John Trudell

John Trudell was an American Indian author, poet, actor, musician, and political activist. He was the spokesperson for the United Indians of All Tribes' takeover of Alcatraz beginning in 1969, broadcasting as Radio Free Alcatraz. During most of the 1970s, he served as the chairman of the American Indian Movement, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After his pregnant wife, three children and mother-in-law were killed in 1979 in a fire at the home of his parents-in-law on the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Nevada, Trudell turned to writing, music and film as a second career. He acted in three films in the 1990s. The documentary Trudell (2005) was made about him and his life as an activist and artist.

Extreme Measures (1996)

Guy Luthan, a British doctor working at a hospital in New York, starts making unwelcome enquiries when the body of a man who died in his emergency room disappears. After the trail leads Luthan to the door of an eminent surgeon at the hospital, Luthan soon finds ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Gene Hackman  •  Sarah Jessica Parker  •  David Morse

Guy Luthan, a British doctor working at a hospital in New York, starts making unwelcome enquiries when the body of a man who died in his emergency room disappears. After the trail leads Luthan to the door of an eminent surgeon at the hospital, Luthan soon finds ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Gene Hackman  •  Sarah Jessica Parker  •  David Morse

On Deadly Ground (1994)

Forrest Taft is an environmental agent who works for the Aegis Oil Company in Alaska. Aegis Oil's corrupt CEO is the kind of person who doesn't care whether or not oil spills into the ocean or onto the land—just as long as it's making money for him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Seagal
CAST:  Steven Seagal  •  Michael Caine  •  Joan Chen  •  John C. McGinley

Forrest Taft is an environmental agent who works for the Aegis Oil Company in Alaska. Aegis Oil's corrupt CEO is the kind of person who doesn't care whether or not oil spills into the ocean or onto the land—just as long as it's making money for him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Seagal
CAST:  Steven Seagal  •  Michael Caine  •  Joan Chen  •  John C. McGinley

Smoke Signals (1998)

Young Native American man Thomas is a nerd in his reservation, wearing oversize glasses and telling everyone stories no-one wants to hear. His parents died in a fire in 1976, and Thomas was saved by Arnold. Arnold soon left his family, and Victor hasn't seen his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Eyre
CAST:  Adam Beach  •  Evan Adams  •  Irene Bedard  •  Gary Farmer

Young Native American man Thomas is a nerd in his reservation, wearing oversize glasses and telling everyone stories no-one wants to hear. His parents died in a fire in 1976, and Thomas was saved by Arnold. Arnold soon left his family, and Victor hasn't seen his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Eyre
CAST:  Adam Beach  •  Evan Adams  •  Irene Bedard  •  Gary Farmer

Dark Blood (2012)

Filmed in 1993 but never completed due to River Phoenix's death, Dark Blood tells the story of Boy, a young widower living on a nuclear testing site in the desert. Boy is waiting for the end of the world and carves Katchina dolls that supposedly contain magical ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Sluizer
CAST:  River Phoenix  •  Jonathan Pryce  •  Judy Davis  •  T. Dan Hopkins

Filmed in 1993 but never completed due to River Phoenix's death, Dark Blood tells the story of Boy, a young widower living on a nuclear testing site in the desert. Boy is waiting for the end of the world and carves Katchina dolls that supposedly contain magical ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Sluizer
CAST:  River Phoenix  •  Jonathan Pryce  •  Judy Davis  •  T. Dan Hopkins

Thunderheart (1992)

An FBI man with Sioux background is sent to a reservation to help with a murder investigation, where he has to come to terms with his heritage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Val Kilmer  •  Sam Shepard  •  Graham Greene  •  Fred Ward

An FBI man with Sioux background is sent to a reservation to help with a murder investigation, where he has to come to terms with his heritage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Val Kilmer  •  Sam Shepard  •  Graham Greene  •  Fred Ward

No More Smoke Signals (2009)

Kili Radio - "Voice of the Lakota Nation" - is broadcast out of a small wooden house that sits isolated on a hill, lost in the vast countryside of South Dakota. It’s a place that’s long forgotten; lying at the crossroads between combat and hope, between the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fanny Bräuning
CAST:  John Trudell  •  Bruce Ellison

Kili Radio - "Voice of the Lakota Nation" - is broadcast out of a small wooden house that sits isolated on a hill, lost in the vast countryside of South Dakota. It’s a place that’s long forgotten; lying at the crossroads between combat and hope, between the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fanny Bräuning
CAST:  John Trudell  •  Bruce Ellison

A Thousand Roads (2005)

The film threads together four stories, taking us into the life of a stressed-out Mohawk stockbroker in Manhattan; a young Inupiat girl sent to live with her grandmother in Barrow, Alaska; a Navajo gang member who must find his core values in his reservation on the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Eyre
CAST:  Jeremiah Bitsui  •  Candice Costello  •  Geraldine Keams  •  Riana Malabed

The film threads together four stories, taking us into the life of a stressed-out Mohawk stockbroker in Manhattan; a young Inupiat girl sent to live with her grandmother in Barrow, Alaska; a Navajo gang member who must find his core values in his reservation on the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Eyre
CAST:  Jeremiah Bitsui  •  Candice Costello  •  Geraldine Keams  •  Riana Malabed

Reel Injun (2010)

The evolution of the depiction of Native Americans in film, from the silent era until today, featuring clips from hundreds of movies and candid interviews with famous directors, writers and actors, Native and non-Native: how their image on the screen transforms the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil Diamond  •  Catherine Bainbridge  •  Jeremiah Hayes
CAST:  Adam Beach  •  Clint Eastwood  •  Charlie Hill  •  Jim Jarmusch

The evolution of the depiction of Native Americans in film, from the silent era until today, featuring clips from hundreds of movies and candid interviews with famous directors, writers and actors, Native and non-Native: how their image on the screen transforms the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil Diamond  •  Catherine Bainbridge  •  Jeremiah Hayes
CAST:  Adam Beach  •  Clint Eastwood  •  Charlie Hill  •  Jim Jarmusch

Dreamkeeper (2003)

In South Dakota, in an Indian reservation, an old storyteller Indian asks his grandson Shane, who is in trouble owing money to some bad guys, to take his old pony and him to Albuquerque to the great powwow, an Indian meeting. While traveling, Grandpa tells ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Barron
CAST:  Victoria Aberdeen  •  George Aguilar  •  Nathaniel Arcand  •  Gerald Auger

In South Dakota, in an Indian reservation, an old storyteller Indian asks his grandson Shane, who is in trouble owing money to some bad guys, to take his old pony and him to Albuquerque to the great powwow, an Indian meeting. While traveling, Grandpa tells ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Barron
CAST:  Victoria Aberdeen  •  George Aguilar  •  Nathaniel Arcand  •  Gerald Auger

Incident at Oglala (1992)

On June 26, 1975, during a period of high tensions on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, two FBI agents were killed in a shootout with a group of Indians. Although several men were charged with killing the agents, only one, Leonard Peltier, was found ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Robert Redford  •  Leonard Peltier  •  Norman Zigrossi  •  Robert Sikma

On June 26, 1975, during a period of high tensions on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, two FBI agents were killed in a shootout with a group of Indians. Although several men were charged with killing the agents, only one, Leonard Peltier, was found ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Robert Redford  •  Leonard Peltier  •  Norman Zigrossi  •  Robert Sikma

Trudell (2005)

A chronicle of legendary Native American poet/activist John Trudell's travels, spoken word performances and politics.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Heather Rae
CAST:  Robert Redford  •  Sam Shepard  •  Jackson Browne  •  Kris Kristofferson

A chronicle of legendary Native American poet/activist John Trudell's travels, spoken word performances and politics.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Heather Rae
CAST:  Robert Redford  •  Sam Shepard  •  Jackson Browne  •  Kris Kristofferson

The 11th Hour (2007)

A look at the state of the global environment including visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet's ecosystems. Featuring ongoing dialogues of experts from all over the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leila Conners  •  Nadia Conners
CAST:  Kenny Ausubel  •  Janine Benyus  •  Sylvia Earle  •  Gloria Flora

A look at the state of the global environment including visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet's ecosystems. Featuring ongoing dialogues of experts from all over the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leila Conners  •  Nadia Conners
CAST:  Kenny Ausubel  •  Janine Benyus  •  Sylvia Earle  •  Gloria Flora

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (2017)

Documentary about the role of Native Americans in popular music history, a little-known story built around the incredible lives and careers of the some of the greatest music legends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Catherine Bainbridge  •  Alfonso Maiorana
CAST:  Robbie Robertson  •  Buffy Sainte-Marie  •  Martin Scorsese  •  John Trudell

Documentary about the role of Native Americans in popular music history, a little-known story built around the incredible lives and careers of the some of the greatest music legends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Catherine Bainbridge  •  Alfonso Maiorana
CAST:  Robbie Robertson  •  Buffy Sainte-Marie  •  Martin Scorsese  •  John Trudell

Powwow Highway (1989)

Two Northern Cheyenne men take a road trip from Montana to New Mexico to bail out the sister of one of them who has been framed and arrested in Santa Fe. On the way, they begin to reconnect to their spiritual heritage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Wacks
CAST:  A Martinez  •  Gary Farmer  •  Joanelle Romero  •  Amanda Wyss

Two Northern Cheyenne men take a road trip from Montana to New Mexico to bail out the sister of one of them who has been framed and arrested in Santa Fe. On the way, they begin to reconnect to their spiritual heritage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Wacks
CAST:  A Martinez  •  Gary Farmer  •  Joanelle Romero  •  Amanda Wyss

Taking Alcatraz (2015)

A documentary account by award-winning filmmaker John Ferry of the events that led up to the 1969 Native American occupation of Alcatraz Island as told by principal organizer, Adam Fortunate Eagle. The story unfolds through Fortunate Eagle's remembrances, archival ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Ferry
CAST:  Adam Fortunate Eagle  •  John Trudell  •  LaNada Means  •  Earl Livermore

A documentary account by award-winning filmmaker John Ferry of the events that led up to the 1969 Native American occupation of Alcatraz Island as told by principal organizer, Adam Fortunate Eagle. The story unfolds through Fortunate Eagle's remembrances, archival ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Ferry
CAST:  Adam Fortunate Eagle  •  John Trudell  •  LaNada Means  •  Earl Livermore

Making A Noise: A Native American Musical Journey with Robbie Robertson (1999)

This doc explores "The Band" guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson's Native American background. Half Mohawk on his mother's side, the film follows him back to the Six Nations reservation in Ontario where he spent summers growing up and picked up his first ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dana Heinz Perry
CAST:  Robbie Robertson  •  Rita Coolidge  •  John Trudell  •  Benito Concha

This doc explores "The Band" guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson's Native American background. Half Mohawk on his mother's side, the film follows him back to the Six Nations reservation in Ontario where he spent summers growing up and picked up his first ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dana Heinz Perry
CAST:  Robbie Robertson  •  Rita Coolidge  •  John Trudell  •  Benito Concha