Vision Maker Media (theross.org) is empowering and engaging Native people to share stories while envisioning a world changed and healed by understanding these stories. Through film, education, and public programming, conversations spark a deeper understanding of Native experiences. VMM programs dedicated to educating audiences are the Native American Film Series and iNative Shorts for Kids.
The Native American Film Series at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center features Standing Bear’s Footsteps on June 9. This powerful documentary tells the story of Ponca Chief Standing Bear, who was arrested for leaving Oklahoma Indian Territory to bury his son in original Ponca territory along the Niobrara River in Nebraska. The 1879 trial asked: Does a Native person have individual rights under U.S. law? The court’s historic ruling marked the first time a Native American is a citizen in the eyes of the law. For more information, visit theross.org.
iNative Shorts for Kids YouTube channel is VMM’s newest series that brings Indigenous knowledge directly to young learners ages 6-12 through short videos curated from VMM’s extensive film archive. The channel features animated guidance from Frankie the Hawk and introduces viewers to Native languages, histories, and Native ways of life with built-in activities for interactive learning. Explore the series now at visionmakermedia.org or youtube.com.
Vision Maker Media is headquartered in Lincoln and houses a 50-year archive of film productions by and about Native Americans as the premiere source for public media.