Sandra Osawa

Following the Watts Uprising, UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television enacted affirmative action policies to increase the enrollment of students of color in its film program—a group that had historically been underrepresented in the student population. The “ethno-communications” initiative to recruit students from Black, Asian, Chicano and Native American communities took on a movement of its own, when a critical mass of Black student filmmakers emerged known as the “L.A. Rebellion.” Includes interviews with Ben Caldwell, Larry Clark, Sandy Osawa, Eddie Wong and more.

Documents the art of stand-up comedy and Indian humor through the experiences of comedian, Charlie Hill. Will Rogers, Steve Allen, Dick Gregory, Floyd Westerman and others are featured.

Documents the art of stand-up comedy and Indian humor through the experiences of comedian, Charlie Hill. Will Rogers, Steve Allen, Dick Gregory, Floyd Westerman and others are featured.

Kikisoblu, Princess Angeline (title and name given her by a white woman), daughter of Chief Seattle, is seen on many postcards and toward the end of her life, she lived alone, refusing to leave her homeland. What historical events led to her being one of the few Duwamish people left in Seattle by the 1890′s, only 35 years after the Treaty of Point Elliott? This video explores the injustices against the Duwamish people and their continually denied tribal status, partially through the life of Kikisoblu.

A Chippewa prophecy foretells a time called the 7th Fire when lost traditions will be recovered. Native American filmmaker Sandra Sunrising Osawa examines how the Chippewa Indians of Northern Wisconsin have struggled to restore the centuries-old tradition of spearfishing — and the heated opposition they have encountered.

A Chippewa prophecy foretells a time called the 7th Fire when lost traditions will be recovered. Native American filmmaker Sandra Sunrising Osawa examines how the Chippewa Indians of Northern Wisconsin have struggled to restore the centuries-old tradition of spearfishing — and the heated opposition they have encountered.

A Chippewa prophecy foretells a time called the 7th Fire when lost traditions will be recovered. Native American filmmaker Sandra Sunrising Osawa examines how the Chippewa Indians of Northern Wisconsin have struggled to restore the centuries-old tradition of spearfishing — and the heated opposition they have encountered.

A look at the life of Native American jazz saxophone pioneer Jim Pepper, the first widely recognized musician to fuse Native American music with jazz.

A look at the life of Native American jazz saxophone pioneer Jim Pepper, the first widely recognized musician to fuse Native American music with jazz.

This program was nominated for an ACE award and aired on The Learning Channel and on PBS as part of the Spirit of Place Series. This timeless production captures an intimate portrait of the traumatic consequences of relocation on one Navajo family. Through Katherine Smith’s eyes and words, as a Navajo matriach, the viewer feels the connection to the land on one of the most remote and traditional places in Indian Country – Big Mountain, Arizona.Broadcast on PBS in ’80.

This program was nominated for an ACE award and aired on The Learning Channel and on PBS as part of the Spirit of Place Series. This timeless production captures an intimate portrait of the traumatic consequences of relocation on one Navajo family. Through Katherine Smith’s eyes and words, as a Navajo matriach, the viewer feels the connection to the land on one of the most remote and traditional places in Indian Country – Big Mountain, Arizona.Broadcast on PBS in ’80.