The National Museum of the American Indian is proud to present a special screening of Shelley Niro’s latest feature film at our New York museum in conjunction with the exhibition Shelley Niro: 500 Year Itch. A Q&A with director Shelley Niro follows the film.

Preceded by a book signing of the exhibition catalog at 10 a.m. outside the Museum Store on Level 2 with Shelley Niro, David Penney, and Greg Hill. The exhibition catalog will be available for purchase in the store.

First come, first served.

(Director: Shelley Niro [Six Nations Mohawk], Canada, 2023, 97 mins.)

In a small Saskatchewan town in the 1960s, Yvette Wong, a young girl of Chinese and Cree heritage, struggles with her Indigenous identity amidst family tragedy in this coming-of-age film directed by Mohawk artist and filmmaker Shelley Niro. Yvette’s mother, Katherine, discourages her from embracing her Cree identity, so she explores it in secret. As she learns more about herself and her Indigenous heritage, Yvette finds a friend in Maggie Wolf, who embraces being part Mi’kmaq and encourages Yvette to be proud of being Cree. When her classmates learn about her Cree ancestry, Yvette encounters the realities of being Indigenous, facing prejudice with pride and holding fast to her dream of becoming a doctor. Café Daughter is inspired by true events and based on Kenneth T. Williams’ play of the same name.

Organized and circulated by the Art Gallery of Hamilton with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and with curatorial support from the National Gallery of Canada. Major support for the project is provided by Canada Council for the Arts, the Terra Foundation for American Art, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative Pool. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

1 Bowling Green Map
212-514-3700