More Than A Word Documentary

Háu mitákuyepi! (Hello my relatives!)

My brother and I are working on a documentary on the Washington name controversy. We are both enrolled members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and need your support! Here is a brief bio on both of us:

Kenn Little earned his B.S. in Graphic Design and New Media from Full Sail University. He has designed and completed several album covers, band logos, and music videos. He was nominated for Graphic Designer of the Year in the Midwest Music Awards in 2013 and Videographer of the Year in 2014. John Little earned his B.A. and M.A. in History from South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota. He is currently a history PhD student at the University of Minnesota.

We began filming in 2014, which included the Change the Name rally in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the 2015 Chiefs rally. Our documentary focuses on the controversial Washington team name: the R*dskins. To produce this documentary, we have collaborated under the name Black Tongue Dakota Films. The name is derived from the name of our father’s drum group and is a way for us to continue the tradition.


Over the last year, controversy over the Washington team name has received coverage on a variety of news stations. It has long been a big issue in Indian Country. Despite the increased attention and awareness, we feel that there are still too many non-Native people who do not fully understand the importance of changing the name. The idea that Native culture has remained static and failed to survive into the twenty-first century still haunts us

In our documentary, we hope to include as many perspectives as possible. We have corresponded with and interviewed Native activists as well as supporters of the R*dskins and Chiefs. We believe that the inclusion rather than the exclusion of multiple perspectives will demonstrate the importance of this issue to all involved. We hope to better understand why supporters of the R*dskins are so resistant to dialogue.

The strong positions of the individuals we have already interviewed made it clear that the issue of race-based team mascots needs greater investigation. We believe a documentary that includes the viewpoints of those in favor of the name change and those in favor of keeping it will demonstrate that this issue is More Than A Word. The centrality of Native caricatures to white American identity has roots in American white supremacist violence and colonization. Yet team supporters deny that this history matters in the present debate. We want to examine their position in greater depth.

Growing up in a traditional home, we have been passionate about Native issues our entire lives. Our father started a traditional drum group in the 1960s and 1970s in Denver, Colorado. As a result, we have been aware of Native issues of poverty, tribal sovereignty, and a variety of other issues. We believe in the importance of this issue in Indian Country. But, we also believe that obstacles remain in reaching a broader non-Native audience. We feel that in order to have greater dialogue, we have to put the issue into greater context. We have to better understand why Native caricatures remain important to Chiefs and R*dskin supporters.  Only by seriously engaging both sides can we prepare the ground for sustained dialogue about the hard truths of the past and the present as we continue to work towards a better future.

We need your support to continue this project!

The money raised during this time will be utilized to begin Phase Two of filming, which we would begin in early 2016 in Washington DC. Phase One included filming the rallies, interviewing various activists and fans, and gathering support for this project. Phase Two will include interviews with D.C. located activists as well as Washington name supporters. Historians and academics, who are knowledgeable on the issue and the historical aspects of the word, will also be interviewed. Funds raised will be used to cover equipment and travel costs, as well as any possible fees required to film at some locations. For example, filming at the Smithsonian requires multiple fees to use the location and to interview its personnel.

We would like to give thanks to all of the people that helped make this project possible.These include: Amanda Blackhorse, Tara Houska, Gregg Deal, Charlene Teters, Mike Myers, Johnnie Jae, Joy Hamilton, the many fans that allowed us to interview them, and others. Additional thanks for the University of Minnesota Indigenous Workshop.

We would also like to thank those of You supporting us with monetary donations! Your donations will make this project become a reality. We understand that not everyone can support monetarily but sharing, promoting, and getting the word out are just as valuable.

Phidámayaye do! (Thanks!)









Our first 9 minute demo released January 2015: