First Nations Films educational documentary resources
First Nations Films

First Nations Films has specialized in the creation of First Nations documentaries for over 30 years. As a multi-award-winning production team we write, shoot, produce, direct and edit.

With our many years of experience in professional broadcast television, we create professional films respected internationally. We have extensive knowledge of traditional TV as well as media for the web and expertise in digital approaches to video production and direction.

We have won many prestigious awards for documentaries.

Award-Winning Productions

First Nations Films has received recognition from film festivals, broadcasters and professional organizations for documentary storytelling and production.

American Indian Film Festival award

American Indian Film Festival

CanPro award

CanPro — Silver Medal

Canadian Cable TV Association award

Canadian Cable TV Association

Native American Journalists Association award

Native American Journalists Association

Dream Speakers award

Dream Speakers

Native Spirit award

Buckskin Video Festival / Native Spirit

First Nations Films — Since 1998

First Nations Films creates and distributes award-winning television documentary films for, by and about Indigenous people — Sharing Our Stories!

Our exclusive programs are distributed to broadcasters, schools, libraries, universities and other individuals and institutions throughout the world.

Specializing in the inception, creation and distribution of hard-to-write television, video and educational programs about native people is First Nations Films.

Through our reputation for the creation of award-winning insightful and quality programs FIRST NATIONS FILMS has become a force in the Global market and continues to create works of excellence!

We work with broadcasters, educational institutions, libraries, universities, Indigenous communities and individuals who are looking for professionally produced documentary programming.

People Love Our Films!

Our documentaries have been seen by audiences through television, schools, universities, libraries and Indigenous communities around the world.

We believe that powerful stories can create understanding. Our films are made to share knowledge, encourage conversation and build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Our stories are told with respect — bringing forward real experiences, history, culture, identity, community, hardship and resilience.

We Make Films Too!

Professional video camera

Video is the medium of education and entertainment. YouTube is now the second largest searched engine on the internet.

From concept, through pre-production to writing, shooting and editing with special effects — we work with you, utilizing our years of television experience, to create just the right video product for you and for your budget.

First Nations Films — contact us to discuss bringing your film ideas to life.

richard@firstnationsfilms.com

Richard Hersley — Managing Producer

Richard is a professional broadcast television producer, director, photographer and editor with over 35 years hands-on experience in all elements of professional broadcast production.

He has worked with and created films for First Nations and First Nations communities for over 30 years and has promoted and distributed First Nations documentaries to educational institutions for over 25 years.

Richard has worked tirelessly for his whole career to bring out the truth about First Nations in Canada.

Select Works

  • MAKING TREATIES IN BC — GLOBAL TV
    Director / Shooter / Editor — On understanding modern treaties.
  • WHOSE LAND IS THIS? — GLOBAL TV
    Co-Director / Shooter / Co-Editor — On the Native land question in BC.
  • NATIVE WOMEN: POLITICS — GLOBAL
    Director / Shooter / Editor — On the changing roles of Native Women.
  • BEAT OF THE DRUM — 4 SIGHT — BCTV
    Director / Writer / Shooter / Editor — Profiling Native musicians.
  • THE MEDICINE WHEEL — 4 SIGHT — BCTV
    Director / Editor / Shooter — On Native spirituality and ceremony.
  • ECHOES OF THE SISTERS — KNOWLEDGE NETWORK
    Director / Shooter / Editor — On breast cancer and Native women.
  • CIRCLES OF LIFE — SPACE
    In production — Producer / Director / Writer — On the meaning of the ancient stone circles in Canada.
  • BOUNDARIES — GLOBAL
    In production — Producer / Director / Writer — The Indian "business" in Canada.

Our Films

First Nations Films distributes an extensive collection of educational documentaries and dramas for, by and about First Nations people.

THE MEDICINE WHEEL A secret look into Native spirituality — documentary — 25 min.
WHOSE LAND IS THIS? The truth about land ownership — documentary — 45 min.
MAKING TREATIES Truthful history of treaty making in Canada — documentary — 45 min.
NATIVE WOMEN: POLITICS Truthful history of Aboriginal women — documentary — 25 min.
LIFE ON THE RESERVE An inside look at real life on the Rez — documentary — 24 min.
FIRST NATIONS HISTORY — OLIVE DICKASON The truth — documentary — 45 min.
LIVING IN TWO WORLDS How Native people see ourselves — documentary — 25 min.
BEAT OF THE DRUM Inside Native music — traditional to modern — documentary — 25 min.
OUR HEALING JOURNEY A Journey of Change — documentary — 51 min.
FIRST NATIONS ROLE MODELS Profiling success stories! — documentary — 25 min.
THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS Native stories about the schools — documentary — 25 min.
SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE Caretakers of the land — documentary — 60 min.
RECLAIMING OUR CHILDREN Getting our children back! — documentary — 25 min.
SHOWING THE CHILDREN Feature educational documentary — 58 min.
THE RUNNING PEOPLE — GOSHEN Staying healthy! — documentary — 85 min.
NATIVE YOUNG! Young Native people today — their concerns — documentary — 30 min.
THE MEDICINE PEOPLE First Nations secret ceremonies — documentary — 38 min.
OUR FIRES STILL BURN The Native experience — documentary — 60 min.
JOURNEY OF HOPE Life altering experiences! — documentary — 60 min.
THE DUGOUT Community working together — documentary — 75 min.
WE ARE THE SOLUTION! NANABOZHUNG Documentary — 75 min.
THE CREATOR'S GAME — LACROSSE Documentary — 25 min.
WATCHERS OF THE NORTH Action documentary series! — 6 part series — 28 min. per program.
NATIVE ARTS! — CEDAR HAT WEAVING Documentary.
NATIVE ARTS! — THE PIPEMAKERS Documentary — 40 min.
NATIVE ARTS! — MAKING A DRUM! Documentary — 30 min.
SACRED BUFFALO PEOPLE Our lives depend on the buffalo — documentary — 36 min.
VANISHING LINK Retracing her roots — documentary — 60 min.
STORYTELLERS Stories of exciting times and people — documentary — 40 min.
DECEPTION OF FREEDOM Are we being treated fairly? — documentary — 25 min.
WELLNESS — SUICIDE IS NOT THE FIRST NATIONS WAY! Documentary — 30 min.
WELLNESS — HIV IF THERE IS A WILL ... Documentary — 25 min.
WELLNESS — BREAST CANCER Cancer and emotional inspiration — documentary — 30 min.
RISE OF THE SALMON PEOPLE Environmental concerns — documentary — 30 min.
FIRST NATIONS DANCE! — IN SEARCH OF HAMAT'SA Documentary — 35 min. Tale of dance and headhunting! — 33 min.
DRAMA! — UNBOWED Persistence and Truth — drama — 90 min.
DRAMA! — SHANA — THE WOLF'S MUSIC Feature educational drama — 95 min.
DRAMA! — DANCING ON THE MOON Finding Ourselves — drama — 60 min.
DRAMA — SLEEPDANCER Drama.

Series Broadcast TV

  • ABORIGINAL RIGHTS — GLOBAL
    3 programs — Director / Shooter / Editor
  • 4 SIGHT — BCTV
    4 programs — Director / Shooter / Co-Writer
  • INDIGENI — GLOBAL
    Pilot — Director / Shooter / Story Editor
  • THE ARTIST: SERIES — CKY
    39 programs — Editor / Writer / Director
  • GENERATION — MOFFAT
    39 programs — Producer / Director / Editor / Shooter
  • CONSUMER ADVICE — MOFFAT
    52 programs — Producer / Writer / Editor / Shooter

Sharing Our Stories

Cherished by broadcasters, schools, libraries, universities, individuals and institutions throughout the world.

Award-winning television documentaries and dramas. Sharing Our Stories! For, By and About First Nations People.

First Nations Films distributes our exclusive collection of educational films all over the world!

Our films come with Public Performance Rights. Standard streaming prices are posted but we will do our best to fit prices to your needs.

Video Production

Professional video production camera

Video is the medium of education and entertainment. YouTube is now the second largest searched engine on the internet.

From concept, through pre-production to writing, shooting and editing with special effects — we work with you, utilizing our years of television experience, to create just the right video product for you and for your budget.

First Nations Films — contact us to discuss bringing your film ideas to life.

richard@firstnationsfilms.com