Finding your own voice has never been easy for a teen. It’s even harder if you’re a Native adolescent struggling to tether traditional heritage to the world of hip hop.  

Mia Boccella Hartle and Marley Shebala’s documentary, When Your Hands are Tied, profiles the lives of young Natives and the challenges and rewards of embracing their ethnic identity amidst America’s cultural goulash.   

The tenor of the film is uniformly upbeat. The filmmakers focused on Natives from the Southwest—teens to tribal elders, the Governor of the Nambe Pueblo who started a break dancing team, members of the Apache Skateboarders, Navajo rappers and punk rock musicians, and a former beauty queen—all acknowledging the power they’ve gained from reaffirming their cultural ties.

“It’s about their truths once they hear it,…They recognize and pull strength from it.” says Navajo Medicine Man Eric Willie. “Right now, we’re in a recovery process. It’s okay to learn your culture. It’s okay to learn your customs.” 

It’s even better than okay—melding tradition with contemporary life is the antidote to the cultural drain which has led to the self-destructive behaviors rampant in so many Indian communities.  

Whereas the topic packs power, however, the film overall does not. When Your Hands are Tied  fails to effectively weave a cohesive theme; the interviews with reflective young Natives don’t provide sustenance beyond the positive mojo repeated throughout the hour-long documentary.  

The film’s ability to answer these questions is tenuous; of course most would agree that it’s a good thing to keep tribal languages alive. Of course it’s a good thing to stay substance free and find a personal goal whether it’s in the form of dance, music or sports.  

Of course. But where’s the context?  

The film does a lot of telling; it doesn’t do much showing.  We hear a young girl talk about preparing for a traditional coming-of-age ceremony.  Rapper Mistic shares his views about walking in both worlds and former Miss Navajo Nation Radmilla Cody talks about finding her way back after landing in prison. Talking skateboarders. Talking  rockers and talking dancers and talking heads.  

Lots and lots of talk with little perspective or broad view.  

These weaknesses notwithstanding, the documentary deserves high marks for presenting a non-stereotypical, proactive image of Native youth. It’s rare indeed to find a either a documentary or narrative including such depictions. A bold premise that deserves an equally bold execution.  

“In today’s society you have to balance, especially growing up in both worlds,” notes Eric Willie.  

He’s right. Just too bad When you Hands are Tied  never quite shows us why.

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To purchase a DVD or find out more, please visit the official website: www.whenyourhandsaretied.org