The epic and inspiring story of how basketball became a lifeline for the Haida people of Haida Gwaii, a remote Indigenous Nation on Canada’s northwest coast near Alaska. Saints and Warriors follows the legendary Skidegate Saints basketball team during the 2023–24 season as they attempt to defend their dominance at the iconic All Native Basketball Tournament, where they’ve reigned for over a decade. Team leaders Desi Collinson, Gaagwiis Jason Alsop, and Duane Alsop face new challenges as star player Jesse Barnes unexpectedly joins a rival team, setting the stage for a dramatic and high-stakes championship clash.
Beyond the court, the Saints’ story intertwines with the Haida Nation’s decades-long legal battle to reclaim their ancestral land, stolen through the Indian Act of 1885. Many Saints players are also leaders in the Haida government, fighting to restore Aboriginal title. Through these parallel struggles, Saints and Warriors showcases how “a silly game of putting the ball in the hoop” has become a powerful tool for political action, cultural preservation, and community resilience.