Selected Film
My Native America Gen7 Productions (WSD Productions) One Hour Sixteen Minutes (1:16:04) Documentary “My Native America” is a documentary presented in an episodic travel exploration show format. This documentary will introduce “My Native America” creator and host Jim Warne (Tásunka akân Wicakte) from the Oglala Lakota of the Oceti Sakowin (The Great Sioux Nations). Jim has been a lifelong advocate, educator and storyteller addressing Indigenous Cultures, Public Health Disparities, Disability Challenges, and protection of sovereignty for Indian Country. As a university administrator he has created several indigenous programs at various medical schools throughout the nation. He has devoted most of his professional life in the university systems indigenizing curriculum through program and organizational development. Jim is a member of the NFL Alumni, a member of Arizona State University’s Rose Bowl Championship team as an All-Pac 10 tackle, a collegiate All-American Powerlifting National Champion, and a member of several Athletic and Academic Hall of Fame’s. Jim used his scholarship to earn his degree at ASU and later a master’s degree at San Diego State. After professional football, Jim pursued his dream of being a Hollywood actor and stuntman. Jim’s role as “Bull” in the film “The Substitute,” starring Tom Berringer where they were recognized for their big fight scene. Jim retired from acting due to frustrations of stereotypes that he could not avoid in 1990’s Hollywood. Today there are more Tribal members behind the camera, producing, directing, and writing the stories through an indigenous lens. As an elder, Jim says “it does his heart good to see the Native Youth get an opportunity to thrive in the film industry”. My Native America will begin in San Diego, the “homebase” for “My Native America”. San Diego County is home to 18 separate recognized Indian Reservations, the most concentrated area of Tribal Nations in one county. From My Native America’s homebase, we will travel across the U.S. to Seneca territory in the New York/Canadian region near Buffalo, NY. The Six Nations are also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, where the Seneca are the “Keepers of the Western Door.” We will feature Tribal elders, Traditional Lacrosse Stick Makers, Educators, and other Tribal representatives to share their stories and perspectives of their Tribal Nation. Our next stop will be the Oglala Lakota, my people of the Oceti Sakowin in the plain’s region and Paha Sapa... the Black Hills of South Dakota. We will visit my home reservation, Pine Ridge, and explore the communities which will feature Tribal Elders, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, Singers, Dancers, Educators, and other Tribal Representatives to share their stories and perspectives of our Tribal Nation. Our next stop will be the Hoopa Valley Tribe in Northern California near the Oregon border, in Redwood Country. The Hoopa Valley Tribe’s reservation is located in the Trinity River Valley and is the largest in reservation in California. Hoopa Tribal lands consist of beautiful mountain and river valley terrain, with traditional Hoopa Village sites that have been carbon dated from over 12,000 years ago. We will feature Tribal Elders and Elected Leaders, Educators, and other Tribal representatives to share their stories and perspectives of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. We will return to MNA Homebase, where we will visit the mountains and foothills of the Iipay Nation on the Santa Ysabel reservation, located in San Diego County. We also will feature Tribal Elders and elected Leaders, Educators, and other Tribal representatives to share their stories and perspectives of their Tribal Nation and close with Traditional Youth Dancers in spectacular mountain scenery on Iipay Nation. Join us for our journey to four distinct Tribal Nations throughout this country. Our focus is to help our non-Native brothers and sisters understand the diversity of Tribal Nations and the unique culture, different foods, and ways of life at each of these different Tribal Nations. We will provide a new perspective of “Indian Country” in contemporary America for the audience to learn and understand what sovereign Tribal Nations are in the United States. We look forward to sharing this new perspective and stories for “Indian Country.” Pilámaya (thank you) ~ Jim Warne, Oglala Lakota, Gen7 Productions (WSD Productions)
Duration: 01:12:33
Country of Origin: United States, United States
Language: English
Director(s): Jim Warne
Writer(s): Jim Warne
Producer(s): Jim Warne
Key Cast: Jim Warne
Other Credits: