Jeanette Centeno

The Hulu documentary, Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae Aquash (produced by Amy Kaufman, Caroline Waterloo, Ezra Edelman and Riva Marker.) tells the story of a Mi’Kmaq warrior woman, whose unsolved murder sparked a 30 year investigation. The tumultuous political climate of the 70’s, along with the complex….

In “Killers of The Flower Moon,” Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of David Grann’s 2017 book, a dark chapter in American history is brought to life on the silver screen. The film delves into the gruesome murders of wealthy Osage people in 1920s Oklahoma, triggered by the discovery of oil on their….

Music is described as the sound that translates emotion through elements of rhythm, song, and harmony. In indigenous culture, music is the soundtrack of our stories. Tribal Nations use music to express emotions, tell stories, pray, and communicate with loved ones. Traditional instruments like the flute and drums and our….

Recent Hollywood hits like Oppenheimer, Barbie, and Marvel movies create worlds where many see themselves and can relate to the characters and storyline.  However, the problem with modern media and movies, is that indigenous people are always left out of the story. We are somehow stuck in a monolithic storyline….

By now, most of us have heard of some university or corporation having a land acknowledgment ceremony but what exactly is land acknowledgment? According to Northwestern University: Land acknowledgement or territory acknowledgement, is a formal statement that recognizes the indigenous people of that land. Furthermore, it highlights the existing ties….

Warriors are made out of struggle and in Native culture, legends play an essential role in how we organize, defend, and take care of one another. We organize to seek change in our communities filled with violence, injustice, racism, and crime. One such organization was The American Indian Movement, founded….

By now, most of us have heard the story of Andreas Garcia, a Native American boy who got his hair cut by classmates, against his will. The news splashed across many news outlets and yet the real issue is still unresolved. Garcia (Kickapoo Nation) was visibly shaken and angry when….

We all know by now that the Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA), which makes it difficult to separate Native American children from their families, tribes and indigenous heritage. Despite having support from both Republican and Democratic….

Cliff Matias remembers arriving with his team in Standing Rock in 2016, during the Dakota Access Pipeline Protests (#NoDAPL). The protests erupted as a grassroots opposition to the construction of Energy Transfer Partners’ Dakota Access Pipeline. 5yrs ago I was in Standing Rock with the water protectors. The fight to….

Veterans Day is the one day a year, we set aside to honor our military heroes that have fought and died in order to protect the people. Sadly, the United States has a complex history with indigenous veterans, failing to properly acknowledge their sacrifice and often times ignoring their patriotism…..

The hit series “Reservation Dogs,” created by Sterling Harjo and Taika Waititi, has accomplished something few other shows have: it’s managed to introduce a mainstream audience to Native American culture without leaning on reductionist stereotypes. The third and final season is now streaming on Hulu!  Sad to see this show….

The disappearance of Gabby Petito on September 11, 2021, in Wyoming, garnered mass media coverage and unwavering support like I’ve never seen. The fact is, according to U.S. Department of Justice, 710 indigenous women have vanished in Wyoming within the last ten years and none have gotten mass media coverage,….