JOANELLE ROMERO, short listed for Academy Award, is an award-winning director, producer, writer of film, television and digital. A member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Screen Actors Guild/Aftra.
American Holocaust
When Its All Over I’ll Still Be Indian
Within the film industry, and particularly at the Academy Awards,
meaningful progress for Native filmmakers began in 2000 when the first Native filmmaker was short-listed for an Academy Award.
This milestone marked a crucial step in the long-overdue recognition of Native voices telling their own stories on the world’s biggest stage.
American Holocaust: When Its All Over I’ll Still Be Indian
This is the only film to date that addresses the American Indian and Jewish Holocausts.
This powerful, hard-hitting documentary reveals the link between Adolf Hitler’s treatment of German Jews and the U.S. government’s treatment of American Indians depicts disturbing parallels between these two Holocausts and explores the historical, social and religious roots of America’s own “ethnic cleansing.” The film also examines, through the words and experiences of contemporary Indian people, the long term lasting effects of this on-going destructive process and the possible ramifications for the future of American Indian people in the 21st century.
Director Joanelle Romero
Narrated by Edward Asner
Run Time 0:29:40
Cast Bob Haozous, Phillip Haozous, Wallace Black Elk, Mildred Cleyhorn, Adam Fortunate Eagle, Micheal Horse, Phil Lucas, Rudy Haozous, Pat Haozous.
Before founding Red Nation Television Network, CEO Joanelle Romero uploaded her groundbreaking film American Holocaust: When It’s All Over I’ll Still Be Indian to YouTube, where it garnered over 500 million views—cementing its impact as a vital and powerful narrative.
“Joanelle was prescient in addressing both holocausts American Indian and Jewish in speaking about the enrollment issue in that American Indians are the only people that have to prove their ancestral and family relations through their blood quantum”
Gabe Galanda
Attorney, activist/founder of Stop Disenrollment campaign.
“Joanelle was prescient in addressing both holocausts American Indian and Jewish in speaking about the enrollment issue in that American Indians are the only people that have to prove their ancestral and family relations through their blood quantum”
Ellen Snortland
former President of United Nations Association
American Holocaust is very powerful and honest. It is probably more than most non-Indian people, and unfortunately, most Indian-people, want to acknowledge or hear. it is a laboring and sad truth that anyone who is truly Indian understands and lives with to some degree everyday. as polarizing as this movie is, it’s existence is critical for the hundreds of thousands of people that come to understand more about the real-story and for those that need to reflect and heal as they walk their own red-road. thanks for sharing these voices with me keep it up…
Chris Eyre
Director of Smoke Signals, Skins, A Thousand Roads, Edge of America
Director
Joanelle Romero is the first Native Indigenous director/producer/writer short-listed for an Academy Award in 2000, for her film “AMERICAN HOLOCAUST: WHEN ITS ALL OVER I’LL STILL BE INDIAN.” Romero’s film was entered into the OSCARS for consideration in 2000 in which 22 short films were entered that year. Then the Academy’s Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting in which 9 were chosen for consideration. “American Holocaust: When It’s All Over I’ll Still Be Indian” was part of that 9 chosen. Then five were nominated.
Romero’s documentary film “AMERICAN HOLOCAUST: WHEN ITS ALL OVER I’LL STILL BE INDIAN” has received many awards, including the Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award in 2005. Viewers can watch this film Red Nation Television Channel – Native is Here. www.rednationtv.com
This film is the last known footage of Wallace Black Elk (bearing descendent of the legendary Nicholas Black Elk whose visionary experiences were recounted in the book “Black Elk Speaks‘) and Former Chairwoman Mildred Cleyhorn, a prisoner of war with Goyaałé Geronimo.
Courtesy of Red Nation Films
Courtesy of Red Nation Films
Oklahoma Publishing Company
Courtesy of Red Nation Films
The American Holocaust Series
Exclusively on Red Nation Television Network
Episode 1
The American Holocaust
The first and only film to date that addresses the American Indian and Jewish Holocausts. This powerful, hard-hitting documentary reveals the link between Adolf Hitler’s treatment of German Jews and the U.S. government’s treatment of American Indians depicts disturbing parallels between these two Holocausts and explores the historical, social and religious roots of America’s own “ethnic cleansing.” The film also examines, through the words and experiences of contemporary Indian people, the long term lasting effects of this on-going destructive process and the possible ramifications for the future of American Indian people in the 21st century.
Episode 2
Policed Since 1492: Incarceration of Native Nations
From the Acclaimed Director of American Holocaust: When It All Over I’ll Stil be Indian, Short-Listed for an Academy Award®
Episode 3
Native Women’s Modeling of Democracy: Why We Wear Red
From the Acclaimed Director of American Holocaust: When It All Over I’ll Stil be Indian, Short-Listed for an Academy Award®
AWARDS
AMERICAN HOLOCAUST:
WHEN ITS ALL OVER I’LL STILL BE INDIAN
Short-listed for an Academy Award 2000
The American Indian Film Festival (San Francisco) 2000
The Fargo Film Festival 2003
Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award 2005
Acknowledgements
Director Joanelle Romero and Red Nation Films would like to extend the deepest gratitude to Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev | Temple Beth Shalom, Rabbi Debra Orenstein and American Indian Communities across Indian Country America.
Red Nation Films offers a special thank you to all the executive producers who made this film possible.
Executive Producers: Joanelle Romero, Elizabeth Sage Galesi, Phillip M. Haozous, Teddy Parker, Kathleen Jones, David Aurbey and Connie Stevens.
Red Nation Films would like to show our appreciation to the following organizations who helped bring this story to life:
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© 2025 Joanelle Romero. All rights reserved.
