Breaking Barriers in Native Filmmaking Jeremy Charles

In this episode of Impact Unfiltered, host Philippe sits down at the Tribal Self-Governance Conference with Jeremy Charles, a Cherokee filmmaker based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and founder of Pursuit Films. For 12 years, he has worked with tribal nations across Indian Country, creating documentaries that highlight sovereignty, culture, and capacity-building.Jeremy shares his philosophy of “storytelling with sovereignty in mind” — building Native capacity to tell Native stories, with sovereignty as the resolution to conflicts at the heart of every narrative. He explains why mainstream audiences are finally listening, the barriers that kept Native filmmakers out of the industry for generations, and how Pursuit Films created the For Our People documentary series to translate dense policy into stories that touch the heart. With reflections on relationship-building, the extra context needed when telling tribal stories, and a clear-eyed thesis that impact follows capacity, this episode is a guide for anyone trying to build authentic Native media.1. Background and Role Jeremy is a Cherokee filmmaker based in Tulsa. He founded Pursuit Films in 2014 and has spent 12 years producing documentaries with tribal self-governance organizations.2. Storytelling With Sovereignty in Mind His conference session framed sovereignty as the resolution to many conflicts facing Indian Country.“Sovereignty leads to positive outcomes… sovereignty is a solution to a lot of challenges.”3. Indian Country’s Complicated History With the Camera For generations, Native peoples were denied the platform to tell their own stories. Only in the last 15–20 years has storytelling capacity grown.“If you are a Gila River citizen, your people should be telling your story.”4. Why Mainstream Is Finally Listening For years, the question was: “Who’s the audience?” Recent shows and documentaries proved the audience exists. With nearly 600 federally recognized tribes, each a distinct culture, Native peoples are now eager to share because people are finally listening.5. Building Capacity in Native Filmmaking Jeremy came up before the digital revolution, when film gear was prohibitively expensive. Today, technology has democratized access. Pursuit Films focuses on putting cameras in young people’s hands and developing storytelling instincts. Technical skills are easier; creativity takes longer.6. The For Our People Documentary Series Working with Tribal Self-Governance for four years, Pursuit Films created a platform to translate policy into relatable stories. Producing at least four films annually, the series premieres at the conference. Subjects see themselves on screen, take the stage, and inspire other tribes.“All these policies have real outcomes and real people’s lives. If we can tell those stories, then more people will listen to the nuances.”7. Storytelling for Tribal Nations Requires Extra ContextMainstream audiences often lack background, so tribal documentaries must provide history up front. Trust takes longer to build, requiring more relationship work and patience.8. Impact Follows Capacity Impact comes after capacity is built. As more artists join, the platform develops naturally.“If you have a great story, people will listen to it and it will break through the noise.”9. How to Connect Learn more at pursuitfilms.com and tribalselfgov.org.10. Closing Remarks and GratitudeThe episode closes with recognition of Jeremy Charles’s work in Native storytelling, appreciation for the capacity he is building across Indian Country, and encouragement to continue making more stories — the great ones will rise.