Strangers on Our Land

Strangers on Our Land is a character-driven documentary film that investigates the killing of Raymond Mattia, a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation, by U.S. Border Patrol outside his home in May 2023.Through the lens of this tragic event, the film examines the broader erosion of Indigenous sovereignty and the profound impact of militarized borders on Native communities.Structured around fragments of bodycam footage from the night of Raymond's death, interwoven with memories and reflections from his family and friends, the film reveals the personal and collective trauma wrought by decades of state violence and federal encroachment on sovereign land.The narrative unfolds through the voices of Raymond's sister Annette as well as her family; his close friend and ceremony leader Ophelia Rivas; human rights activist Mike Wilson; and childhood friend Dorene.Their stories anchor the emotional and historical core of the film, tracing how federal policies have transformed the Tohono O'odham Nation's ancestral territory into a heavily surveilled and militarized zone.The film juxtaposes intimate moments of family life, ritual, and artistic expression with the stark reality of border walls, surveillance towers, and the ever-present threat of law enforcement violence.By returning repeatedly to the bodycam footage, the film gradually reveals not only the events of that night but also the deeper loss experienced by the community.