Being Thunder

Sherente Harris, a two-spirit genderqueer teenager from the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island, boldly challenges the status quo of what it means to be a queer Indigenous person in a world bound by binary gender roles.

French filmmaker Stephanie Lamorre quietly documents Sherente’s life and family interactions over the course of several years, revealing the struggles faced by the determined teen. Sherente’s energy is focused on participating in traditional dance competitions with other New England tribes. Although there are no rules prohibiting two-spirit genderqueer people from competing, Sherente faces the judges’ biases and discrimination for not adhering to so-called traditional gender roles. Despite these insensitivities, Sherente is met with an outpouring of support from family, pow wow attendees, and fellow dancers.

Being Thunder is a meditative, unintrusive documentary about a courageous Indigenous teenager who unapologetically strives for greatness against all types of resistance.

Trailer...