First Daughter and the Black Snake (2017): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2017, First Daughter and the Black Snake is a notable film directed by Keri Pickett, running about 104 minutes. “You can live without oil, but you can't live without water.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. The “Prophecy of the 7th Fire” says a “black snake” will bring destruction to the earth. For Winona LaDuke, the “black snake” is oil trains and pipelines. When she learns that Canadian-owned Enbridge plans to route a new pipeline through her tribe’s 1855 Treaty land, she and her community spring into action to save the sacred wild rice lakes and preserve their traditional indigenous way of life. Launching an annual spiritual horse ride along the proposed pipeline route, speaking at community meetings and regulatory hearings. Winona testifies that the pipeline route follows one of historical and present-day trauma. The tribe participates in the pipeline permitting process, asserting their treaty rights to protect their natural resources. LaDuke joins with her tribe and others to demand that the pipelines’ impact on tribal people’s resources be considered in the permitting process.

Who’s in it. First Daughter and the Black Snake stars Winona LaDuke as Herself.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch First Daughter and the Black Snake page.