A documentary that takes viewers onto the Arctic sea ice and into Alaska Native kitchens has earned a place among just over 50 films at a major Hollywood festival — a sign that Indigenous food traditions are finally getting their close-up on the big screen.
Jaclyn Sallee, Executive Producer, Niqipiaq; President and CEO of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation
Alexis "Alex" Sallee, Director, Niqipiaq: To Eat Real Food
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Documentary on Alaska Native food traditions screens November 21 in Hollywood.
ANCHORAGE, AK, UNITED STATES, November 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (KBC) has announced that its feature “Niqipiaq: To Eat Real Food” was chosen for the 20th Annual LA SKINS FEST. The festival runs from November 18–22, 2026, in Hollywood, and the film will screen on November 21st at 5 p.m. at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, followed by a Q&A session starting at 7 p.m.
The documentary follows traditional subsistence practices in Arctic Alaska Native communities. It brings audiences onto the sea ice with a hunting crew and into family and community spaces where traditional foods are harvested, prepared, stored, and shared. These practices show how feeding families is intertwined with cultural knowledge that has been handed down through generations.
“Having Niqipiaq selected for the LA Skins Film Festival is an opportunity to celebrate Alaska Native stories and share the deep connections between our traditional foods, our cultures, and our communities,” said Jaclyn Sallee, Executive Producer of the film and President and CEO of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation. “We hope the film inspires audiences to recognize that these living traditions nourish not only our bodies, but also our identities and the generations to come.”
The documentary examines the link between traditional food systems, cultural identity, and health — especially as Arctic communities face a changing climate. It also looks at the region’s reliance on processed foods and the push to revitalize traditional foodways.
The Director, Alexis “Alex” Anoruk Sallee, is Inupiaq, from Anchorage, with family ties in the Arctic region. She began her television and film career in sound design before moving into directing and producing to increase onscreen representation of Alaska Natives.
“Growing up, some of my most sacred memories with family are centered around eating our traditional Native foods,” Sallee writes in her director’s statement. She describes those meals as a source of mental, physical, and spiritual connection to her culture. Making the film gave her a chance to learn more about hunting and food-processing techniques passed down through generations and the respect for the land reflected in those practices.
“By engaging with these traditions, we honor our ancestors and strengthen our cultural identity,” Sallee writes. “Through this film, I hope to convey the essence of these practices and inspire others to appreciate and celebrate their own heritage.”
The festival’s 20th edition features more than 50 screenings alongside entertainment and industry events at the TCL Chinese Theatre and other Hollywood venues. LA SKINS FEST brings Native American filmmakers, artists, entertainment industry leaders and audiences together. The selection of Niqipiaq: To Eat Real Food brings an Alaska Native perspective on traditional foods and cultural continuity into that program.
Niqipiaq: To Eat Real Food is directed by Alexis Anoruk Sallee and executive produced by Jaclyn Sallee of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation. It is presented by Vision Maker Media and distributed by American Public Television.
For festival information and tickets, visit laskinsfest.com. Learn more about the film at niqipiaq.org.
About Koahnic Broadcast Corporation
Koahnic Broadcast Corporation is a national Indigenous media organization dedicated to amplifying Native voices, stories, and perspectives. Koahnic operates KNBA 90.3 FM, National Native News, Native America Calling, and distributes programming to stations nationwide through the Native Voice One network. Together, these platforms serve Indigenous, rural, and urban communities with trusted journalism, cultural programming, and storytelling.
Jaclyn Sallee
Koahnic Broadcast Corporation
+1 907-793-3501
Why it matters: As Arctic communities contend with a changing climate and the rise of processed foods, this documentary spotlights the living traditions that sustain Alaska Native identity and health. Its selection for a major festival signals a growing appetite for authentic Indigenous stories onscreen — and reminds viewers that “real food” is about much more than ingredients.
