Turtle Island Productions LLC – Emmy Award Winning Documentaries & Corporate Video Production Since 1987

Gifts From the Elders

“Gifts from the Elders” follows five Anishinaabe youth on a summer research project with their Elders, whose stories guide them on a journey back to proceeding generations that lived a healthy lifestyle off of the land. Their stories chronicle the devastating impact that environmental and cultural dispossession had on the flow of knowledge from Elders […]

Sony FX9 Samples

Recent samples of talking head interviews and teleprompter reads shot on the Sony FX9 with Sony Prime Lenses with a three person crew: DP, Grip, & PA.

Mis-qui-Kiweninne “Red Face Man”, 2023 (Teaser)

The Hudson’s Bay Co., Nicol Finlayson and the Scottish-Oji-Cree legacy he left behind in Northern Ontario A work-in-progress documentary film and companion book proposal. The history of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Nicol Finlayson and the cultural and family legacy he left behind; from northern Ontario’s Long Lake to historic Fort William (Thunder Bay), on to […]

Wawatay: Maker of Light, 2023

“Wawatay: Maker of Light” is a sequel to my 2013 documentary “Gifts from the Elders” to mark the original film’s 10th anniversary, using hours of mostly unused footage filmed at Heron Bay/Pic River (Biigtigong Nishanaabeg First Nation Reserve) in 2012. It is more of a long form music video set to verité cinema footage to […]

Alcatraz Is Not an Island, 1999 (Open)

Alcatraz Is Not An Island, (Festival Premiere at the AIFF 1999, Sundance Screening 2001, national PBS Broadcast 2002-2006) Executive Producer: Millie Ketcheshawno (Mvskoke) Producer: Jon Plutte Writer, Cinematographer, Director: James M. Fortier (Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation -Formerly The Ojibways of the Pic River) Associate Producer/Historical Consultant: Dr. Troy Johnson Editor: Mike Yearling For thousands of […]

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Searching for Sequoyah Trailer, (PBS Premiere Nov. 2021)

Official trailer for Searching for Sequoyah. National PBS premiere November, 2021. Searching for Sequoyah chronicles the life and accomplishments of the legendary 19th century Cherokee visionary, Sequoyah (George Guess), through the oral stories of five modern day Sequoyah descendants. While much is known about Sequoyah’s Cherokee writing system or syllabary, very little is known about […]

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Memoir of a Choctaw Indian Pt. 1, 2013

This was shot in 2013on a Canon 5D III in Wadi Rum, Jordan for Choctaw author and playwright LeAnne Howe’s forthcoming eBook “Memoirs of a Choctaw in Jordan” (Working title). Shot and edited by James Fortier.

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Memoir of a Choctaw Indian Pt. 2, 2013

This was shot in 2013 on a Canon 5D III in Wadi Rum, Jordan for Choctaw author and playwright LeAnne Howe’s forthcoming eBook “Memoirs of a Choctaw in Jordan” (Working title). Shot and edited by James Fortier.

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Gifts From the Elders Trailer, 2013

The trailer for the documentary Gifts from the Elders, 2013, written, produced, directed, and edited by James Fortier. “Gifts from the Elders” follows five Anishinaabe youth on a summer research project with their Elders, whose stories guide them on a journey back to proceeding generations that lived a healthy lifestyle off of the land. Their […]

Interview with my Great Aunt Mary Michano Lees, Elder of the Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation (Pic River Ojibway), 2012

I interviewed my Great Aunt Mary, youngest sibling of my grandmother Doris Finlayson/Michano/Fortier, in August 2012, for our documentary “Gifts From the Elders” with the participation of the Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation (Heron Bay/Pic River) Ojibway community including many other elders both on and off the reserve and college age youth. This is the full […]

“Never Ignored: The Story of AIM, the American Indian Movement”, 2012 (WIP Teaser)

This was a 2012 work in progress sample teaser for a proposed 90-minute documentary on the history of AIM, the American Indian Movement, which I was to co-produce with filmmaker Jay Rosenstein (“In Whose Honor”). Our attempts to secure funding from several sources, including ITVS and the Sundance Documentary Fund were rejected….”too controversial.” I own […]

John Trudell on AIM and Alcatraz for “Never Ignored: The Story of AIM, the American Indian Movement”, 2012 (WIP Teaser)

I filmed this interview in Sausalito, CA in 1996 for my documentary “Alcatraz Is Not an Island.” This and other clips were to be used in a proposed 90-minute documentary on the history of AIM, the American Indian Movement, which I was to co-produce with filmmaker Jay Rosenstein (“In Whose Honor”). Our attempts to secure […]

John Trudell on Joining AIM after Alcatraz for “Never Ignored: The Story of AIM, the American Indian Movement”, 2012 (WIP Teaser)

Dennis Banks on the FBI AIM Trials for “Never Ignored: The Story of AIM, the American Indian Movement”, 2012 (WIP Teaser)

I filmed this interview in San Francisco for a 2012 work in progress sample teaser for a proposed 90-minute documentary on the history of AIM, the American Indian Movement, which I was to co-produce with filmmaker Jay Rosenstein (“In Whose Honor”). Our attempts to secure funding from several sources, including ITVS and the Sundance Documentary […]

Clyde Bellecourt on the 7th Prophecy & AIM for “Never Ignored: The Story of AIM, the American Indian Movement”, 2012 (WIP Teaser)

I filmed this interview in San Francisco for a 2012 work in progress sample teaser for a proposed 90-minute documentary on the history of AIM, the American Indian Movement. This and other clips were to be used in a proposed 90-minute documentary on the history of AIM, the American Indian Movement, which I was to […]

Hakela: The Last One, 2011 (Work-In-Progress Sample)

A work-in-progress sample for an aborted documentary project from 2011 that never received funding from ITVS, National Georgraphic’s All Roads Fund, nor Vision Maker Media. “Hakela: The Last One” chronicles the story of Lakota tribal member Calvin Spotted Elk, the great-great-grandson of the famed Lakota, Chief Spotted Elk. Chief Spotted Elk, who came to be […]

Tansi! Nehiyawetan Season 3 Episode 10 “Music”, 2010

I was the Director of Photography for 3 seasons on Loretta Todd’s (Métis-Cree) children’s series “Tansi! Nehiyawetan”, which aired on APTN. Filming took place in Vancouver and the surrounding area. 2007, 2008, 2010. Tansi! Nehiyawetan invites children to learn Cree with Kai, Kayla, and Auntie Josephine through kinetic games, absorbing stories, compelling songs and dynamic […]

Path of Renewal: A Decade of Transformation in Native Community Development, 2010

Produced in 2010 for the non-profit Oweesta, Corp. in South Dakota. Narrated by Michael Horse. This is the short version. There is also a more detailed and story-driven 30- minute version. “Journey through the last decade and discover how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are addressing critical barriers to economic development, enriching the lives […]

NCAI Conference “Welcome” Video, 2010

I produced and edited this opening video for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians at the National Congress of American Indians Conference in 2010 as Creative Director for Naqmayam Communications (Dr. Joely Proudift).

From These Silent Ashes: Mormons, Utes, & the Black Hawk War, 2009 (WIP Sample)

A work-in-progress sample that never received funding to continue, but the story is still there waiting to be told. This 60-90-minute documentary for PBS will, for the first time, bring to light the little known history of the Ute warrior Noonch, better know as Black Hawk, who’s leadership, and in the eyes of some, whose […]

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2010 US Census Los Angeles Region PSA: “I am Indian, and I Count” Native American Crew Bloopers, 2009

I was the DP and Editor for a series of these PSAs as Creative Director for Naqmayam Communications (Joely Proudfit). With special appearances by Joely Proudfit and her assistant Geneva Sanchez, and interns Laura Hernandez and Tommy Devers. So much fun!

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2010 US Census Los Angeles Region PSA: Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell on “Seven Generations”, 2009

I was the DP and Editor for a series of these PSAs as Creative Director for Naqmayam Communications (Joely Proudfit).

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2010 US Census LA Region PSA: Pauma Council member Bennae Calac on Community, 2009

I was the DP and Editor for a series of these PSAs as Creative Director for Naqmayam Communications (Joely Proudfit).

2010 US Census Los Angeles Region PSA “We Are Indian, and We Count”, 2009

I was the DP and Editor for a series of these PSAs as Creative Director for Naqmayam Communications (Joely Proudfit).

2010 US Census Northwest Region PSA “We Are Indian, and We Count”, 2009

I was the DP and Editor for a series of these PSAs as Creative Director for Naqmayam Communications (Joely Proudfit).

Bad Sugar, 2008

Bad Sugar: Episode 3 of the national PBS series “Unnatural Causes: Is Society Making Us Sick?” 2008. Producer/Director/Co-DP Dupont-Columbia Broadcast Journalism Award. The Pima and Tohono O’odham Indians of southern Arizona have arguably the highest rates of Type 2 diabetes in the world. A century ago, the disease was virtually unknown here, but the subsequent […]

Tansi! Nehiyawetan: “Let’s Speak Cree” Season1, Episode 1 “Greetings”, 2007

Gathering Together, 2006

“Gathering Together” was produced, directed, shot and edited by James Fortier in 2006 for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe near Tacoma, WA. Gathering Together goes behind the scenes to chronicle the story of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s first traditional potlatch in over a century as host of the 2006 Tribal Canoe Journey. As a sort of […]

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Playing Pastime: American Indians, Softball & Survival, 2006

Documentary short, 30 minutes from 2005. This was a work-in-progress sample that screened at a few film festivals but never received completion funding for the proposed 90-minute verité documentary LeAnne Howe and I envisioned. The story is still out there waiting though. When most people think of baseball, the last thing that comes to mind […]

Green Green Water, 2004

Associate Producer/Director of Photography, 2006. Green Green Water follows U.S. consumer, Dawn Mikkelson, as she traces the source of her ‘green energy’ back to the displacement of the indigenous Cree and Metis in Northern Manitoba. Whitewashed under auspices of renewable energy, power suppliers Xcel Energy and Manitoba Hydro provide cheap hydro-electric power to Minnesota – […]

Pulling Together, 2003

2003 verité documentary for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe near Tacoma, WA. Reflecting the traditions of their ancestors, the Muckleshoot canoe “family” learns to put the group before the individual in order to survive the often treacherous waters of Washington’s Puget Sound. Chronicling their 14-day odyssey during Tribal Canoe Journey – 2003, filmmaker James M. Fortier […]

Waasa Inaabidaa: We Look In All Directions: Episode 6, Ojibwemowin “Ojibwe Oral Tradition”, 2002

I was the Writer, Associate Producer and Director of Photography for re-enactment scenes filmed on the Lac du Flambeau reservation in northern Wisconsin. The series won Best Documentary Feature at the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco in 2002 and this episode won a Midwest Region Emmy Award. Produced and Directed by Lorraine Norrgard […]

Waasa Inaabidaa: We Look In All Directions: Episode 4, Bimaadiziwin “A Healthy Way of Life”, 2002

Episode four of the PBS-8 (Duluth) six-hour historical documentary series Waasa Inaabidaa: We Look In All Directions by Producer/Director Lorraine Norrgard. Best Documentary Feature at the 2002 American Indain Film Festival. Mid West Region Emmy Award. I was the Writer, Associate Producer, and Director of Photography for re-enactment scenes filmed on location on the Lac […]

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