Independent Indigenous

A feature documentary film

Independent Indigenous is a 70-minute documentary film that follows the lives of two indigenous women from different tribes and parts of the world. The film aims to highlight each woman's daily life, with a Kuna woman living in complete independence and a Sámi woman living under colonialism.

The intention of this documentary feature film is to build bridges between indigenous minorities and shed light on the struggles and triumphs of indigenous communities in different parts of the world. The film follows the stories of two remarkable representative women from their tribes: a woman from the Kuna people in Kuna Yala (San Blas), Panama, and a woman from the Sámi people in the north of Sweden. The film is produced and directed by Christel Elsayah.

Independent Indigenous

Building bridges between two

different indigenous communities

  • Kuna

    The Kuna People, Indigenous tribe located in Panama

    Independent Indigenous is a powerful film that offers viewers a glimpse into the different struggles that are faced by indigenous communities through the life perspective of the everyday lives of two indigenous women, one in Panama and one in Sweden.

    The Kuna people face completely different challenges than the indigenous Sámi people of Scandinavia. Through the eyes of these two remarkable women, the film sheds light on the unique challenges faced by women who strive for independence and self-determination.

  • Samiska

    The Sámi People, Indigenous tribe located in Lapland

    The film features a representative indigenous woman from the Sámí community, who is living in a state of colonialism. By sharing the stories of these two women, the film highlights the differences in their life situations and experiences of independence and oppression.

The Kuna people have been independent since 1925, living in their own territory with their own rules and laws, governed by their own congress of the Kuna community in Panama. On the other hand, the Sámi people are still struggling to protect their territory, making them victims of ongoing colonization.

Through their stories, "Independent Indigenous" delves into the importance of independent territory for indigenous people, cultural preservation, roots, and indigenous autonomy. The documentary aims to raise awareness about these critical issues and make a meaningful impact by advocating for the rights and autonomy of indigenous communities.

Filming Indigenous Documentary

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The documentary will have its premiere at the private four-day event Independent Indigenous Festival.

This film project was born out of passion and dedication, self-started, and funded by the producer and director, Christel Elsayah.

We turn our voice to our worldwide tribe and community for help and support. We need your support to bring this story to a wider audience. The documentary "Independent Indigenous" sheds light on an important social issue and aims to raise awareness and inspire action.

Your donation, no matter how much, can make a big difference in helping us reach our goals. We are grateful for any support you can offer, whether it's through a financial contribution or sharing our page about "Independent Indigenous" with your network and on social media.

Thank you for supporting us and becoming a part of this community!

RSVP

RSVP

We believe that through the power of film, we can make a positive impact in our community and beyond.

The documentary will be screened during a 4-day event, the Independent Indigenous Festival in Sweden. We’ll also host a webinar, a Q&A special with director Christel Elsayah which can be joined by people anywhere in the world.

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