Indigenous people’s history, culture and strength as a people is a source of inspiration for all of us.

The Roots of Lacrosse captures the Iroquois origin and cultural importance of the traditional game of lacrosse, also known as the Medicine Game, the Spirit Game, or the Creator's Game. This documentary highlights the making and significance of wooden lacrosse sticks and their use traditionally to modern day lacrosse. About the Directors:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/d8509c6d31caa7795dff07baf297d4f9.png" width="150" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">Joanne Storkan is the founder and executive producer of Honest Engine Films. Formerly a journalism and English teacher, turned screenwriter, she founded the company in 2004, in Monterey, California. She co-directed a documentary entitled Dirt McComber: Last of the Mohicans, that has won numerous awards. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/7c5f6f8d32ee8765dff903f047c41c1a.jpg" width="117" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">Shelby Tsioweri:iohsta Adams is a director from the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation and co-owner of Dreamcatcher Studio, a production studio that offers a variety of services for native productions, in theatre, commercial, and film production. She has studied directing, acting, and performing arts throughout Canada. Recently she has produced and acted in two theatre productions that raised awareness of sex trafficking and missing and murdered Indigenous woman and children.

The Roots of Lacrosse

Who knew that the sport of lacrosse was originally a medicine game played by North American Indigenous people?

Camas root has long nourished the people of the Northwest as a culturally significant staple. It’s served a pivotal role in the diet and trade of Tribal communities in Oregon as well as the land itself. And it’s been an important component of Tribal diets in Oregon for at least 10,000 years, with camas oven pits dating back at least 8,000 years. And it continues to be a staple for many Tribal families today. About the Director:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/935692e839ccdebb2bd2b618d7121545.jpg" width="200" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">Michelle Alvarado is a local filmmaker and owner of Wahoo Films and founder of BendFilm's Future Filmmakers. She has been sharing Oregon and Washington tribal stories for many years and feels there is a deeper connection to our roots when collecting wild foods. Wahoo partnered with The Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs, MEDIamerica and Travel Oregon to produce this short.

Rooted in Culture: Oregon's Wild Camas

Oregon’s beauty is not just rooted in its incredible landscape, it is the roots themselves that hold treasures.

Joe Buffalo is an Indigenous skateboard legend. He’s also a survivor of Canada’s notorious Indian Residential School system. Following a traumatic childhood and decades of addiction, Joe must face his inner demons to realize his dream of turning pro. About the Director:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/159e358fc4d5d2a3331aae9b91b288a2.jpg" width="152" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">Syrian-Canadian filmmaker Amar Chebib began making videos while growing up skateboarding in the Middle East. He has since made award-winning short films and commercials. His most recent work, Joe Buffalo, is a short hybrid doc about an Indigenous skateboard legend and survivor of Canada’s notorious Indian Residential School system. Amar resides with his wife on unceded Coast Salish Territory in Vancouver.

Joe Buffalo

Joe Buffalo, an Indigenous skateboard legend and Indian Residential School survivor, must face his inner demons to realize his dream of turning pro.

A young Indigenous girl must dig deep to own her performance of a Shakespearean sonnet for her high school drama class. About The Director:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/f84dc0282e0d400fd93bae07cf5c442c.jpg" width="199" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">﻿Chad O'Brien was born and raised in Perth, Australia and has been involved in a range of films and web series both on screen and behind the camera. Chad travelled to Singapore to train as an actor and before returning to Australia, he performed infil and theatre across South-East Asia. The collaborations and experiences Chad had with these international artists, practitioners and storytelling styles have significantly influenced his work as a director.&nbsp; Film Contact: Jemma Douglas Producer: jemma.douglas@gmail.comChad O'Brien Director/Co-Writer: hello@chadobrien.com - @backyardcreatives

Wirun

A young Indigenous girl must dig deep to own her performance of a Shakespearean sonnet for her high school drama class.

Gemma Cubero del Barrio (Director, Our Atoll Speaks), Shelby Mitchell Adams (Co-Director, Roots of Lacrosse), Lucy Ostrander (Director, Honor Thy Mother), and Joe Buffalo (Documentary Subject, Joe Buffalo) discuss their short films with Carina Miller.

Rooted in Culture - Shorts Q&A

Rooted in Culture - Shorts 

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