January 2025

Join us as we honor our matriarchs, both behind the scenes and on screen, in Indigenous media.

The Treaty Day Film Festival is an annual Indigenous film festival that educates and unites communities through Indigenous perspectives on issues like environmental conservation and treaty rights. Commemorating the 1855 Point Elliott Treaty, the festival engages students, Tribal members, and the public through film screenings and Q&A sessions.

This is our 7th annual festival that’s expanded to 7 days, featuring 12 films, and serving communities across Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, and Tulalip. We hope you can celebrate treaty day with us.

TDFF 2025 Films

The Basket Lady

A film by Dominique McFarlane

In the Pacific Northwest, the Coast Salish people tell stories of The Basket Lady, a dark figure lurking in the forest undergrowth. She watches silently, with pitch in hand to blind her prey, and a large cedar basket to swiftly carry away disobedient children.  Will and Dakota, two young girls on the reservation laugh off warnings of the Pitch Witch as just another scary story meant to keep kids in line.  However, as their rebellion continues, they soon realize the chilling reality for those who don’t listen to their Elders.

  • Tribal Community Screening
    Silver Reef Casino, Lummi Nation
    Thursday, January 23rd
    6:00PM

Sleeping Bear

A film by Johanna Oswald

A mother bear and her two cubs escape one threat, only to be thrown into another. This retelling of an Odawa legend shows the love mother has for her babies, at any cost.

  • Tribal Community Screening
    Silver Reef Casino, Lummi Nation
    Thursday, January 23rd
    6:05PM

Story Pole

A film by Children of the Setting Sun Productions

Story Pole chronicles the journey of a ceremonial totem pole that embodies the rich cultural legacy of the Coast Salish peoples. Originally carved by the late Lummi Elder Samuel Cagey Jr., the pole's completion by artist Jason LaClair becomes a unifying symbol of community, education, and Indigenous artistry. Through its home at the QwotQwem Gallery in Bellingham, the film captures the pole’s role in art walks, carving demonstrations, and its connection with local schools, weaving together stories of tradition, creativity, and collective effort. With fundraising underway to bring this powerful symbol to completion, Story Pole serves as a testament to the enduring spirit and heritage of the Lummi Nation and Coast Salish communities.

Resident Orca

A film by Sarah Sharkey Pearce & Simon Schneider

Resident Orca tells the shocking true story of a captive whale’s fight for survival and freedom. After decades of failed attempts to bring her home, an unlikely partnership between Indigenous matriarchs, a billionaire philanthropist, killer whale experts, and the aquarium’s new owner take on the herculean task of freeing Lolita, captured 53 years ago as a child, only to spend the rest of her life performing in the smallest killer whale tank in North America. When Lolita falls ill under troubling circumstances, her advocates are faced with a painful question: is it too late to save her?

  • Tribal Community Screening
    Silver Reef Casino, Lummi Nation
    Thursday, January 23rd
    6:55PM

Salmon People Gathering:
Klamath River

A film by Children of the Setting Sun Productions

In the Pacific Northwest, the Salmon People share an ancient bond with the salmon, sustaining their communities for generations. Today, this sacred connection faces threats from environmental changes and broken treaties. The Salmon People Project, led by CSSP, tells this story of resilience and hope through a three-pronged approach of storytelling, gatherings, and research. This film shows highlights from our women water warriors at the annual Salmon People Gathering, which was along the Klamath River in 2024.

Weaving the Path

A film by Cristóbal Ruiz

Weaving the Path is a 2021 short documentary that features Debra Sparrow, a member of the Musqueam people, who revitalizes the traditional blanket-weaving practices of the Coast Salish communities. Through her "Blanketing the City" initiative, Sparrow adorns Vancouver with vibrant, intricate designs that reflect her cultural heritage. Each blanket she creates serves as a bridge to her ancestors, reinforcing the significance of weaving as a vital aspect of the Musqueam way of life.

We Ride for Her

A film by Prairie Rose Seminole and Katrina Lillian

We Ride for Her is a documentary following the Medicine Wheel Ride, an Indigenous women's motorcycle group working to raise awareness about the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). The film centers on Heather Taken Alive, a member of the group searching for her missing sister, Susan Chief Eagle. The crisis is highlighted by alarming statistics, including that over 5,500 Indigenous women are missing or murdered in the U.S., and Native women experience violence at a disproportionately high rate. This documentary sheds light on the systemic issues surrounding MMIW and calls for justice and action. It’s part of a broader movement, and profits from the film support Indigenous communities.

The Sound

A film by Children of the Setting Sun Productions

The Sound is a short series produced by Children of the Setting Sun Productions that explores themes of identity, cultural connection, and the experience of Indigenous people. The series features characters navigating personal struggles and growth while reflecting on their heritage and the importance of community. Through immersive storytelling and a focus on sound design, The Sound highlights the ways in which the natural world, ancestral knowledge, and modern challenges intersect in the lives of Indigenous individuals. The series provides an intimate portrayal of emotional and cultural resilience.

  • Tribal Community Screening*
    Hibulb Cultural Center, Tulalip, WA
    Tuesday, February 6th
    7:10PM

Westshore

A film by Children of the Setting Sun Productions

Westshore is a film by Children of the Setting Sun Productions that centers around the struggles and resilience of a Native American community living in the Pacific Northwest. The film follows the lives of its main characters as they navigate issues such as cultural displacement, environmental threats, and personal trauma. With a focus on family, tradition, and the relationship to the land, Westshore explores the complex intersections of contemporary life and Indigenous heritage. Through its emotional storytelling and strong sense of place, the film brings attention to the enduring strength of the community and the importance of preserving cultural identity in the face of external challenges.

  • Tribal Community Screening*
    Hibulb Cultural Center, Tulalip, WA
    Tuesday, February 6th
    5:30PM - 8PM