Hubbard Lecture to focus on indigenous filmmaking

Bird Runningwater, director of the Sundance Institute’s Native American and Indigenous Program, will present “Our Stories Onscreen: Creating a Narrative with Native Filmmakers” at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Great Plains Art Museum, 12th and Q streets.

The annual Claire M. Hubbard First Peoples of the Plains Lecture, hosted by the University of Nebraska State Museum and Center for Great Plains Studies, is free and open to the public. The lecture will be preceded by a free public reception at 6 p.m.

Runningwater belongs to the Cheyenne and Mescalero Apache Tribes and grew up on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico. Based in Los Angeles, he oversees the Sundance Institute’s Native Filmmakers Lab, Native Producers Fellowship and the Sundance Film Festival’s Native Forum. Runningwater serves on the Comcast/NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Council and the boards of directors of the First Peoples Fund and Illuminative. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

On Oct. 10, Runningwater will discuss the Native American and Indigenous Film Program and its goal to increase indigenous visibility in American culture and media. Representations of Native Americans in film have a long history of stereotypes and generalizations. Runningwater will touch on his experiences in helping indigenous filmmakers bring their stories and voices to the screen.

“The purpose of this annual lecture is to advance the understanding and appreciation of the people of the plains, and we are honored to have Bird Runningwater join us and share his life’s work,” said Susan Weller, director of the NU State Museum.

The Hubbard Lecture is made possible by contributions from Dr. Anne M. Hubbard and the Claire M. Hubbard Foundation, and the museum’s partnership with the Center for Great Plains Studies.

Parking for the event is located in the attached Que Place parking garage, with entrance off 11th and Q streets.

Learn more about the lecture.