This documentary starts with a quote from Layli Long Soldier that sums up what this film truly means. “The Oceti Sakowin are Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota People together. These are the names we have called ourselves for thousands of years, which are still used today and often preferred. At times the word Sioux, Indian, American Indian,  or Native American are used to identify us, though we never forget their origins in colonizers’ contact and language. All are familiar terms, used by Native and non-Native people alike. Yet most certainly we remain Oceti Sakowig whatever context or language we speak in. “

Like a lot of documentaries, this one has talking heads, archival footage, newsreel footage, animation, and footage from movies. Also, it features quite a bit of beautiful footage of the land as it is today. Weirdly it also has intermissions like in the movies. It brings up some famous locations involving Native American people.  Namely the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, wounded knee, South Dakota, and standing rock. Mostly it’s a history lesson about the persecution of Native American people in this country’s past. 

Quite a few terms are used to describe what happened to the Native American people. Some of them are as follows: peace treaties, violated treaties, illegal land seizure, control over Native Americans, colonizing them, still at war today, and sovereignty. X marks swindling, landgrab, forced dependency, deceit, and dishonor, All of these terms are like wounds to the Native American people. It’s a shame we did this to these people to further our existence and make ourselves rich at the expense of this nation of people. 

The film is cut into three segments separated by the aforementioned intermissions. The three segments are Extermination Pt 1, Assilalastion Pt 2, and Reparation Pt 3, These three segments represent the three phases of what these people have gone through and are going through today. I liked this way of telling this story. Through these three segments, a lot of information was able to be shown to me and others watching this documentary.

As mentioned there are a lot of talking heads who represent the Native American race in this film and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention as many of them as I could in my review. The narrator and voice of the Lakota people is Layli Long Soldier Oglala Lakota And these are a bunch of others who are featured in the documentary. Nick Estes Nicanga Lakota, Mary Kathryn Nagle Cherokee Nation, Milo Yellow Hair Oglata Lakota, Krystal Two Bulls Northern Cheyenne & Oglala Lakota, Phyllis Young Hunkpapa Lakota, Nick Tilson Oglata Lakota, Henry Red Cloud Oglala Lakota, Craig Howe Oglata Lakota, Alex Romero Fredrick Oglata Lakota, Candy Brings Plenty Oglala Lakota, All of these men and women had a lot to say about the history of their people the Oglala Lakota.

The film talks about quite a bit of American history. A lot of it is pretty ugly regarding Native American people. Acts and treaties are a big part of that but so are broken treaties, promises, and war. War involving General George Custer, Custer’s Last Stand, and various other events throughout history. The gold rush and money of various amounts were offered for land but never received by the Native American people. They just wanted their land back. No amount of money could replace what they deem is rightfully theirs. 

The American people went as far as killing off Buffalo and forcing Native Americans into boarding schools so they can become dependent on us. Teaching them how to read and write and so forth led them to be allies in our wars as code talkers but it never made them forget what was rightfully theirs. The Black Hills and all the millions of acres they agreed where there’s a hundred and fifty years ago or so. That will always be their mission in life.

Lakota Nation vs United States is one of the best films of the year so far. It’s not only a history lesson for those that watched it it’s justice in the form of a film. All the various ways the directors Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomiselli have used to make this documentary are terrific. They have crafted a masterpiece of filmmaking. All the information people need to know about this story is in full effect here. I don’t think anybody could have done this story any better. This is a must see and one of the best films of this year. I loved this film. I felt like I went back to school to get a much deserved learning.

5 stars

Dan Skip Allen