Native women in film

Someone asked me if I had a list of Native women in film. Not just Native actors, which would be easy, but writers, directors, and producers.

I didn't, so I went to work. Here are the results:

This is the most comprehensive list I could find of Native filmmakers. In 5-10 minutes of searching, that is:

National Museum of the American Indian
Film & Media Catalog: People

You probably know some of these people. For the others, you'd have to check the female names via IMDB and Google. To see whether they're directors, producers, writers, actors, or some combination thereof.

This article:

Powerful and Resonant: Native & First Nations Women’s Filmic Presence

lists a few of the big names:A very brief list includes Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki), Sandra Sunrising Osawa (Makah), Christine Welsh (Métis), Shirley Cheechoo (Cree), Beverly Singer (Tewa, Navajo), Loretta Todd (Métis, Cree), Shelley Niro (Mohawk), Valerie Red-Horse, Tracey Deer (Mohawk), Missy Whiteman (Arapaho, Kickapoo), Heather Rae (Cherokee), and Tamara Podemski.These postings:

Through Indian Eyes: Native American Cinema

Native American & Indigenous Film

First Nations & Native American Celebs

list a lot of performers but also some directors, producers, and so forth. You can search them for the words "director," "producer," and so forth. And add them to your list.

I think these combined will give you most of the Native women working in film these days. There may be a few hundred of them, if not more.

Below: Tantoo Cardinal in Shelley Niro's Honey Moccasin.