Films to Watch During Indigenous History Month

June is National Indigenous History Month. This month we recognize the history, culture and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. It is a time to acknowledge and learn about the past and present contributions Indigenous Peoples have made to what is now known as Canada. To commemorate this occasion, you can watch some movies featuring Indigenous characters, story lines and actors. Here are some movies on Hoopla for you to watch:

1. Snow Walker: Ready for an adventure? Well, then this movie is for you. This film is about a former fighter pilot who works as a bush pilot in Yellowknife, and encounters an Inuit woman, with whom he goes on an unexpected journey with many obstacles.
2. Dance Me Outside: More in the mood for a drama? This film stars Adam Beach and Dr. Michael Greyeyes. It explores life in a northern Ontario reservation and follows a teenager and his friend, who want to go to college to become mechanics. It examines tension between Indigenous Peoples and white settlers from an Indigenous perspective. This movie is based on the novel of the same name by W. P. Kinsella.
3. The Lesser Blessed: This film is also based on a book, a novel by Richard Van Camp. It follows a teen on his journey of discovering his mysterious past. It gives the perspective of a young Indigenous man in a remote Northern community.
4. Crooked Arrows: This movie stars Brandon Routh, who played Superman in Superman Returns, and has some Indigenous ancestry. He plays a high school lacrosse coach working on a reservation, who is also trying to prove himself to his father. 
5. Holy Man: In the mood for a documentary? This documentary follows the story of Douglas White, a Lakota Sioux man from a reservation in South Dakota, who spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Filmmakers investigate and uncover proof of White's innocence. This film offers incite into Lakota beliefs as well as the systemic racism that Indigenous Peoples face especially in the criminal justice system. 
6. Songs My Brothers Taught Me: Feeling like watching a drama? This feature film directed by Academy Award-winner Chloe Zhao, focuses on teenagers who attend a high school on a reservation in South Dakota. It reveals the poverty, alcoholism, and violence that they and other Indigenous Youth face on reserves.