In the sixth and final segment of this six-part interview, Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie describe their hopes about what outcomes they would like their powerful documentary, Sugarcane, to catalyze. Emily explains that correcting the record, rewriting history, was one of their goals with Sugarcane. To change the conversation, which they have been doing across North America, even in the halls of governmental power in Canada and the United States. The film has also been cathartic for Indigenous peoples around the world, who upon watching it have finally been able to put their own experiences into context and begin talking about what was perpetrated on them by the European colonizers. Julian describes Sugarcane as a significant touchpoint in the medium of documentary and the world of Indigenous cinema and shares his hope that future Indigenous filmmakers, who have something to say, will be inspired to make their own films and continue to spark conversations. This segment also shows the official trailer of Sugarcane, which has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions.
Sugarcane: First Nations’ Resilience and Trauma amid Institutionalized Genocide (6 of 6)
Oscar-nominated filmmakers, Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emilly Kassie, talk about the substantive issues explored in their latest documentary, Sugarcane, including the genocide of Indigenous peoples in North America, Canadian residential schools, European colonialism, and their hopes for their film’s impact.
Other parts of this series
Julian Brave NoiseCat (he) is a writer, Oscar-nominated filmmaker, champion powwow dancer, and student of Salish art and history; his first book, 'We Survived the Night,' will be published by Alfred A. Knopf on October 21, 2025.
Indigenous North America | Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation (of the Secwépemc (Shuswap))
United States
First Resilience
Emily Kassie (she) is an Oscar-, Emmy-, and Peabody-nominated filmmaker and investigative journalist; her work for The New York Times, PBS Frontline, Netflix, and others ranges from America’s immigrant detention system to the Taliban's crackdown on women.
Europe
United States
