Four Indigenous women from the Medicine Wheel Ride unite to confront the heart-wrenching realities of the MMIW/R crisis.
Four Indigenous women from the Medicine Wheel Ride unite to confront the heart-wrenching realities of the MMIW/R crisis, interweaving their personal losses, collective traumas, and the challenges of organizing their annual ride through the iconic Sturgis motorcycle rally. As they prepare for the 2025 ride, they draw strength from one another, navigating a landscape fraught with pain and resilience. With laughter and tears, these warriors invite audiences to witness their powerful triumph over adversity in a compelling tale of sisterhood.
Riders of the Dawn begins in the aftermath of the annual Medicine Wheel Ride, a motorcycle ride organized by Indigenous women to raise awareness about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIW/R) crisis in the United States.
We find Lorna at home in South Dakota, a leader in the motorcycle sisterhood, as she recovers from the previous ride while grappling with an increasing number of MMIW/R cases in her community. Subsequently, we meet other riders in other locations, like Lisa in Maui, Tara and Luvy in New Mexico. The film delves into their lives – how they manage to balance work, family and friendship while remaining active in the fight against MMIW/R. We meet Darlene Gomez, who is a colleague of the riders and the only lawyer in the country who works on MMIW/R cases pro bono. As we interweave the protagonists personal narratives, we share both cultural and historical context surrounding the crisis, highlighting, for example, that murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women in the U.S. These systemic issues compel the protagonists to seek accountability beyond a failed justice system.
As the story unfolds, we see Tara teaching self-defense to young Native women in the Southwestern U.S., as Lisa organizes a ride in Maui and Luvy continues grappling with the grief of her murdered son. The sisters continue to unite to address urgent community needs and manage the growing pains of their organization. Amidst their struggles, moments of joy and play emerge, showing the bonds that hold them together as they prepare for the upcoming ride through the predominantly white male Sturgis motorcycle rally. The disappearance of a young girl from their community adds urgency to their mission, culminating in a powerful display of unity during the annual ride that honors their collective losses and resilience. Audiences will be emboldened to engage in the fight for justice for Native women.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
Prairie Rose Seminole, Co-Director, Co-Producer (Northern Cheyenne, Arikara, and Dakota), is an educator, culture bearer, and storyteller who brings her heritage to her work. As Co-Director of the short documentary “We Ride For Her,” she combines her passion for storytelling with a commitment to cultural preservation. She serves as a grant manager at the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College and is a Placemaker with the Northern Plains National Heritage Area. Prairie Rose contributes her expertise as a member of various boards, including the Olamina Advisory Board, the Midwest Innocence Project Board, Gender Justice US, and Humanities ND. Her involvement with institutions and organizations has played a vital role in fostering public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement on local, state, and national levels. Growing up in North Dakota as an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes on the Fort Berthold Reservation, she has a deep connection to her roots. She currently resides in White Shield, North Dakota, where she lives with her partner, their seven dogs, and ten horses, continuing to embody her commitment to community and cultural storytelling.
Katrina Lillian Sorrentino, Co-Director, Producer holds an MFA from ICP-Bard. She has worked as a documentary filmmaker in the anti-human trafficking space for over a decade. She produced and was the cinematographer for “Crossing Over: Stories of Immigration and Identity” (Univision, Participant) which won a GLAAD award for Best Documentary, Spanish Language. She co-directed “The Curious Life of Bill Mont” in partnership with Oculus and Facebook, (SXSW, Winner of Nashville Film Festival), “We Ride For Her” (SXSW, Anthem Award) and directed “Tidal” (DOCNYC) a personal documentary about her own journey healing from an abusive relationship. She is currently in development for her first scripted tragicomedy TV series entitled “Naughty by Nature,” about two women who leave the Christian Evangelical church for which she hosts a non-fiction comedy podcast that explores the same themes. She is currently enrolled in Second City’s conservatory program and performs improv and stand-up in Chicago.
Follow the filmmakers on Instagram – Katrina Lillian Sorrentino @treentreen333 | Prairie Rose Seminole @msprairierose
