THE CHIEFS' PROPHECY: Survival of the Northern Cheyenne Nation
Premieres Monday, April 20th at 10:30 p.m. on KUAT 6 & HD
Encore broadcast Saturday, May 9 at 5 p.m. on UA Channel

Leo Killsback (Cheyenne) presents an insider's view of the Northern Cheyenne nation, from the "Sweet Medicine" laws used by tribal elders to lead tribal society to the root problems the nation suffers from today.

The individual approaches of Northern Cheyenne chiefs through different periods of the tribal history are examined, along with their individual, unique approaches to maintaining peace with other groups. and with themselves as a people. Can the Northern Cheyenne heal themselves from the traumas of the war period and the reservation period, while maintaining philosophies of peace and understanding?

Filmed on location in Montana's Northern Cheyenne Nation in December 2008, Killsback tells this story from the people's perspective, offering a tribal view that would have been impossible to capture from the outside looking in.

"I think an outsider would have told an entirely different story," Killsback says. "They would have told a story that didn't pay much attention to the contemporary issues and problems of our people. Our spirituality and culture are ancient. those teachings of peace, virtue, generosity, kindness, humbleness. all these virtues can be applied and should be applied every day, not just in our culture but in every culture."

The Chiefs' Prophecy seeks inspiration from the past as well as a modern solution for the continued survival of the Northern Cheyenne culture.

Note to the viewer: These programs are produced by citizen filmmakers, not professional journalists. The stories are the filmmakers' own, told through their perspective, using their thoughts, words, and images. The opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Arizona Public Media.