Running Towards the Future, Not The Past | Remaining Native

“We can’t just detach ourselves from the history, we have to learn how to handle it and carry it responsibly” – Paige Bethmann

Hosted by Jermaine Jackson on his show ‘The Winners Edge’, we sit down with the director and lead for the latest and biggest documentary ‘Remaining Native’. Welcome Paige Bethmann and Ku Stevens. Watch the full video interview down below‼️👇

Seeds for Story

Paige Bethmann had worked in film and television for years in the bustling metropolitan of New York City. Teaching her the ins and outs of production, but never fully giving her the opportunity to express who she is through that work. Paige comes from the Haudenosaunee people from upstate New York, calling her homes the Mohawk and Oneida nations.

Constantly looking for way to express herself through her art and work, an opportunity arrived that was filled with pain but more importantly opportunities to heal. As news was breaking out of children being found in unmarked graves due to boarding schools, in Canada and the states, she felt called to someone specifically. Ku Stevens who was chasing his goal of becoming a collegiate runner was preparing to run the 50 mile route that his grandfather ran to escape from the boarding schools, Paige knew this was the opportunity.

Ku Stevens hailing from the Yerington Paiute Tribe out of Nevada, comes from a strong family background. Which called him to retrace his grandfathers escape from a boarding school that was 50 miles away from home. As Paige states, it was an incredibly powerful message that shows a young person dealing with this history in a modern context.

“We all want to be understood in way that’s healthy, not in a way of pity.” – Ku Stevens

Running Towards The Future

As Ku Stevens grew up, his perspective on his peoples and this country’s history began to change. Starting from when he read the book ‘Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee’, he knew that he had to learn how to carry his peoples past responsibly. It set his life on a path that was aimed to represent his people in the best way he knew how, which was running.

Ku Stevens has got IT, winning 4 state titles in high school and a 4 time regional champ, he was able to connect his talent with where he comes from. Although they knew that this remembrance run for his grandfather was going to be like no other run he had ever done before. The journey was sure to bring up old trauma, pain and heavy emotions but there was the opportunity for healing, beyond just Ku’s family.

Ku stated that physically the run was very hard but the emotions that came with it made the trek even harder. What made the journey possible was understanding that there were kids once running like this for survival, that kept Ku going. Knowing that whatever struggles he was experiencing, he had to keep going to build solidarity and healing within himself and others.

Keeping the Movement Going

Now that the film has been released and praised widely along the film festival circuit, the question continues of what’s next? Paige plans on keeping this film going for a long time, as it has much to offer to various communities. Ku Stevens who is at the heart of his career, has high goals for himself and what he expects of himself.

Ku doesn’t want to do all these things for his people but lose his cultural identity in the process. It’s something he reckons with because he does plan to leave his home in order to achieve his goals, to return at a later time. Although Paige states that it is never too late to return to home and community. Paige and Ku’s friendship continues the conversation going within each other, there are high hopes with these two.

Check out the full video interview below and support Paige Bethmann and Ku Stevens in all that they do‼️👇