We Are Our Totem: A Native American Tale is an SAE student documentary by Mivon Prince-Leyva.

Mivon was assisted by SAE staff to get the film festival ready and it has won over 14 awards and garnered attention from the filmmaker, Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film & 2040) – with a possible collaboration on the horizon for Mivon.

Mivon said, “This project was created while I was a student for a Bachelor of Film at SAE Brisbane. It was completed in September 2021 and then further edited and refined in early 2022, in readiness for the festival circuit and to showcase.”

Synopsis

My father is a Native American Medicine Man and I myself, have been training to be one as well since I was 8 years old.

The Native American culture is so beautiful and divine that I felt there was no story being told about one of the aspects of what makes first nation cultures truly beautiful. And that is their communion with how they respect and look up to their ancestors and animals — creating more of a balance between humans, animals and all living things working together, synergy as one. Working with planet Earth and not driving towards divide and conquer. But working towards how to make a better life for all living things.