A new documentary titled “Willie Iġġiaġruk Hensley: Homeland” has been released to help Alaskans gain a deeper understanding of the well-known Inupiaq leader, Willie Hensley.
The film will be shown in Hensley’s hometown of Kotzebue this Thursday, following its premiere in Anchorage last week.
Produced by Marla Williams, the film does not overwhelm viewers with information, instead opting for a montage of moments that showcase Hensley’s personal charm and unique Inupiaq sense of humor.
While much has already been documented about Hensley’s role as a champion for Native land rights and his evolution into a statewide leader—most notably in his memoir “Fifty Miles from Tomorrow”—Williams hopes viewers take away a nuanced grasp of Hensley’s character from her film.
One interesting element of the documentary is Hensley’s ever-changing appearance, as pointed out by Williams.
“That was really fun in this film, to look at how many different hairstyles Willie has had throughout life,” she said, noting his transitions from a flattop and a nerdy side part to long sixties sideburns and finally, a ponytail that extends down his back.
Production of the film began in 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this period, Hensley’s hair grew an impressive 18 inches, a fact confirmed by his wife, Abbe, who measured his growing ponytail.
Williams acknowledged her initial concerns that Hensley’s different hairstyles might confuse viewers but ultimately found them to serve as a powerful visual narrative.
“Adaptability is his hallmark, as demonstrated by his hairstyles,” Williams explained.
She believes Hensley embodies a spirit of forward-thinking while learning from his past, saying, “I think he’s a man of his times. He’s always current. He’s always looking forward, but he’s not stuck in his past. He uses his past to keep him moving forward.”
The documentary explores Hensley’s remarkable ability to navigate between the traditional Native culture and the contemporary worlds of business and politics.
The film traces Hensley’s roots back to a sod house near Kotzebue, where he takes his daughter, Priscilla, on a boat trip to see his boyhood home.
“Not a table, not a chair, not a bed. This was home,” Hensley recalls, gesturing toward the remnants of wood and mounds of sod.
He recounts how he was just eight years old when his family built the house, and reflects on his youthful decision to chop up a plank he found on the beach to use as kindling, unaware it was meant to be their door.
Hensley laughs as he reminisces, “So, I chopped the bugger up, not knowing it was supposed to be our door. We had no door that winter.”
The film also provides a glimpse into Hensley’s teenage years at a religious boarding school in Tennessee, where he arrived with just a shopping bag full of belongings.
His classmates, bemused by the care packages of whale meat and other subsistence foods he received, were ultimately glad to have him on their football team due to his speed on the field.
“Of course, I had never seen a football, I had never seen a basketball. I had never done track, but I learned to do all of those,” Hensley explains, showcasing his adaptability and eagerness to seize opportunities.
Even as a young teenager, Hensley’s drive to make the most of his circumstances was evident, perhaps due to a life shaped by challenges faced by previous generations.
“In those days, if you’re a young Inupiaq that age—if you survive TB and chicken pox, and influenza and everything else that everybody caught—you’re pretty damned tough,” Hensley stated.
His remarkable work ethic and thirst for knowledge were noted by classmates who remembered him sneaking into the bathroom at 2 a.m. to read instead of adhering to the lights-out policy.
This period of his life laid the foundation for his future as an activist, which began during his time at George Washington University.
There, he had a front-row seat to civil rights demonstrations in Washington, D.C., profoundly shaping his worldview.
Returning to Alaska for graduate school, Hensley was influenced by the social justice movements of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
He immediately began researching Native land rights and collaborated with other young Alaska Native leaders to successfully advocate for the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
By the age of 25, he had also made his mark as a state legislator.
The film’s theme, “Homeland,” is beautifully captured through the lens of Steve Rychetnik, who is known in Alaska for his company SprocketHeads.
Rychetnik’s vibrant scenes of contemporary Kotzebue are paired with sweeping views of the raw beauty of Hensley’s family homestead at Ikkattuq.
The artistic use of 1960s rock and roll music, interspersed with archival photos and films, takes the audience back to a time that Hensley believes is relevant to understanding today’s politically turbulent climate.
During the film’s premiere in Anchorage, Hensley shared his hope that the documentary will remind a new generation of Alaskans of the power of unity.
“It was through just a humongous effort of people from all walks of life that came together to really do a miraculous thing,” he said.
“There was nothing assured when we got started that we’d get anywhere, because what we did was unique to America.”
For those unable to attend the in-person screenings, the Hensley documentary will be available for online viewing in May, along with other films from a series made possible by the Alaska Humanities Forum and the Rasmuson Foundation.
Hensley’s film serves as the final long-form documentary in the “Magnetic North: The Alaska Character” series, which has highlighted prominent political figures and Native leaders such as former governor Bill Sheffield, Jacob Adams, and carver Nathan Jackson.
The last episode of the series is currently in post-production and will feature a short profile of Sheila Toomey, a longtime Alaska journalist who reported on the state during its formative years.
The “Magnetic North” series was conceived by Diane Kaplan, who recently retired as head of Rasmuson.
Kaplan had concerns that too many outstanding Alaskans would pass away before their stories were documented.
Sadly, seven individuals profiled in the series have since died, including Adams, Sheffield, Vic Fischer, Roy Masden, Ed Rasmuson, Arliss Sturgulewski, and Clem Tillion.
Kameron Perez-Verdia, president of the Humanities Forum, has noted the series’ ability to bring the community together to discuss the legacies of remarkable Alaskans and how their values have shaped the state.
At the Anchorage premiere, he emphasized the importance of protecting these legacies in the face of contemporary challenges, stating, “I just want to encourage all of you to make sure that you’re fighting for the things that we all treasure.”
image source from：https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/2025-04-16/film-portrays-willie-hensley-as-a-man-of-his-times
