A Conversation with Chris Eyre: Native American Identity in the Movies

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A Conversation with Chris Eyre: Native American Identity in the Movies.
In this exclusive conversation with Chris Eyre and AFI Conservatory Fellows in November 2020, the acclaimed filmmaker leads a discussion about Native American identity in the movies.
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[@ValiantFerguson]

A big reason why I hate religion, and Abrahamic religions especially. I read Bury My Heart… when I was 13. That was in 1969. My eyes 👀 were opened forever. Thank you for keeping this discussion going. We cant stop until this is rectified. 🖤💜🖤 Blessed Be ✊✊✊

[@Lma818]

I think religion can be used as a smoke screen and exuse for attrocities. It goes way back to the crusdades from the 10,000's, all the way up to date. It's a dangerous thing in reality. I don't neccessarily hate religion but I hate what people missrepepsent it for, for their own gain and excuse to do terrible things.

[@Lma818]

Insigtful, currently doing my college project on Native Americans being misreperesnted in films. Chris Eyre is an inteligent and great director.

[@janastormont2278]

We are blessed to have a talented Tohono O'odham actress in a leading role of the virtual reading of my play "Regeneration!" It is the story of a diverse group of teens who bring their communities together to save Tucson as climate change progresses!

[@monicamcaghon1564]

Right on about the romanticism of native peoples die . Many blessings to you and all indigenous natives

[@FlyingOverTr0ut]

Great talk. I hope to see all these films.

[@LeviLobolink]

Ever Writer or Director or whoever you are should listen to this. Living enigmatic mystery!

[@ginaryanbearfighter7065]

No growing up I had an identity crisis that the world gave me cuz I know I didn't come from this world but I wanted to get back to where I came from I didn't know how to get back there but now i do. I came forth from the bosom of God in his life and love light. So I'm weary of the world trying to pin a label on me it's so hard living among them, people like that. I'm hunkpapa Sioux add my grandmother was english. So I had a hard time with people telling me I was Indian or white so I experienced a lot of racist slurs growing up. Search for those who want to emotional profile me or profile me at all , get educated by truth which is something you probably know nothing of. I trust no one and I don't believe everything I hear just because somebody wants me to believe it. And I really have respect for Chris Eyre there's some hope here in his voice.

[@ValiantFerguson]

BTW. Loved Smoke Signals and that whole era of "INDIAN" Indie Cinema 🎦 👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@ginaryanbearfighter7065]

We ❤ Chris Eyre's perspective and his prerogative as well as his directorial skills. Even in Taylor Sheridan 1883 the Indian had to die but of course it was based on historical trauma.

[@LeviLobolink]

I love this.

[@WD_-xt2wb]

I wish lots of blessings to all native american culture and people! Just listening couple minutes I can feel how intelligent is Chris) And I noticed also that natives die, so i tryed to watch again and again hoping maybe this time everything will be allright 😁 even in Rango cartoon!! 😢😢

[@stevennieto9898]

The Exiles is a real good movie I've enjoyed.

[@valeryediamond7249]

For Chris Eyre to hit the centre of his theory about Native American representation being all political in the 1st half hour really goes to show that we have extensive knowledge in our blood and family relations. Listen to us if you dare and you might just hear that insane hum which originated from a liquid ball of metal in the centre of earth. What’s next none of us know .

[@lupelupelupe]

who is the guy in the yellow hoodie tho! daaamn

[@janastormont2278]

I missed the beginning. Will this be posted later?

[@diegomiranda1952]

You can rewind, like a regular KZbin video

[@isaacmcallister5649]

It's interesting he says "noble." In today's world with everyone only being "woke" for black people, I find it almost laughable that there's a ton of tension with the BLM community regarding the Columbus statue. First of all, yes, slavery is bad. Most people know that. Secondly, its in memorial to what the man discovered (AKA the New World), not the slavery. Thirdly, the whole issue in that vein of the issue of racism/slavery is about how Columbus treated Native American people. It isn't about black people. That being said, the idea that a whole organization of black people spoke up for a group of people that have never (as far as I know) protested the statue's presence. Even in youtube ads (which btw youtube headquarters is arguably in the most liberal state in the US) it's only LGTBQ or BLM. I have a problem with neither of those. What I DO have a problem with is pushing "diversity" when you only include two groups of people (out of many other minority groups) in a commercial. I also have a problem with organizations using certain issues that don't apply to them as a stepping stone for their own popularity and skewing the historical context to push their own agenda. I just find it so ironic that the one minority group screwed over the most by the US (historically speaking) are represented/talked about the LEAST, and it's wrong to state your opinion on a topic as fact that hasn't affected you. The BLM should've asked Native American awareness/social organizations what THEY thought before going on a trade as if the issue ALSO was about them. Going back to the topic of nobility for a moment, whenever I've met/spoken to a person online or in-person that's told me they're Native American, I would ask them a number of hot-topic questions on issues concerning their minority group. Guess what their answers were? Kind, gentle, peace-seeking, loving, and wanting to understand all sides of the issue. The Native Americans I've met have always given off a sort of MLJK type vibe. Nobility is kind and honorable. Remember that this all has been said simply based on my perceptions, experiences, knowledge, and opinions. I'd love to get some feedback from Native American people on how appropriate/accurate my attitude is towards all of this (since I'm not trying to speak FOR you guys, but rather hoping to grow in how I perceive/understand your issues). I'll end with this point. Let's say a white cop shoots a Native American, and another shoots an African American. Let's say both white cops had a legitimate reason to shoot the culprit (self defense/2nd degree manslaughter, reaching for a weapon, attempting homicide, etc). How likely do you think people are to assume the African American suffered police brutality as opposed to the the Native American, regardless of facts and regardless of who's actually been treated worse throughout history? That's right. The African American, because right now, it's all about them. They're the only ones people descriminate against "apparently," just because there's more of them than Native Americans. God forbid an issue of race, people, or culture be about anyone else for fear that people forget about the LGBTQ and BLM organizations.