‘Remaining Native’ screens at New York International Children’s Film Festival

“Remaining Native” is screening three times at the New York International Children’s Film Festival on March 7 alongside a filmmaker questionnaire. The Remaining Native is an award-winning documentary from the filmmaker, Paige Bethmann (Haudenosaunee).

By Aminah Syed, Fry Bread Creative Digital Storytelling Intern

 She has worked in broadcast and documentaries for the last ten years, the news of the 215 unmarked graves of the Indigenous children in Canada sparked her to reach out to create this documentary, she said. 

“I felt an obligation as a storyteller, filmmaker, and descendant of a boarding school survivor to become a caretaker of her past and one to those who share a similar story, Bethmann said in her directors statement. “So much so that when I learned of Ku Stevens and I reached out to him and his family as a complete stranger. 

The film follows 17-year-old Ku Stevens and his dreams to be a runner for the University of Oregon. He is the only runner in his high school’s track team, with no coach. His great-grandfather escaped the Indian Boarding School at eight years old, running 50 miles away. Ku makes a plan to retrace the route his great-grandfather took. 

To learn more about the film, visit the website. To attend the March 7 screenings, visit the NYICFF to get tickets now.