LITTLE CHIEF | Omeleto

A teacher cares for a troubled boy.
LITTLE CHIEF is used with permission from Erica Tremblay. Learn more at erica-tremblay....
Sharon, a young teacher at a school on a Native American reservation, is dedicated to her job and her students in the most deprived of circumstances, even snagging toilet paper from other businesses' restrooms for the school.
But though she cares for her students and school, the work is emotionally draining. But Sharon must dig deep when the most isolated of her students, Bear, needs her the most.
Written and directed by Native American filmmaker Erica Tremblay, this short drama -- which was a selection at Sundance in 2020 -- is a thoughtful, resonant portrait of a relationship between a teacher and student. Offering a snapshot of modern Native American life, it gently captures its strained economic poverty, but it's also a quietly moving story of what it truly means to make a difference in a young person's life.
"Making a difference" is a theme that's often the stuff of tidy, didactic MOVIE OF THE WEEK stories. But the visuals have the feel of an observational documentary and pay intimate, non-judgmental attention to the characters and their world. Pared-down images and an austere naturalism are deployed with great thought and intelligence to put us in the headspace of its strained, weary teacher.
The storytelling and writing are equally as spare, with brief, laconic dialogue and close attention paid to gestures and silence. Sharon's detachment and exhaustion with her students are presented with a certain matter-of-fact understanding, and the story's small, ordinary moments are rich with finely observed details.
In such a spare, almost austere film, performances become an important point of connection for an audience, even as they exist in such a quiet artistic approach. Actor Lily Gladstone plays Sharon with extraordinary honesty and restraint, and isn't afraid to show how embattled and almost rote-like someone can feel in the tiring, draining everyday battles of a teacher trying to do a thankless job with very little support or resources. But when her most challenged student hits a breaking point, she gets a reminder of just how important she is to her students.
Building off the director's experiences of growing up in Oklahoma with her Native schoolteacher mother, LITTLE CHIEF is an exploration of modern Native American life. It's also a tribute to the resilience of teachers, who do a job many say is important, but are rarely provided with resources, power or even appreciation.
Their intrepid commitment in the face of sometimes overwhelming odds is captured here with an unsentimental, unvarnished story of great subtlety and beauty -- one that refuses cheap and easy heroism, instead showing what it means to show up, day after day, in the face of grim realities.

[@feign_]

i'm so happy for her! she is finally getting the recognition she deserves! i'm rooting for her! she's gonna get that academy award for best actress!!!

[@vestascott-carter0815]

I am so looking forward to seeing her ‘win’ well deserved award(s).

[@deniseelalala85]

Shes so so beautiful

[@oishy92]

you should know we failed school when teacher have to provide school supplies. At first i thought she is taking for her but then woww.

[@jebsmith323]

I wonder if the Casino would have given her those supplies if she'd asked.

[@martamarin8688]

@@jebsmith323 may be the first time only

[@phatballet]

​@@jebsmith323I'm assuming she already asked and they laughed at her for needing such things.

[@geraldinegutierrez5058]

​

[@antonioyazzie4615]

I wonder what rez this was filmed on? Reminds me of growing up in northern NM. Same conditions, same economic poverty. I wish we funded schools like we fund these wars.

[@bobp5523]

If it's was at Turkey Ford Elementary School, it's Wyandotte, Oklahoma. Wyandotte Nation.

[@firstnationfall5451]

@@bobp5523 Yes. If you look at the symbols. They are iroquoian and were once part of the iroquoian confederacy and occupied Canada. But due to Europe interference.......well you know the rest of the story.

[@eddieowens9456]

My mother was born and raised in Turkey Ford. She told me about the hard times during the depression.

[@jimhere1]

@@firstnationfall5451 actually we Seneca-Cayuga are still Haudenosaunee.

[@jimhere1]

@@bobp5523 Seneca-Cayuga Nation

[@_Booker_DeWitt]

I think showing the contrast between the opulence of the casino and the disparity of the school/average person on the same reservation was very deliberate. That casino could absolutely invest some of it's millions back into the native community. If the wealthy owners took even a small pay cut, that money could change the lives of the reservation people trapped in generational poverty.

[@Desire123ification]

Be the reason someone smiles today. It's good to help; You might be the only one who does.

[@jimurrata6785]

Thank you for that!

[@myfriendsaremypower]

Ill try!🎆😁

[@janicewebber5584]

I was pleading for the teacher to make the bully pick up EVERY bead...😢

[@DanielAlejandroFuentesToro]

Just saw Killers of the Flower Moon, and I had to see more of Gladstone, she's so amazing.

[@jamesandersonanderson3502]

Wanted more of this film.The acting,and music was great.Thanks.

[@zyrosqrd2552]

The strongest of short work-of-art films, like this one, are exactly that: we wish they were longer (but they're not). Weaker ones can be even shorter time-wise, but even if we like them, we check the clock a few times to see how much longer til the end.

[@kirkramanauskas3232]

I felt like this could have been developed into a full movie which I would have watched and enjoyed. So many directions it could have gone...

[@davidabthewutangfan]

Lily Gladstone! Absolutely wonderful woman, this was a great short

[@popcorn-uz3tn]

Look up the Residential Schools in Canada....America is not the only one who did bad by the Natives.

[@ArissXAS]

Canada is still in America..

[@gregmacdonald3559]

I am a 54 yo caucasian , born and raised in Ontario, Canada. I was in my late 40s until I was made aware of what we did to the indigenous people of this land. It has never really ended, the mistreatment of the Indians. This is my opinion and I did not make this comment for a debate! Thank you for this short. Good stuff! 🇨🇦❤️

[@ArissXAS]

@@gregmacdonald3559 That's true, but when you say "we", do you include yourself in? Did you take action against them too? By action I also mean if you saw things happening and didn't intervine.

[@popcorn-uz3tn]

@@ArissXAS I am pretty sure Greg is saying he didn't find out until they were long closed.

[@popcorn-uz3tn]

@Greg MacDonald I lived Michigan on the Border and have many friends and family in Ontario. You are right no one knew even after the fact the news there kept it hush hush. I think because most Natives lived on the Res or in small rural native communities you can see how many didn't know. I am the same age as you and just found out 2 years ago and most nearly all here in America still don't know about it.

[@kereyvproductions5521]

This was a great short!! Well done everyone! Lily, you continue to show exquisite acting ability!

[@lesliebendall1439]

Why did she only punish his actions to being tormented? The instigator should have been made to help him. Better yet the instigator should have been called out and stopped! What am I missing here?

[@bobp5523]

My thought also. I guess he just didn't get caught.

[@Massiveminion]

Some counselors feel since you cannot outright control the actions of others the best offense/defense is to control the actions of yourself. Learn to not let the actions of others or other people control you. Though I don't believe that bit of counseling resonates quickly with children whose minds are still developing given time and intensity this line of thinking, teaching can work on adults learning new behavioral coping skills. I do agree with your initial thoughts about instigators. As for bullying I don't how it is in Canada but down here south of the 49th Parallel teachers have no say in how rules of behavior are enforced and institutions will not stand with them implementing such. What today's institutions do best is insulate themselves via bureaucratic responsibility layering using weasel-worded lip service, not action(s). Rational reasoning & action-oriented attempts abating bullying over time has been dissolved into passivity thanks to clever lawsuits in the guise of the public good and overwrought emotion mongering; thus, the end result is these little shits aka instigators in schools have been granted the power to determine how educational systems respond to "managing" bullying, authority figures be damned.

[@BananaGrace]

Exactly.

[@jamiecarroll4526]

Maybe toughen him up?

[@medusagorgon8432]

Teachers (and staff), turning a blind eye to bullying within the school system is a major part of why it continues. Cut it at the root! Yes, it can be exhausting to address every single issue...but that’s part of the job! Do it!

[@JarodM]

👍

[@art.of.verser]

I have a couple of friends who are teachers themselves. Compassion is the one particular trait that they wear on their sleeves (no pun intended). Thank you for pointing that out. I'm actually glad I caught this channel.

[@Fumi007]

My issue with authority definitely stems from being bullied in school and teachers just watching it happen. Even worse, when I finally stood up for myself I was the one that got in trouble. I’m 39 and to this day I still do not trust authority figures to do anything other than maintain their authority.

[@SpaceGoneTV]

It's not that simple, I got bullied aftrschool too

[@rosebud0391]

@@SpaceGoneTV I think that is why she doesn't interject. She understands that it is a deeper issue and that interjecting on his part may lead to more bullying. That is the culture in some small towns and there is nothing you can do but sit with them in their pain.

[@cahidijoyoraharjo7833]

It's hard being a teacher.

[@septemberquest6393]

Liked it...lily Gladstone is a fine actress....this could've stretched out a bit more,wondering what happens next...👍👍👍

[@littlejonathorn6860]

Same

[@VieraXXII]

I don't understand the teacher not stopping him from being bullied. I would have asked the kid who threw items at him to pick up the beads. I don't understand this..

[@natalie1991.]

It was frustrating but realistic. Teachers don’t always notice everything that goes on. In this case, she wasn’t paying close attention and didn’t notice the bully.

[@zyrosqrd2552]

These short films are usually not purposed to show characters acting in ways the audience "wants". The best characters are not written as noble heroes (as can be with lazy writing). They're less-than-perfect and trying to get through realistic crappy situations, often in conflict with themselves, struggling to get through when there is no reward (but often punishment) for doing the "right" thing. In other words, real life. The best writing, directing, performing, in my view, makes audiences uncomfortable.

[@wildoceanappaloosawomangay2535]

I’m so glad Lilly has gotten her much -deserved recognition Because of her indigenous looks, her full-figure, took a while Indigenous peoples aka the only real Americans have had so much done to them, the few still alive, by whites I’m full-figure and talented people like Lilly who are proud of their beauty and don’t starve themselves to look horrible like so many Hollywood people do, are creating a new world of authenticity Thank you to Lilly also for supporting and creating indigenous films and artists 💚

[@user-vr9ql7xb6z]

As Part Mexican, Spanish, and Native American a lot of this resonates with me atleast the bullying part I was a bit of a fatty as a child 😂

[@lucapereira4714]

Men im trying to quit smoking , why does every single video i whatched today has someone compulsively smoking xD

[@premkumaralexisjegannathan2474]

I feel you there. Me too.

[@grrrohmy665]

ahaha aw man that sucks! i believe in you though, you can do it, you can quit! it’ll be worth it in the long run remember that

[@mohammedhammam4981]

may you assemble all the will you need to do so

[@vincent47alright10]

goodluck man

[@cadezzni3829]

It‘s called Baader-Meinhof phenomenon

[@jithin2216]

I'm just wondering why the teacher doesn't take any action right there. Obviously she's aware of what's happening in her class...but why does she turn a blind eye to all that??

[@jimurrata6785]

Sometimes in the face of overwhelming troubles you have to pick and choose your battles.

[@ArissXAS]

@@jimurrata6785 what if the battle choose you, like in this case, and what if the battles are too much for you alone? I grew up in eastern Europe, I know how it is to be the strange kid in a school full of bullies.

[@jimurrata6785]

@@ArissXAS Yeah. I'm autistic, you don't have to tell me about being bullied.

[@ArissXAS]

@@jimurrata6785 and how does it work for you picking your own battles? I guess not so good? I was introvert, and still am, but got much more social skills now than I had before. I am constantly fighting myself to be more open towards people. That, and I was a protestant Christian in an ortodox country, and that doesn't work out well for you either as a child.

[@nolsjawline]

@@jimurrata6785 I thought that was a song reference. I'm going nuts

[@luabaldet]

from an Omeleto short film to being the first native american actress Oscar nominee. they deserve the world!

[@furstwilhelm7982]

Bullying? I was bullied all the way up! No one knew jack-diddly about Autism back then. Who helped? Those in my life who spoke German, not English. I used English as a weapon: no one could touch me in grammar, spelling and writing! Such fun to see the cool kids and jocks drop their jaws when I rapid-spelled the vocabulary words in class! My heart language was, is, and will always be: die edle Sprache von Luther, Goethe, Lessing, Heine und Schiller. Meine geistige Heimat ist die deutsche Sprache.

[@shrutinair3310]

15 minutes ago I cried in the end ❤️

[@trublu2556]

💜

[@oscarlittlechief5761]

Great actress, deserved

[@bluebutterflywellness2273]

I hate watching these films when each and every time the teacher knows and sees what's going on and punishes the bullied child instead of the instigator then acts clueless when the child reacts out of frustration. DO BETTER! BE BETTER!👎🏽

[@andrear.berndt9504]

Short and great!

[@remady5827]

i live very close to where this was filmed

[@ogechiokeke3929]

Cool

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

She smokes two different brands of cigarettes...odd.

[@figoxd6389]

U be observing to much vro

[@carlmorgan2903]

Lol

[@jimurrata6785]

She's probably smoking whatever she can get.

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

@@jimurrata6785That's something I hadn't considered tbh. The change was so obvious I couldn't believe that it was a continuity error, but that's a perfect explanation.

[@jime6739]

One isn't a cigarette, it is weed.

[@tri_cr_isis_tc7516]

Our skool did everything to help the youth bit the people who were helping were helping themselves alot of teachers have to buy there own supplies so we could be happy I'm greatful to some of my teachers but not all them

[@breeboyd7373]

This area looks like Rama, just outside of Orillia Ontario......

[@foxyandlucy6392]

Lol. Thats what I was thinking. I worked at Rama for 12 years. My family has been in Uptergrove for over 120 years. The casino did look quite similar to Rama's but I think many native casinos are built in a similar fashion.

[@sethc6663]

Turkey Ford Elementary School is listed as a Primary School in Wyandotte, Oklahoma

[@MyMusicHarbourage]

Sorry, doesn't look like Canada to me here....

[@foxyandlucy6392]

@@MyMusicHarbourage You have clearly never been to this area of Canada. Though I've never seen a school that has no windows or that is built with that material. Our are made of brick even the new ones.

[@MyMusicHarbourage]

@@foxyandlucy6392 No offence, but I've been in Ontario my entire life. Surely I've never come across any Reservations but the actors here didn't sound Canadian at all btw, they did sound Native American.

[@felipelotas5609]

Absolutely beaituful.

[@MyMs1979]

There is seemingly a never ending cycle of violence.

[@zeff2217]

A bit too short and the story didn't really go anywhere, but maybe that's just me. Ending credits music was good though.

[@SpeedDeamon95]

Lol earthquake and tornado drill 🤣 crazy but I love that this is from Oklahoma with Oklahoma actors!!! Excellent short!

[@charliedrake8580]

ah yes a 2nd gen with a cracked dash, hits too close to home..

[@MyaStClair]

Deep movie, very thought provoking, especially if you’re still not sure why things are the way they are today.

[@Gemini4400]

Looking back on this video I look so weird I was suck a good actor

[@keelanjohnson4808]

Ik its Oklahoma but the area and the school reminds me alot of growing up in North FL and south Georgia

[@Puckluck44]

Why are we still putting smoking in our movies vids, enough already wtf.

[@BananaGrace]

Literally the comments I am searching for. It’s honestly upsetting more people aren’t speaking out against this. Especially around children. It’s sickening.

[@Puckluck44]

@@BananaGrace Capitalism money over lives.

[@Hexanitrobenzene]

I second that. Maybe smoking was intended to show that her character has her own flaws. Ok, but why include smoking around kids ? In my country (Lithuania), smoking is legally forbidden at school territory. Children do not learn from words, they learn from the example.

[@zoea5465]

This is great!

[@alexgabriel5650]

She allows him to be bullied, but she gives him a candy. How cute.

[@mickmo5242]

How is it so short???? This shoulda been 20mns atleast

[@queenroaster8704]

Can someone tell me what nation is this

[@maryfifita2327]

The teacher have to smoke?

[@aaaaaiiiiirrrrr]

100

[@jimiwhat79]

Is this a smoking campaign

[@jackhills2440]

The only negative comment I have about this film is WHY does she have to smoke so much? It's like the cigarette smoking is a crutch. Not necessary to the story.

[@ellanina801]

It seemed necessary to me… she’s obviously dealing with a lot. There’s clearly a lot if weight in her shoulders, and then you consider the backstories on top of that.

[@ellanina801]

It seemed necessary to me… she’s obviously dealing with a lot. There’s clearly a lot if weight in her shoulders, and then you consider the backstories on top of that.

[@HappyestMoments]

Why there's 'an' before Native?

[@007Agentr]

Not an its a read better

[@infomotionfittv837]

Problem with the movie - why is a teacher smoking infront of a child? And talking about child's abusive parents at the same time? OXYMORON

[@BananaGrace]

It’s pretty sad that more people aren’t speaking out against filming her SMOKE AROUND CHILDREN! I don’t understand how anyone can morally believe that it’s ok by any means to bring that toxic trash around children.. it’s one thing if they want to harm their own bodies with that but why on earth would anyone think it’s ok to bring that around children who often have to be around it whether they want to. Or not. The fact that cigarettes are still legal and especially around children. It’s sickening.

[@MyaStClair]

Do some research as to why the Originals smoke cigarettes instead of condemning the practice.

[@billieellish6798]

We believe our combination of trading technology and brokerage services gives every client an edge over the competition. But you don’t have to take our word for it.

[@EMVelez]

Weird bot

[@docfmb1]

shame she smoked so much, even in front of the students.

[@saxmusicmail]

Nobody's perfect. We all have our weaknesses.

[@docfmb1]

@@saxmusicmail but why make that a part of this movie?

[@BananaGrace]

EXACTLY!!!! They don’t have to include it in the film!! The children are the ones who have to stay around it... this pissed me off so much. The fact that cigarettes are STILL LEGAL in 2021 is disgusting... they’re literally the most toxic things to be addicted to. The only “benefit” is how highly profitable they are for tobacco and nicotine companies.

[@docfmb1]

@@BananaGrace You can not make them illegal, people deserve to make their own choices, but they don't have to include it in their movie. Remember how prohibition went.

[@KD400_]

@@docfmb1 yh I'm not sure if people even know about prohibition era in today's world

[@ok-qt5qj]

I didn't like how the teacher allowed the poor kid to be bullied

[@P1NkLoVe88]

Maybe she wanted him to fight and fend for himself for once. Maybe she was teaching him that he won’t always be saved in tough situations ...

[@hannahrozenberg3411]

I didn’t either. I’m not Native, but I do know that life is difficult on reservations. And I’m sure that the school systems on the reservations are not very good. Our country let them down. Shame on us.

[@christinewalsh3043]

@@P1NkLoVe88 It's not a child's job to have to hold up the world. She should have stood up for him.

[@katwashere194]

I agree 100%. I was bullied in middle school until a teacher stood up for me. Then it stopped. I never forgot that teacher and I’m 60.

[@ImmortalChaos]

I'm so grateful for Lily and that she is involved in telling indigenous stories.

[@jebsmith323]

My heart aches for Bear.

[@all1nerd377]

I could watch a full feature with these characters!

[@YoYo0204]

Somehow in life, the teacher and Bear share similarities

[@lizacotner3379]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lily Gladstone in EVERYTHING SHES DONE. I'm from Muskogee OK i can't wait to see KOTFM and

[@kestrelfeather]

Repressed people get caught up in their own bad behaviour. Addiction makes it all the worse. Too bad supposedly rich and progressive countries don't have the compassion and good sense to help their fellow citizens live better, more stable lives.

[@jimurrata6785]

"Supposedly" But it's all to easy for the rich and progressive to turn their backs on something that 'isnt _their_ problem' Welcome to America. The land of these first nations people.

[@juniperabbott2614]

@@jimurrata6785 don't forget, the " medical system" is fvcjed too...i KNOW...

[@DeborahBauer-e9e]

Great short film! Heard about it on The Kelly Clarkson show today, so decided to check it out. Glad I did!

[@rhatiganbrothers8669]

Fantastic job, Erica! So proud of you!

[@isabellicies]

lily gladstone what an artist you are. looking foward to seeing your name everywhere. a star of pure talent.

[@maurawhelan3530]

Not sure I understand why she let the kid bully the girl…

[@starfishklai]

care? if she'd actually care for him she would've stand up for him, i mean she clearly saw him being bullied.

[@ibrahimalhussin9570]

Shirley smoke is not good for her we should know that and just more clothes that I cared like that's not that's not good for the kid when they when they always like what the part ended

[@BananaGrace]

Thank you! I was looking for another comment to call out the smoking. It’s so disgusting and toxic in every single way and smoking around children is even worse

[@rlstone1096]

Don't know if this was intentional but two other things not mentioned stuck out to me. Diabetes is a huge health issue in Native Americans ...and you see the school catering to Native American children with unhealthy lunches. You also see a Native American mascot and the two in the car with the school hoodie, another issue brought up. To me it seems like there's a nod to other issues within the film but also ignoring these issues/downplaying them although they contribute to both the mental and physical health of Native American children and communities.

[@SevenTailedWolf72]

I know that she didn’t stop the bullying. I think she should have made the other kid throwing stuff clean up the beads or stop it when he started throwing stuff. I hate bullies myself. But the fact that she knew what was going on in his life. When she said, “He drinking again? He hitting your mum again?” And she said if he didn’t want to talk about it that was okay. I don’t know how she knew that, maybe he opened up to her. And in the beginning when she gave him a ride...I don’t know it just seemed like she had this....bond with him if that makes any sense. Shows that she did care enough about him, and not just write him off as just another bullied kid. And sometimes, maybe... all you need to do is just sit with someone in silence and let your feelings brood.

[@dyork8838]

The Education of Little Tree is a fantastic movie...same subject, but, not

[@Cartier_specialist]

I found it a little dull. Could've been so much more.

[@brisbanekilarny6212]

I taught high school for 25 years in the Midwest. There are predators and prey that attend a high school. Both have problems, divorced parents, alcoholic parent or parents, abuse at home, etc. that need to be solved, it is that the prey are hurt even more. Some students are mentally ill and some even have parents that encourage their student being disruptive and disrespectful.

[@kevincarlson7148]

My old girlfriend was a social worker on (mostly Navajo)reservations near Flagstaff,Arizona.The amount of poverty,substance abuse,domestic violence,and child abuse got to her severely.She moved to work as a therapist in Alaska.

[@brisbanekilarny6212]

@@kevincarlson7148 Sad, children should be children and live a safe and relatively happy life.

[@KD400_]

@@brisbanekilarny6212 yh I was a victim of bullying I once had a fight with a bully and the teacher sent him to the principal's office but he wasnt there I never wanted my parents to find out because I had problems at home there was abuse and other bad things between them so I was terrified bullying only stopped when I finished school

[@brisbanekilarny6212]

@@KD400_ One of my sons was being bullied at school. I went to the school and the parents of the bully and told them it had to stop and it did. When I was a teen a guy bigger than my brother was bullying my brother, my father came and got me and we confronted the bully. My father said the bully could try his craft on me and that ended the bullying. Sorry to hear that you had to put up with the bully.

[@KD400_]

@@brisbanekilarny6212 as a teacher did u stop any bullying if u saw it going on my teachers didn't do anything which really made me upset also we had a massive field to play and I use to fight with another bully while playing he used to be my friend

[@justcallmejessz3712]

*"Teachers, we have a runner. I repeat. We have a runner...."* I know I'm not the only one who laughed so hard at this.

[@eliashenry3972]

Thanks for the new vid love it!

[@gloriaorth4628]

Brilliant actor, brilliant video ❤

[@melyndaschutz3792]

Ah so. It's a universal problem in schools when a child is being picked on BY THE WHOLE CLASS said child gets blamed for reacting. Not the point I know just... an observation.

[@user-jl5lh9mq2b]

How can the full movie be watched. Lily was on the Kelly Clarkson Show yesterday, stating that the movie can be watched on KZbin. How may I watch it? If anyone knows, please respond.

[@JuanDavid-ke2xq]

A day in the life of a teacher.

[@sherrywoodbeck3542]

Beautiful storytelling & filmed.

[@abinothayyilsanoj4182]

It was kinda relatable

[@jesseca1272]

Love and compassion!

[@Farisaiisi]

Teachers don't always notice the instigator; with certain groups you have to ignore some shenanigans or you won't get through a lesson - then that becomes the new game. Finally, children are growing in maturity and need to learn to make better choices in response to irritation from classmates, and life.

[@Inga912]

Powerful performances

[@desertlove3350]

She's not a young teacher.

[@priyaj5283]

Wow.. doesn't country side schools get gov funds in America ! It's there even in our India, where world think everyone's filthy and poor. We may lack in infrastructure but our education and medical system are eye opener for other countries.

[@RPRosen-ki2fk]

I liked it. Good acting that hooked my interest. Too bad there wasn't really any story though.