Nathalie Standingcloud

An indigenous woman must confront a mysterious predator in parallel worlds of prehistory and dystopian future.

When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one—until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.

The Heart Stays tells the story of two Native American sisters who leave the traditions and safety of their Native nation to follow their own long-held dreams–the older one to attend a distinguished college and the younger one to become a rock star. Soon after leaving their beloved land and community their life journeys collide with racism, drugs, and violence, forcing the older teen to choose between her own life’s work and saving her sister’s life.

Four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma steal, rob and save in order to get to the exotic, mysterious and faraway land of California.