Eric Hernandez shares a heartfelt reflection on the Fort Peck Youth Summit with Nike N7, highlighting the joy of cultural exchange, a special screening of Courage, and the deep gratitude for being part of Sam McCracken’s legacy.

After performing at the Tonkawa Film Festival last year, someone asked me if I’d ever considered turning my story into a film. That question sparked the journey that led to Courage. Now, nearly a year later, the film is returning to the festival that inspired it all.

When director Eric Michael Hernandez set out to tell the story of Courage, he knew the vision was bold. Thanks to a groundbreaking partnership with Panavision, the production gained access to top-tier gear, making this Indigenous short film look and feel like a studio feature.

Courage was just featured in ICT News, our first published media mention! In this post, I reflect on the article, what it means to see people connect with a story that’s so personal, and how this milestone fuels my mission to bring Courage to even more communities and screens.

At Alabama School of Fine Arts, I shared how I was taught to see my hoops as a reflection of who I am. Through my story and movement, I encouraged students to explore their own voice, to take creative risks, and to use their background as a source of power in their art.