Film festival offerings look at not being ‘Native enough,’ and protecting a natural treasure

The period between the Golden Globes earlier this month and the Oscars in March might be called movie season. And while Ashland isn’t quite Hollywood, the Wisconsin community does make its mark on the motion picture world with the Big Water Film Festival. 

Held at the Bay Theater last weekend, it continues online through Feb. 2. Two of the films concentrate on Ojibwe culture: “Of Two Worlds,” directed by Mikayla Swanson of Ashland, and “Stories of the Sloughs,” directed by Phil Kraus.

“This is my second documentary, but it will be my first big public screening other than my student showcase,” said Swanson, who completed the film as a senior capstone project at the University of Wisconsin-Superior last year.

Swanson and Kraus, an experienced filmmaker who completed the project as a contract with the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, spoke about their works with WPR’s Robin Washington on “Morning Edition.” 

This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Robin Washington: Why did each of you pick your topics?

Mikayla Swanson: It’s something that I experienced a lot growing up — people questioning my background, my culture, asking if I’m “Native enough.” I’ve had family members experience the same thing. My sister is in this film and she’s blonde haired, blue eyed, fair skinned. My Cousin is another subject, and she has darker hair, darker eyes; more typical looks of a Native American woman. And they both had very different backgrounds growing up. I thought it was an interesting perspective to put out there for viewers and for communities.

Phil Kraus: I don’t have any Native American heritage in my family, but it’s an important part of our culture and history. I previously did some work with the Red Cliff Band to promote the area with tourism videos, and when I saw the request for proposals for helping the Bad River Tribal Museum tell stories of the Kakagon Sloughs, I was really excited. It was a huge honour working with Paula Maday, the producer and the manager of the Bad River Tribal Museum.

RW: You both have local people telling your stories and your films, but are the subject matters of interest to a larger audience?

MS: Anyone who has felt like they were told they’re “not enough” in any aspect can relate to this film. People with all different backgrounds, all different cultures, have reached out and commented to me how hard it hit them. I feel like anyone can take that message and really adapt it to their own life — anytime that they’re told “You aren’t enough, good enough, anything enough.”

PK: The overall idea of tribal sovereignty plays a big role in my film. There’s a huge story about tribes being able to make their own decisions about protecting their land. And I think the Kakagon Sloughs are a big part of that.

If you have an idea about something in northern Wisconsin you think we should talk about on “Morning Edition,” send it to us at northern@wpr.org.