From the film The Hard Way.
In celebration of National Indigenous History Month, watch a curated lineup of short films from Indigenous filmmakers sharing Indigenous cultures, stories, and voices, from the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.
These films will be available online from June 21-27 | FREE
Borrowed from the Earth – 15 min (USA)
Throughout their respective histories, both horse and Indigenous people have been corralled. Fences put horses in pens and the Blackfeet on reservations, but the centuries-long attempts to subdue both was also successful in strengthening the connection between horse and man.
En Plein Air – 15 mins (CAN)
Two decades after the expedition that launched his art career, Indigenous painter Alfred Villeneuve returns by canoe to paint in the wilderness, where nature is both subject and guide.
The Hard Way – 16 mins (USA)
Matt Mendes, is a Warm Springs tribal member and guide whose life is intertwined with the cycles of the Deschutes River. Taught by his grandfather, the first Native American guide on the river, Mendes has spent years carving his own path—one defined by patience, hard work, and an unshakable connection to the water and land.
Iikaiksimatsa’pao’p (Grateful to Be on the Land) – 13 mins (CAN)
Cassie Ayoungman, founder of Soul of Miistaki and member of the Siksika nation, embarks on a journey to bring the healing power of the mountains to those within her community. Breaking down barriers to climbing, and integrating Indigenous teachings and land-based learning, she raises questions about representation and redefines what it means to be on the land.
Shaped by Land – 16 mins (USA)
Adam Kjeldsen is one of the only Inuit ski guides operating in Greenland, a destination dominated by foreign operators. Shaped by Land follows his pursuit of a more sustainable vision for ski tourism—rooted in deep connection to land, community, and culture.
Join Banff Centre throughout the month of June for National Indigenous History Month. Other free events include jewelry and dance workshops, storytelling, and a Virtual Art Marketplace.