Remaining Native is a sincere, unique presentation of the continued struggle of indigenous people in the United States, using one boy’s journey as a microcosm of their treatment in the country.
Director: Paige Bethmann
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 85′
SXSW World Premiere: March 7, with more screenings on March 8-11, 2025
U.S. Release Date: TBA
U.K. Release Date: TBA
How far would you go for your dreams? What motivates you to pursue your passions? Remaining Native, a documentary that has just had its World Premiere at South by Southwest, addresses these questions and more through the lens of one superstar athlete and how he turned his main interest into a way to reconnect with his history, and also a way to help other people find theirs. It is a fascinating document and a solid revelation of how many stories continue to go unreported in American history.
Remaining Native is about Kutoven “Ku” Stevens, a seventeen year-old senior from the Yerington Paiute Tribe in Yerington, Nevada. Stevens is the only member of his school’s cross country team, but he took that motivation to win the state championship and be recruited by the University of Oregon. While his athletic prowess is notable, there is a greater, more personal reason why he runs. Stevens’ identity as a Native American is strong within him, and he uses this identity to connect with his family history, including the most tragic part of it.
As recently as the early twentieth century, the United States ran an oppressive and strict residential school program for indigenous children. The message was to “civilize” them and make them functional members of American society, but with physically and sexually abusive practices. Stevens’ grandfather, Frank “Togo’o” Quinn, ran from Stewart Indian School. His run back to the Paiute reservation was a grand total of fifty miles on his third and most successful attempt. This is the perfect motivator for Ku Stevens to not only keep running, but learn about teamwork and personal connections in a sport usually done solo.
Rather than run from his Native identity, Ku Stevens runs with it. He organizes a group and puts together a unique event called the Remembrance Run. Stevens gathers several other indigenous runners to run the same track run by his grandfather and discover what really went on in those residential schools. This is a kid who had to earn every honor he received through hard work and tenacity, and this is no exception. He uses his hardship and leadership abilities to put together something great and attempt the journey of a lifetime. Ku’s story can serve as a motivator for any of us about how all our dreams are possible as long as we make them a major priority.
The story of Remaining Native is heartwarming and would have been unbelievable had it not been made into a documentary. Having one kid from a small high school organize a nationwide run for remembrance sounds crazy at first, but Ku Stevens is able to get it together. His run also promotes a lesser known part of history which is important to understand to grasp the true scope of American imperialism. America’s history of the residential school systems is underreported, at least in comparison to the similar programs in Canada. The abuse of indigenous children in the school system is often overshadowed by the actual wars and unfair deals made over land, but the schools were a part of it as well. With Ku Stevens’ Remembrance Run gaining media attention, this is a good showcase of the often ignored part of Native American history.
Remaining Native is a reminder to all of us that we can either run from the past or learn from it. It takes what could be considered a simple underdog story and adds several layers to the telling of the tale. Ideas of depression, family trauma, perseverance, and community ties make it a commendable effort and a great exploration of the plight of indigenous North Americans, and how in many ways it continues today.
Remaining Native: Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
Seventeen year old senior Kutoven “Ku” Stevens is the solo runner at his high school, and has no coach. Needing to be seen by his dream university, he trains to attempt the journey of a lifetime. As he does that, the memory of his great-grandfather, who ran 50 miles across the desert to escape an Indian boarding school when he was 8, resurfaces. Ku embraces his Native identity and runs with it, reconnecting with his family history.
Pros:
- Compelling story with a lead you want to root for
- Informative about a dark period in history
- Gives a new perspective on a marginalized group
Cons:
- Discussion of serious topics like child abuse might trigger some
- A little slow in its presentation
Remaining Native had its World Premiere at SXSW on March 7, 2025 and will be screened at South By Southwest again on March 8-11. Read our SXSW reviews!
