Sound it Out!

Angeline Boully

Alana Yazzie

Rebecca Roanhorse

Carole Lindstrom

Louis Owens

Scope It Out!

Prey

This one came in hot — Prey flipped the whole Predator franchise on its head and gave us what we didn’t know we needed: a Comanche woman warrior outsmarting an alien hunter on her own land. Amber Midthunder absolutely crushed it as Naru. She wasn’t just surviving — she was reclaiming space in a genre that’s usually all muscle, guns, and no Native representation.The Comanche language version? Chef’s kiss. The attention to cultural detail, the setting, the strength — it’s the kind of Indigenous storytelling we’ve been waiting for in action and sci-fi. And best believe, seeing a young Native girl outsmart one of the most iconic monsters in film history? That’s the kind of role model energy that stays with you.

Reservation Dogs

Reservation Dogs is a game-changer. Period. Created by Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Muscogee) with Taika Waititi backing it, this series gave us something we’ve never seen before on mainstream TV — a fully Native writers’ room, Indigenous directors, and a cast that feels like home.It’s hilarious, real, and emotional all at once. From auntie gossip to spirit warriors in basketball shorts, from stolen chip trucks to deep grief and healing — Rez Dogs captures the full range of rez life without stereotype or filter. It’s got rez humor, supernatural moments, generational trauma, and that cousin you never quite understand but love anyway.This show isn’t just good “for a Native show” — it’s one of the best shows, period. It’s for us, by us, and full of heart. If you haven’t added it to your Native film/TV catalog, you’re missing out.

Smoke Signals

The blueprint. Smoke Signals walked so all the other Native films could run. Written by Sherman Alexie and directed by Chris Eyre (Cheyenne/Arapaho), this was the first feature film written, directed, and produced by Native Americans — and it shows. It’s funny, painful, awkward, poetic, and packed with that good ol’ rez sarcasm we all grew up with.Victor and Thomas are a classic duo — one’s trying to be the stoic warrior, the other won’t stop storytelling like your cousin at a family cookout. The film touches on generational trauma, broken families, identity, and healing — all wrapped in a road trip with frybread humor and auntie realness.Iconic lines like “Hey Victor! You better come get your cousin!” are still quoted today because this film hit and stuck. It’s not just a must-watch — it’s a rite of passage.

Frybread Face and Me

This one hits right in the heart. Frybread Face and Me is a tender, funny, and deeply honest coming-of-age story that feels like home for so many of us. It’s not about big action or heavy drama — it’s about the small, real moments that shape who we are: summer on the rez, auntie wisdom, teasing cousins, and finding your identity between two worlds.Keir Tallman shines as Benny — a city kid dropped off on the rez, trying to figure out where he belongs. And Charley Hogan as Frybread Face? Instant icon. The film doesn’t try to explain Native life to outsiders — it just shows it, with all its love, awkwardness, and complexity. Navajo culture is front and center, from the sheep herding to the humor only rez kids truly get.It’s a must-add to any Native film collection. The representation is real, the story is personal, and the frybread looks delicious! With exceptional work by hair and makeup artist, Goldie Tom!

War Pony

A powerful, unapologetic glimpse into life on the Pine Ridge Reservation — co-written by real Lakota voices like Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and that’s the point. This isn’t the Hollywood version of rez life — it’s the raw, complicated, beautiful, and heartbreaking reality that many of us know too well. The characters hustle, struggle, and love in ways that feel real, not scripted. This film is a reminder that our stories matter, and when they're told with us, not just about us, they hit different. This one belongs in every Native’s movie catalog.

ECHO

Echo is based on a Marvel Comic by David Mack and Joe Quesada. The adapted comic to miniseries follows a Choctaw woman named Maya Lopez (Cheyenne in the comic). Maya is played by @alaquacox. She is Menominee and was born deaf. She is also an amputee, which added authenticity to her role, after betraying her adoptive uncle Kingpin, a New York crime lord played by @vincentdonofrio. She is forced to return to the Rez. But Kingpin knows where to find her and brings trouble to the Rez. @deveryjacobs plays Maya's childhood friend, Bonnie. All episodes were directed by @sydneyfreeland , except for episode three, which was directed by @catrionamckenzie . This was a fun watch! It was amazing to watch @alaquacox get into character! It was great to see all the Native actors like Graham Greene, @tantoocardinal, and @zahnmcclarnon. #checkitout #marvel #haffbreedzpodcast #indigenous 🪶🤎

Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae

"Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae" is a four-part documentary series directed by Yvonne Russo, focusing on Annie Mae Aquash, a Mi'kmaq woman from Nova Scotia who advocated for Indigenous rights as a prominent figure in the American Indian Movement (AIM) during the 1970s. The series highlights her involvement in key events like the 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties and the 1973 Wounded Knee Occupation, as well as the complexities surrounding her murder, which remained unsolved for nearly thirty years. Through interviews with family, AIM activists, and law enforcement officials, it sheds light on internal conflicts within AIM and the U.S. government's surveillance of Indigenous movements. Aquash's dedication to her cause made her a significant figure in AIM.

Drunktown's Finest

"Drunktown’s Finest" (2014), directed by Sydney Freeland, is an indie drama that follows the struggles of three young Native Americans on a Navajo reservation. Sick Boy (Jeremiah Bitsui) joins the army to escape his troubled past; Felixia (Carmen Moore, also known as Kymberly Yazzie), a transgender woman, faces rejection while dreaming of becoming a model; and Nizhoni (MorningStar Angeline) seeks to reconnect with her Navajo heritage after being raised by a white family. Their stories intersect as they deal with challenges related to identity and tradition, highlighting the harsh realities of reservation life, including poverty and addiction. The film emphasizes themes of self-discovery and resilience, challenging stereotypes and providing a personal look at the clash between tradition and modernity.

Sugarcane

"Sugarcane" is a 2024 documentary by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie that examines the painful legacy of the Canadian Indian residential school system, focusing on St. Joseph's Mission in British Columbia. The film highlights the traumatic experiences of Indigenous children who were forcibly removed from their families and subjected to abuse in church-run boarding schools aimed at erasing Indigenous cultures.

Rez Ball

Rez Ball is more than just a sports movie — it’s a love letter to Native youth, community pride, and the unshakable spirit of rez basketball. From the opening shot to the final buzzer, it captures what it feels like to live and breathe rez ball — the pressure, the hope, the heartbreak, and the fire. What makes this film stand out is its cast and crew: real Native talent, real Native stories, and a setting that doesn't just use Native culture as a backdrop — it centers it.You see the aunties in the stands, the community cookouts, the old gym floors, and that classic rez hustle. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about heart. And that’s why Rez Ball hits home. If you grew up on the court or cheered from the bleachers, this one’s for you. Add it to your Native film catalog — right next to Smoke Signals and War Pony.

Fancy Dance

This heart-wrenching story sheds light on the tragic issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. After her sister disappears, Jax ( @lilygladstone ) selflessly steps up to care for her niece, Roki ( @isabelderoy ), amidst the challenges on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Jax tirelessly devotes every spare moment to searching for her missing sister while providing unwavering support to Roki as she prepares for an upcoming powwow. Also starring @ryanbegay505 and directed by @ericajtremblay #haffbreedzpodcast #indigenous #nativeart

Kahhori

Meet #Kahhori (voiced by @deveryjacobs) a Mohawk woman who goes on a quest to discover her power. This episode of @marvel ‘s #whatif is available on @disneyplus Season two, episode six. Written by Ryan Little and directed by Bryan Andrews, the episode is almost entirely in the Mohawk language! We look forward to more adventures with #kahhori in the future! #haffbreedzpodcast #marveluniverse #mohawk #indigenous

Dances With Wolves

Dances With Wolves (1990) is the classic “white guy shows up, becomes more Native than Natives, and saves the day” movie. Kevin Costner rolls in, learns Lakota in a weekend, marries Stands With A Fist, and somehow leads the people. This one’s in every Native’s movie lieberry. Avatar has the same exact plot, but with Smurfs.

Pow Wow Highway

"Powwow Highway" (1989), directed by Jonathan Wacks, is a poignant road movie that explores Native American identity and spiritual awakening. Based on David Seals' novel, it follows two Cheyenne men from a Montana reservation: Philbert Bono, a gentle dreamer, and Buddy Red Bow, a hardened Vietnam veteran. With a blend of humor and serious themes, "Powwow Highway" offers an authentic portrayal of Indigenous life and remains a significant work in Native cinema, showcasing Native voices and spirituality on the American road.

Dance Me Outside

Dance Me Outside (1994) is a rez classic we all grew up on — beat-up trucks, cousin drama, and that one guy who left the rez, came back, and handled business (Moe, you're a legend). No flute music, no Hollywood BS — just rez kids trying to survive, flirt, and maybe not end up working at the gas bar. Still hits hard. Mandatory viewing at every auntie’s house.

Jam it Out!

Haffbreedz Jamz

Check out these songs by a variety of artists—songs about Haffbreedz, songs from Indigenous artists, songs of strength and rebellion. Just click the HBz for the Spotify playlist.

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