The film “You’re No Indian” calls attention to a modern- day crisis and a rarely told story of identity, belonging and accountability within native communities across the United States. Screenings of the independently filmed documentary were shown from Jan. 24-25 at Regal Fresno Riverpark. 

Executive-produced by Academy Award winners Wes Studi and Tantoo Cardinal and directed by Ryan Flynn, it follows several native individuals from across the western U.S. and their struggles after going through a process known as “tribal disenrollment.” 

Tribal disenrollment involves stripping an individual of their tribal citizenship and barring them and any of their future descendants from accessing the benefits of belonging to a tribe. When this happens, often entire families can be ousted from their tribe due to just one relative, dead or alive, being disenrolled. 

“The cases that we focus on [in the film] are rightful members being wrongfully removed from their tribes…it’s reported to us that this is often for either financial or political gain,” Flynn said in an interview with The Collegian. 

The process is brutal to those who go through it, as not only is their title stripped but their incomes, housing and insurance as well. 

Having lived through her family’s disenrollment, film producer Santana Rabang of the Noosack 306 tribe described her experience. 

“I explain it as the most traumatizing experience that I’ve ever went through in my life,” Rabang said. 

During her late teen years she was raised through strong political debates and a demeaning mental state. She felt as though there was always a constant nagging in her head telling her she did not belong, breaking her mind down at times. 

“You have to pick yourself back up when you hit absolute rock bottom and remind yourself who you are, where you come from,” she said. “That’s something that they could never take away from me.” 

In the film, tribes from across the western U.S were mentioned; one that was prominently featured was the Chukchansi tribe here in the Central Valley. Like many other tribes mentioned, their shifting political landscape and policies have led to the tribe’s leaders disenrolling hundreds of members, upending the lives of many. 

Disenrollment is not just devastating to the livelihood of entire families, but is often a life-or-death situation, according to Flynn. 

Elders within tribes who are disenrolled may have lasting health conditions that need constant treatment. When losing their housing and medical care that comes with the tribal benefits, they can lose their lives. 

Suicide among tribal members was also apparent. The harsh mental battles after being disenrolled were sometimes extremely intense, as shown in the film. 

However, even though these people suffer, there is absolutely zero recourse against these native leaders due to their sovereign status. 

“I don’t even know how to explain the devastation that we’ve seen move through Indian countries in the United States because of greed and the pursuit of power,” Flynn said. 

During the film’s conception and release, those in power have been trying to silence its message and keep it from the eyes of the public as well. 

While filming, tribal police would follow around the film crew, have their photos sent around to expose their identities and even issued a cease and desist order during production.

One of the first major screenings was also barred from showing in Palm Springs International. According to Flynn, this was due to what the filmmakers found out to be the Agua Caliente Tribe pressuring the venue to shut down the screens at the last minute, and called it a “scheduling issue.” 

Most recently, another cease and desist order was received, post-release, by Marc Macarro, a powerful and prominent figure within the native community in California and a figure who is featured in the film. 

“There is an actual response from people on the other side when you stand up and use your voice,” Rabang said. “You’re retaliated against and you’ve become a target.” 

Viewers of the film are encouraged to spark conversations around disenrollment and the effects it has on native individuals and families across the country. For more information on the film and future screenings, visit their website.

Correction: This story was updated on Jan. 25 to reflect the correct spelling of Wes Studi’s name.