee: Frank Pierson, 1994
• In the Light of Reverence: Christopher McLeod, 2001
• The Business of Fancy Dancing: Sherman Alexie, 2002
• Naturally Native: Valerie RedHorse, Jennifer Wynne Farmer, 1998
• White Shamans and Plastic Medicine Men: Terry Macy, 1996
• The Exiles: Kent Mackenzie, 1961
• Medicine River: Stuart Margolin, 1993
• Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner: Zacharias Kunuk, 2001
• Follow Me Home: Peter Bratt, 1996
• We Shall Remain Series: Various, 2009
• Imprint: Michael Linn, 2007
• Little Big Man: Arthur Penn, 1970
• Barking Water: Sterlin Harjo, 2009
• Shadow of the Hawk: George McCowan, 1976
• Skinwalkers Series: Chris Eyre, 2002
• Lost Sparrow: Chris Billing, 2010
• Once Were Warriors: Lee Tomahori, 1994

I realize that some of these are made for TV movies, some are film festival picks, and some are just plain hard to track down. But try checking libraries, film institutes, etc. If anyone has resources, ways to get a hold of any of these films, or has any to add to the list, please put links in the comments.

DISCLAIMER: I haven't seen all of these films, so I can't vouch for the whole list, but I trust my readers!