For thousands of years, Native American warriors have been the first line of defense in a hostile situation. Indian warriors have a wide mix of emotions and motives – patriotism, pride, rage, courage, practicality, and spirituality, all mingling with an abiding respect for tribal, familial, and national traditions. Being a warrior involves more than fighting enemies, it is about service to the community and protection of their homeland. These are key points that are explored in the PBS program The Warrior Tradition. To complement the film, WNED-TV commissioned a series of original digital video essays by Native American producers. Each of these short films provides additional insight into the warrior tradition.