The first movie to be written, directed, and co-produced by Native Americans.
While shooting the scene where Lucy and Velma are driving backwards, Elaine Miles (Lucy) learned to drive backwards driving herself. Hence, no stunt driver was needed.
The song "All My Relations" performed by Ulali at the end of the film uses the traditional Irish tune "Garryowen." The tune was a favorite of Acting-General George Armstrong Custer during the Civil War, and became the official air of the US 7th Cavalry Regiment in 1867. According to legend, it was the last tune played before the Battle of the Little Bighorn, where Custer and his entire regiment were killed.
In 2018, the United States Library of Congress selected Smoke Signals for preservation in the National Film Registry.
In a flashback, Victor's father asks him who his favorite Indian is, and Victor replies "Nobody." Gary Farmer, who plays Victor's father, starred as an Indian named Nobody in the movie Homem Morto (1995).