Documentary Storywork in Intercultural Contexts: Advancing Tribal Sovereignty and Public Scholarship Through Culturally Sustaining/Revitalizing Filmmaking

• In Event: Roundtable Session 54
  In Roundtable Session: Methodological Knowledge and Issues in Documentary Research

Abstract

Although documentaries can expand public access to counter-narratives, their development can also undermine culturally situated decision-making within Indigenous communities, due to limited technical filmmaking expertise within those communities, a disregard for Indigenous ways of knowing by predominantly White filmmakers, and a scarcity of meaningful relationships between filmmakers and community members. To address such challenges within education, research, and filmmaking, Indigenous scholars and community members urge attention to several “Rs” (respect, relevance, reciprocity, responsibility, relationality, and representation). This case study focuses on the potential for an intercultural documentary filmmaking project to advance tribal sovereignty and public scholarship through application of the 6 Rs. The findings demonstrate pedagogical and methodological implications for scholars, filmmakers, educators, and community members.

Authors

• Christine Rogers Stanton, Montana State University

• Brad R Hall, Blackfeet Community College

• Lucia Ricciardelli, Montana State University