Ongoing Genocide of Native Americans Highlighted by Oscar Nominee Lily Gladstone

In her latest film "Fancy Dance," Oscar-nominated actress Lily Gladstone sheds light on the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people in America, particularly women. The movie, which premiered at Sundance last year and is now hitting theaters and streaming platforms, is a work of fiction that resonates like a documentary. Gladstone, who hails from Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage, emphasizes the film's role in highlighting the needs of Indigenous women facing crises like missing and murdered individuals and children placed in non-Native foster care. Gladstone portrays Jax, a struggling woman on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma, grappling with her sister's disappearance and the responsibility of caring for her niece Roki. The film addresses the alarming disappearances of Indigenous women, declared an emergency in Oregon in 2019, yet progress remains slow. InvestigateWest reports a significant number of unsolved cases of missing or murdered Indigenous individuals across the US, with murder being a leading cause of death for Indigenous women under 45. Director Erica Tremblay, a member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, stresses the ongoing genocide against Native Americans, urging for the closure of jurisdictional loopholes and restoration of sovereignty to empower Indigenous communities to protect themselves. Tremblay emphasizes the importance of representation in shedding light on the realities faced by Indigenous communities in North America. The film serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges and injustices Indigenous people continue to endure, calling for greater awareness and action to address these pressing issues.