About the film

On May 11, 2022, the Duwamish Tribe filed a renewed petition for federal recognition in Seattle. Under revised terms, the tribe is now permitted to submit new evidence — an opportunity that could reshape its long-standing case and the tribal landscape in Puget Sound.

UNRECOGNIZED is about power, politics and culture. Drawing on historical records, lived experience, and behind-the-scenes decisions about public art, the half-hour film shows how the struggle for recognition is both political and cultural.

Despite organized opposition from recognized tribes and ongoing federal barriers, UNRECOGNIZED shows how the Duwamish Tribe refuses to be erased.