Leya Hale is a documentary filmmaker from the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Diné Nations. Her work has made significant contributions to Twin Cities PBS, where her storytelling shines a light on Indigenous lifeways and the social issues impacting her community. She is best known for her regional Emmy award winning films, The People’s Protectors and Bring Her Home, both of which were distributed nationally by PBS. Her latest documentary, The Electric Indian, premiered at The Great Northern and will be distributed nationally by American Public Television (APT).In 2020, Leya received the Sundance Institute Merata Mita Fellowship for Indigenous Artists and Bring Her Home was selected torepresent the US at INPUT 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. Leya’s work has been showcased by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and premiered at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, and received a Dog Iron Award at the 2022 Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival. Her dedication to storytelling and commitment to her community fosters pride and understanding among Native and non-Native audiences worldwide.

Leya Hale is a documentary filmmaker from the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Diné Nations. Her work has made significant contributions to Twin Cities PBS, where her storytelling shines a light on Indigenous lifeways and the social issues impacting her community. She is best known for her regional Emmy award winning films, The People’s Protectors and Bring Her Home, both of which were distributed nationally by PBS. Her latest documentary, The Electric Indian, premiered at The Great Northern and will be distributed nationally by American Public Television (APT).In 2020, Leya received the Sundance Institute Merata Mita Fellowship for Indigenous Artists and Bring Her Home was selected torepresent the US at INPUT 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. Leya’s work has been showcased by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and premiered at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, and received a Dog Iron Award at the 2022 Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival. Her dedication to storytelling and commitment to her community fosters pride and understanding among Native and non-Native audiences worldwide.