Marie Clements on Bringing Native American Relocation Story to Screen in 'How We Stand'
Marie Clements' 'How We Stand' dramatizes the 1950s Native American Relocation Program, following a mother and her three daughters who move to Los Angeles only to face poverty and violence. The film, premiering at TIFF, stars Cara Jade Myers and Amber Midthunder. Clements says the story is epic and universal, about seeking a better future.
The film originated as Clements' one-woman stage play, *Tombs of the Vanishing Indian*, commissioned through the Native Voices program at the Autry Museum of the American West. Adapting it for the screen allowed her to incorporate magical realism and indigenous storytelling traditions to confront the historical "Vanishing Indian" myth.
The narrative spans two decades, following the sisters through separate foster homes into 1970s Los Angeles, where each confronts distinct forms of historical injustice — from Hollywood stereotyping to forced sterilization practices in community clinics. The film premieres at TIFF on September 13, with a cast including Darren Mann, Gary Farmer, and Gil Bellows.
This film could reshape how mainstream audiences understand mid-century U.S. relocation policies and their lasting consequences for indigenous communities. By dramatizing systemic injustices like sterilization and cultural erasure, it may prompt viewers to examine how historical government decisions continue to affect native families today. The TIFF premiere could also elevate indigenous filmmaking voices within the broader entertainment industry.