Vision Maker Media (VMM) (theross.org) has been sharing Native stories since 1976 to educate, inspire, and strengthen understanding among audiences of all ages. VMM has become the nation’s leading source of content by and about Indigenous people for public broadcasting. As public media evolves, VMM remains committed to stories that celebrate community, honor generational wisdom, and nurture deep connections through shared values. Educational programs like the Native American Film Series and iNative Shorts for Kids advance this mission.
The Native American Film Series at The Ross Theater will feature Games of the North on December 8. This film follows four Inuit athletes as they compete in traditional games of strength, endurance, and skill. Events such as high kicking and seal hopping once ensured survival in the harsh Arctic. Acrobatic and explosive, these contests strengthen mind, body, and spirit while maintaining Alaska Native values. As change comes to the North, the athletes’’ stories reveal why the games still matter today.
For free tickets, visit theross.org.
VMM’s iNative Shorts for Kids YouTube channel features short, engaging episodes designed for students in grades 1-6. December’s theme is “Storytelling.” The three videos in this series show how the Kiowa, Aleut, and Muwekma Ohlone share their histories through narrative, dance, and objects that carry memory across generations. These videos invite young viewers to listen, learn, and discover the world through Indigenous perspectives.
Explore the series at youtube.com/@iNativeShortsforKids.