“Remaining Native” Movie Review and NYC Event Recap
“Remaining Native” is a powerful running movie.
By Marnie Kunz,
Runstreet founder and head run coach
“Remaining Native” is a documentary film about running, coming of age, and reckoning with the past. This inspiring running movie follows the life of Ku Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner in Nevada who pins his running dreams on getting a track scholarship. During the film, Ku also confronts demons from the past as he tells the story of his great-grandfather’s heroic escape from an Indian boarding school funded by the U.S. government. Ku’s incredible running feats in the film are only the precursor to a poignant tale giving voice to a people and history that has been covered up for far too long. I attended a “Remaining Native” screening and event with Ku, his parents, and the film crew at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC and this is my movie review and recap of the event.
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“Remaining Native” Synopsis
“Remaining Native” is a documentary film that follows Native American runner Kutoven (nicknamed Ku) Stevens as he embarks on a journey of discovery, trial, and tribulations as a young runner training in rural Nevada. Ku lives on the Yerington Paiute Reservation in
Northwest Nevada, and he is the only runner in his high school to compete in track. The film shows Ku’s passion for running as he trains to pursue his dream of leaving his small hometown and competing at the prestigious University of Oregon.
As he trains, Ku is reminded of his great-grandfather’s harrowing escape from an Indian boarding school, where Native American children endured horrific abuse that sometimes resulted in death. Ku’s great-grandfather, Frank Quinn, ran away from Stewart Indian School at age 8 and was unfortunately caught and returned, where he was beaten as punishment. Despite the harrowing risks, Frank escaped two more times, finally succeeding in his third attempt, where he traveled on foot across 50 miles of desert to return home.
Director Paige Bethmann weaves Ku’s tale of running with that of his great-grandfather’s 50-mile run for his life across the desert. Although Ku aspires to leave the reservation and small town lacking a track team, he cannot forget his people, who suffered in great numbers at the Indian boarding schools. In fact, news reports come out of hundreds of graves at Indian boarding schools across the country, bringing the horrific conditions of the schools to public attention after years of government denial.
Ku is haunted by his great-grandfather’s tale, which comes to life in haunting old photographs of Native American children being held at Indian boarding schools. In honor of his great grandfather and everyone who suffered at the boarding schools and all the families affected by the trauma, Ku creates a 50-mile Remembrance Race tracing the route from his reservation to the Indian boarding school burial ground at the school where his great grandfather was held.
Ku and his parents at a track meet.
The film had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 7, 2025, where it won the Audience Award and the Documentary Feature Special Jury Award.
Running Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Release Date: March 7, 2025
Director: Paige Bethmann
Producer: Jessica Epstein
Starring: Kutoven Stevens
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Paige Bethmann, the director.
Awards
“Remaining Native” was screened at SXSW 2025, where it won the Audience Award and the Documentary Feature Special Jury Award.
The film was an official selection for the 2025 Salem Film Fest, the 2025 River Run International Film Festival, the 2025 Dallas International Film Festival, the 2025 Doc Lands, the 2025 Margaret Mead Film Festival, and the 2025 MKE Film Festival.
“Remaining Native” Review
“Remaining Native” is one of the best running movies I’ve seen. As someone who grew up running track and cross country, I found myself on edge rooting for Ku at his meets and reliving the pre-race jitters and training regime that young athletes follow. Ku’s dedication to running, despite coming from a school with no coach and no track team, was truly inspiring. His incredible race times and natural running talent left me in awe.
Left: Meeting Ku after the run. Right: Running with my friend Ellie at the community 5K following the film.
The most powerful aspect of the movie, however, was Ku’s strong ties to his family and his people, and his ability to bring a community together for healing through running. The 50-mile Remembrance Run was much more than an impressive running accomplishment for everyone who participated - it was a time to give voice to generations of suffering and abuse that Native Americans have endured for so long without recognition. The pivotal ending of the Remembrance Run, at the Indian boarding school cemetery where Native children were buried, was especially poignant.
Native American director Paige Bethmann beautifully shot the film, with stunning overhead visuals of the land and Ku’s fleet-footed runs through the desert. Bethmann skillfully weaves in stark photos from Indian boarding schools as Ku describes his great-grandfather’s experience at the boarding school.
“Remaining Native” is an engaging tale that will hook you from the start, bringing the audience along into a realm that most people know little about. As Ku wrestles with the brutal legacy of colonialism, the film inspires self-examination and grapples with the far-reaching effects of colonialism on American life. Ultimately, the culmination of the community that develops at the 50-mile Remembrance Run and Ku’s own progress with his collegiate running goals creates an inspiring tale of compassion, connection, coming of age, and what it means to be human.
Paige, Ku, and his father. Photo by Ellie Windham
“Remaining Native” Screening at the American Museum of Natural History
I watched “Remaining Native” at the New York premiere of the film on May 3, 2025, screened at the Margaret Mead Film Festival at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. After the film, we were treated to a Q&A with the director, producer, Ku, and his father. This was an insightful addition to the film as we got to hear from the main player in the film and those who created it.
Ku leading the 50-mile Remembrance Run.
In the Q&A after the film screening, Bethmann says she was living in Brooklyn and working for Vox Media in 2021 when she saw news stories about hundreds of unmarked graves discovered at former Indian boarding schools in the U.S. Bethmann also read about Ku’s running journey and reached out to him with the documentary idea. Since then, she relocated to Reno, Nevada, to shoot the film.
It was interesting to also hear Ku’s perspective and learn about how he’s doing as a collegiate athlete, what he has planned next for his running career, and how he stays connected with his community.
Post-Film Community 5K Run and Dance
All Nations dancers performed after the run.
After the “Remaining Native” screening, we joined the community 5K led by Ku and co-hosted by the Upper West Side Run Club and the American Museum of Natural History. The scenic spring run along parts of the bridle path in Central Park was a chance to do what we runners do best - connect with each other through running.
After the run, indigenous dancers from Columbia University performed in a beautiful display of costumes and music. The audience also had the chance to participate, as we learned how to do some basic dance steps and play a game that got everyone laughing, meeting new people, and connecting. With community being such an integral part of life for Indigenous people, it was a perfect ending to the day.
The community event also gave us more opportunities to chat with Ku, his parents, and the director, wrapping up an incredible afternoon of learning and connecting.
What’s Next for “Remaining Native”
The “Remaining Native” crew has a busy schedule ahead, with lots of film screenings around the world. You can check out their latest screening schedule and stay tuned by signing up for the “Remaining Native” newsletter. I highly recommend seeing the film for a layered perspective on what it means to remain Native, despite brutal assimilation attempts. It’s also an inspiring running movie that will motivate you to lace up your sneakers and head out on your next adventure.
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Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified personal trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Brooklyn, NY. Marnie likes helping people get and stay active to enjoy a better quality of life. When she’s not doing fitness things, Marnie enjoys exploring with her dog, a mischievous rescue Akita.
