Ku Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner, struggles to navigate his dream of becoming a collegiate athlete as the memory of his great grandfather’s escape from an Indian boarding school begins to connect past, present, and future.

*Join us on July 18th after the 4:20pm screening for a post film discussion with Brittenay Causieestko-Lee (Cherokee Nation, Chickahominy, and Mattaponi descent) and Dr. LaTanya Bowman (Haliwa-Saponi descent).

Brittenay Causieestko-Lee is a community engagement strategist, nonprofit leader, and proud descendant of the Cherokee Nation, Chickahominy, and Mattaponi tribes through her family roots in Powhatan, Virginia. Born in Mesa, Arizona, and now based in Charlotte, North Carolina, she brings more than 20 years of experience building bridges between communities, institutions, and decision-makers.

Throughout her career, Brittenay has worked alongside residents, elected officials, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations to address issues such as public safety, affordable housing, gentrification, and civic participation. Her work is grounded in the belief that communities should not only be consulted, but empowered to help shape the policies and decisions that affect their lives.

As a community engagement professional, Brittenay has led initiatives focused on racial equity, social justice, volunteer engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. She has designed and facilitated trainings, developed community-informed strategies, and helped organizations strengthen trust, transparency, and accountability with the communities they serve.

She is particularly passionate about elevating Indigenous voices and perspectives within community engagement efforts. Her work has included educating organizations on the importance of humanizing language, fostering inclusive engagement practices, and advocating for Tribal law enforcement and Indigenous communities to have a meaningful seat at decision-making tables.

Brittenay holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Public Administration. She continues to serve in leadership roles across civic and nonprofit spaces and is committed to creating more equitable, connected, and thriving communities through authentic engagement and collaboration.

Dr. LaTanya Bowman is a chiropractic physician, motivational speaker, and owner of Discovery Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Of Haliwa-Saponi descent through her family heritage, she is passionate about preserving Native traditions, promoting wellness, and strengthening community connections through education, history, and storytelling.

In addition to her work in health and wellness, Dr. Bowman is a genealogical and historical researcher and Research Contributor and Co-Writer of the peer-reviewed article, “We Were Never Slaves: Jamestown, North Carolina’s Freedom Pioneers and the Underground Railroad,” accepted for publication in The North Carolina Historical Review (October 2026). As a descendant of several of the families documented in the study, her research bridges personal family history with broader efforts to preserve the stories of Free People of Color, including legally free families of Native descent in the American South who assisted freedom seekers through Underground Railroad networks.

Dr. Bowman also contributed research and documentation supporting the application for the forthcoming North Carolina Highway Historical Marker recognizing the Jamestown Freedom Pioneers. She is additionally involved in ongoing historical research and preservation efforts supporting documentation for the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program related to the Weaver Settlement and its connections to the Underground Railroad.

Through public speaking, community engagement, and historical preservation, she helps connect people with their heritage while fostering dialogue about identity, resilience, and cultural continuity.

She brings a unique perspective that bridges wellness, history, Native heritage, and the importance of honoring ancestral traditions in today’s world.