Native American History in Film: How Indigenous People are Misrepresented

-Eleseo A. Swentzell-

-Santa Clara Pueblo-

Eleseo Swentzell.webm

Copy of Misrepresented: Native Americans in Film - Eleseo Swentzell

My Personal Connection

My education journey started young as a child. My quick education experience was opening and informative. I learned so much in both normal school and homeschooling with my grandmother. Then I left for the Santa Fe Indian School for 7th grade. The work was more rigorous. It was not easy to do slow, frustrating, and hard schoolwork. I did well though, and now I am here as a senior. My name is Eleseo Swentzell. I am from the Pueblo of Santa Clara. My current homelands. I like to describe myself as stern. I believe myself to be that as my resting face is a frown and angered eyebrows. Education is a path taken by many, and one I will travel among.

Swentzell, Eleseo. 2023. "Ahh I think its focused, yeah that will work." Personal Collection.

Identity

Sharing Ones Skin

Jeanette Armstrong's article “Sharings Ones Skin” is about the Okanagan connection to self, community, and land. Armstrong discusses the importance of cultural identity and the connection between a person’s experiences are their indigenous heritage. She tells about the struggles of keeping the indigenous identity in a modern world.

Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One’s Skin.” Jerry, Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds.). The Case Against the Global Economy, San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club Books.

Swentzell, Eleseo. 2023. “Midevening Heist.” Personal Connection.

How Place Name Impacts the Way We See Landscape

The article “How place names impact the way we see landscape” by B. Toastie is a more personal article talking about the Navajo connection to place. Toastie speaks about the indigenous connection to the land and the significance of the names of these places. They compare this to the Western idealization of naming practice.

Toastie B. 2020. “How place names impact the way we see landscapes.” HighCountryNews.KNOWTHEWEST.hcn.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape/print_view

Swentzell, Eleseo. 2023. “Driver.” Personal Collection.

And Then I went to School

Joe Suina writes a somber story of his first-hand accounts of the Indian Boarding school program. Suina tells about the deep cultural and emotional connection he had to his pueblo life. He tells how that life is suddenly contrasted by a Western lifestyle of education in the boarding schools.

Suina, Joe. 1985. “And Then I Went To School.” Memories of a Pueblo Childhood. New Mexico Journal of Reading.

rethinkschoo.org/articles/and-then-I-went-to-school/

Swentzell, Eleseo. 2023. "Grand." Personal Collection.

Historical Connection

The Old Corral: A Brief History of Native Americans in Cinema

This article by Jeff Arnolds provides an overview of misportrayals and pro-Native films. With a deep history in movies, Native Peoples' have been in the spotlight. however, this spotlight brought issues of being "mocked and shown as poor tacticians and strategists who would ride endlessly round a circle of wagons or a fort." Arnold then contrasts this with exploring pro-Native films in the past, expanding the article further.

Arnold, Jeff. "The Old Corral: A Brief History of Native Americans in Cinema." ClassicFlix. July 2016. Accessed October 18, 2023.

https://www.classicflix.com/blog/2016/07/12/the-old-corral-a-brief-history-of-native-americans-in-cinema

Korkis, Jim. “What makes the Red man Red?” Wiki Fandom. 2020.

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/What_Made_the_Red_Man_Red%3F

The Evolution of Native American Representing in Westerns

With Issues of the past, American Indians facing misrepresentation is one that still exists. The article provides a historical insight into the topic written by Shane Cubis, going deep over how early Hollywood was plagued with Native tropes. The writer then goes to the Golden Age of Westerns, moving forward to the Revisionist Era. Providing more insight into Native Peoples' not being portrayed accurately or stereotyped. Finally, the article ends at the present, where there is room left for improvements and change.

Cubis, Shane. "The evolution of Native American Representation in Westerns." What's On. October 2017. Accessed October 18, 2023.

https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/the-evolution-of-native-american-representation-in-westerns/63tmqv2y7

Cubis, Shane. October 2017. “The Evolution of Native American Representation in Westerns.” What’s On.

https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/the-evolution-of-native-american-representation-in-westerns/63tmqv2y7

Native American Actors Walk off Adam Sandler Movie Set

This video from KRQE shows outraged Native actors recalling being disrespected in an Adam Sandler movie set. The movie was called "Ridiculous Six" and was to feature Native actors as extras. The actors faced a degrading and disrespectful movie set towards Native American culture. When the actors spoke up, the producer(s) replied "If you guys are so sensitive, you should leave."

"Native American actors walk off Adam Sandler movie set." Youtube, KRQE. April 23, 2015.

youtube.com/watch?v=B3dqwKw292c

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/TheRidiculous6

Currently Conditions

What is #Landback? Inside New Native American TV Shows

The video created by PBS Origins speaks about how current TV shows and films are bringing attention to Native Peoples issues, specifically the landback movements. Show writer Taietsoron:Sere 'Tai' LeClaire gives insight into the authenticity that Native writers like himself can bring to the film industry. This is a way to show current and past issues suffered by Native Peoples'.

"What is #Landback? Inside New Native American TV Shows." Uploaded by PBS Origins, June 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8ePZ46eTD0

Indigenous Filmmakers Finally Find Their Place in Hollywood

With the rise of streaming services after COVID-19, Native filmmakers emerge too. Natives are moving into the spotlight in the film industry with shows, writers, producers, and actors. Tribes are beginning to step into this industry with Standing Arrow Productions or independent film producers like Sterlin Harjo. This Rise of Natives in the Industry with Shows and Movies gives authenticity. Natives have a new visual format to share experiences and history.

Proudfit, Joely. “Indigenous Filmmaker FInally Find Their Place in Hollywood.” Variety. Accessed November 27, 2023.

https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/joely-proudfit-inclusion-rutherford-falls-native-americans-indigenous-filmmakers-1234997801/

"Reservations Dogs." Courtesy of FX.

Native Filmmakers Take A Leading Role

This article by Jason Asenap goes over a film called Mud (Hashtl'ishnii) and other short films. These films, documentaries, projects, and committees help bring a creative and artistic side to Native filmmaking. These give growth to Native Filmmakers in this industry. This gives the chance for Native Peoples to give insight into issues like alcoholism, abuse, and poverty, in a poetic narrative.

Shaandiin Tome shoots film the old-school way on 16-millimeter film. Photograph by Ungelbah Dávila-Shivers.

Asenap, James. “Native Filmmakers take a Leading Role.” New Mexico Magazine. Accessed 27 November 2023.

https://www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/native-filmmakers-leading-role/

Around the Globe

Mexico's Underrepresented Gain a Voice

The article written by John Hopewell tells us how Mexican film festivals are becoming diverse. Social topics like LGBTQ+, cartel violence, racism, and others are appearing more. Most of the filmmakers in these festivals are women or Indigenous People of Mexico. This new diversity of filmmakers is "no anthropologist snore fest, but sophisticated and entertaining works of art."

Hopewell, John. September 2022. "Mexico's Underrepresented Gain a Voice." Variety.

https://variety.com/2022/film/festivals/natalia-beristain-xun-sero-bruno-santamaria-1235374775/

A Brief History of Maori Cinema

Nga Taonga Sound & Vision goes over the Maori People of New Zealand being in the film industry. These Indigenous people have been in the film industry since its earliest days. Though in these early films created by non-Maori people, usually misportrayed Maori People with the “noble savage” trope. In the 70’s, independent Maori filmmakers rose in number. They showed more topics of social issues like assimilation, struggles, racism, and sexuality. The further rise of Maori filmmakers provides a way for these indigenous filmmakers to reclaim their voices.

Hayward, Rudall. Te Miha, Ramai. "To Love a Maori." 1972.

"A Brief History of Maori Cinema." Nga Taonga Sound and Vision. https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/explore-stories/stories/new-zealand-history/a-brief-history-of-maori-cinema/

Influential Filmmakers React to State of Indigenous Film in Canada

This video by the CBC News is a discussion held by Indigenous Canadian filmmakers and journalists about Aboriginal Canadians in film. They discuss the struggles of finding funds or their films not being shown. First Nations journalist Jesse Wente describes how unfortunately most films about Indigenous people were not created by Indigenous people. “Nothing can be an Indigenous Film, unless it was made by Indigenous People.”

"Influential filmmakers react to state of Indigenous film in Canada." CBC News: The National.

Taking Action

Work Cited

Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One’s Skin.” Jerry, Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds.). The Case Against the Global Economy, San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club Books.

Toastie B. 2020. “How place names impact the way we see landscapes.” HighCountryNews.KNOWTHEWEST.hcn.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape/print_view

Suina, Joe. 1985. “And Then I Went To School.” Memories of a Pueblo Childhood. New Mexico Journal of Reading.

rethinkschoo.org/articles/and-then-I-went-to-school/

Arnold, Jeff. "The Old Corral: A Brief History of Native Americans in Cinema." ClassicFlix. July 2016. Accessed October 18, 2023.

https://www.classicflix.com/blog/2016/07/12/the-old-corral-a-brief-history-of-native-americans-in-cinema

Cubis, Shane. "The evolution of Native American Representation in Westerns." What's On. October 2017. Accessed October 18, 2023.

https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/the-evolution-of-native-american-representation-in-westerns/63tmqv2y7

"Native American actors walk off Adam Sandler movie set." Youtube, KRQE. April 23, 2015.

youtube.com/watch?v=B3dqwKw292c

Asenap, James. “Native Filmmakers take a Leading Role.” New Mexico Magazine. Accessed 27 November 2023.

https://www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/native-filmmakers-leading-role/

Proudfit, Joely. “Indigenous Filmmaker FInally Find Their Place in Hollywood.” Variety. Accessed November 27, 2023.

https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/joely-proudfit-inclusion-rutherford-falls-native-americans-indigenous-filmmakers-1234997801/

https://variety.com/2022/film/festivals/natalia-beristain-xun-sero-bruno-santamaria-1235374775/

"A Brief History of Maori Cinema." Nga Taonga Sound and Vision. https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/explore-stories/stories/new-zealand-history/a-brief-history-of-maori-cinema/

"Influential filmmakers react to state of Indigenous film in Canada." CBC News: The National. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peRTgZbuE0s

Photo Citations

Swentzell, Eleseo. 2023. "Ahh I think its focused, yeah that will work." Personal Collection.

Swentzell, Eleseo. 2023. “Midevening Heist.” Personal Connection.

Swentzell, Eleseo. 2023. “Driver.” Personal Collection.

Swentzell, Eleseo. 2023. "Grand." Personal Collection.

Korkis, Jim. “What makes the Red man Red?” Wiki Fandom. 2020.

Cubis, Shane. October 2017. “The Evolution of Native American Representation in Westerns.” What’s On.

"Native American actors walk off Adam Sandler movie set." Youtube, KRQE. April 23, 2015.

"What is #Landback? Inside New Native American TV Shows." Uploaded by PBS Origins, June 2023.

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