Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Assistant Professor and Director of Ethnic Studies Justin de Leon is receiving support through multiple grants aimed at reshaping Indigenous representation in media. These initiatives on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) Reservation focus on enhancing mental health and reinforcing cultural identity through storytelling and community filmmaking, enabling them to share their stories and challenge mainstream narratives.

“Historically, the spaces I’ve worked with have been under-resourced politically, economically and socially,” said de Leon. “We focus on how we can create a community-based storytelling environment that tells a community-based or individually-based story in a way that not only allows people to see themselves in the film that we make, but also provides professional training opportunities.”

The foundation of de Leon’s work, supported by a Critical Approaches to Indigenous Relationality (CAIR) grant, centers on “Who Are We,” a short film about mental health within the CRST community. The film explores how a creative sovereignty approach—putting Indigenous voices at the forefront of their own stories—can inspire community healing and act as a tool for both self-representation and cultural affirmation.

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