Celebrate Native American Heritage Month this November by screening POV films focused on native communities. These films are available for free from the POV Lending Library for community or classroom screenings. Sign up in the POV Community Network to borrow these (and many more) films!

Visit our Educators Page for access to standards-aligned lesson plans and streaming clips for use in the classroom. POV films span a range of topics from cultural preservation and tribal sovereignty to cultural taboos and exploring identity. Here are some recommended titles:

Tribal Justice spotlights tribal courts that incorporate indigenous customs and beliefs into their justice systems by following two chief judges as they navigate cross-jurisdictional issues in their courts and communities. Screen the Film | Download the Discussion Guide | Explore the Lesson Plan | Check out the Reading List

In the Light of Reverence is a beautifully rendered account of the struggles of the Lakota in the Black Hills, the Hopi in Arizona and the Wintu in California to protect their sacred site. Screen the Film | Download the Discussion Guide | Explore the Lesson Plan | Check out the Reading List

Standing Silent Nation, a film that explores what happens when federal agents raid a family’s industrial hemp farm, sweeping the Lakota Nation into a Byzantine struggle over tribal sovereignty, economic rights and common sense. Screen the Film | Download the Discussion Guide | Explore the Lesson Plan | Check out the Reading List

Sun Kissed, in which a Navajo couple uncovers a hidden link between their children’s rare genetic disorder and the American government’s conquest of their tribe, forever changing their lives. Screen the Film | Download the Discussion Guide | Explore the Lesson Plan | Check out the Reading List

Up Heartbreak Hill, a sweeping story following two Native teens over the course of two years as they are torn between the lure of opportunities outside their remote reservation community and the cultural ties that bind them to home. Screen the Film | Download the Discussion Guide | Explore the Lesson Plan | Check out the Reading List

Visit our local events calendar for a full list of events happening across the country and join our Community Network to host a screening of your own! Got a question or an idea? Follow POV’s Community Engagement and Education department on Twitter @povengage and we’ll help you find the right resources for your goals.

Published by

POV Staff
POV (a cinema term for "point of view") is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. POV premieres 14-16 of the best, boldest and most innovative programs every year on PBS. Since 1988, POV has presented over 400 films to public television audiences across the country. POV films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness, putting a human face on contemporary social issues.