What Hollywood Gets Wrong About Native America

You can watch the new season of Native America now - head to www.pbs.org/native-america.
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Why aren’t Native people- and their stories - ever the crux of your favorite films?
From films used as a tool of genocidal propaganda, to award-winning Indigenous stories in Hollywood, how far has Indigenous media representation come and where is it headed?
Tai Leclaire and experts track the past, present and future of Indigenous entertainment- and how the media and bias prevents Native people from telling their own stories.
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PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: to.pbs.org/DonateORIG
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[@klu222]

In college I took my Saudi friend to a showing of smoke signals and she was blown away. She thought we were extinct. I shocked her even more with the revelation that I'm Blackfeet...it was a good day to be indigenous.

[@TheForrest05]

Out of Cherokee Nation and citizen, remember when watching how it reminded me of our here. Just different landscape.

[@PatsySegars]

Pocahontas was my 8th great grandmother. We are not extinct. We still have the blood in our veins even if we look white or black.

[@anarchist_parable]

Dude, I moved from New York State where we had natives around to Kentucky and they literally think all the natives are gone. It was wild to me. I was actually the one teaching some of the people here about the Trail of Tears 😢

[@stoonookw]

How could she think we were extinct if you were her friend and you're indigenous?

[@ASerpentPerplexed]

​@@stoonookwClearly her Saudi friend didn't know she was indigenous until they had a discussion after seeing the movie

[@VoidDWG]

The fact there's a movie justifying trail of tears is... gross.

[@ChromeHeartsCart]

too bad they sucked

[@elfarlaur]

It doesn't explicitly, it's just the implication. The main characters are taking part in the Oklahoma land grab which was only possible because of the forced displacement of indigenous people

[@moonshadowmagic7116]

There was also the irony about the Irish characters being displaced themselves, and grasping at straws

[@polimana]

@@elfarlaurthat's what makes it more insidious really :/

[@bawintermage8351]

I saw Smoke Signals sitting all alone on a shelf, I rented it: laughed and cried and ultimately paid the non return fine to keep it. I still have it on my shelf, inside the plastic protective sleeve. As an American of African heritage, I see, understand and empathize with many of the struggles of First Nations people. But I also thank God for our people's resilience, hope and optimism. No one can oppress you forever if you don't bend your back! Keep telling our stories PBS. Don't ever give in, your unflinching dedication to the truth is the thin line between freedom and Authoritarianism.

[@chanceDdog2009]

I’m Mexican American. I see a connection too. For me it’s a complicated. Discussion , because I know I’m a mix of European and Native American heritage. But I don’t know either of them. I do not look European at all. I’m short and dark skinned . In my own culture my appearance is not celebrated or appreciated. I want to know who my native ancestors were but it’s doubtful that any meaningful records exist.. What’s worse ,in my opinion is the racism brown folks have with each other . Maybe it’s because we lost everything and we are searching for ourselves so hard that we can’t share our similarities. Because we don’t want to be lumped into just our skin color. ???

[@bawintermage8351]

@@chanceDdog2009 I think that you have hit upon a few important points. But also remember that animosity is stoked between "ethnic groups" ( non whites) especially in America for force division to keep the top down power structure in place. Native Americans and Americans of African extraction have a long, close and sometimes complicated history ranging from close ties, to shared families to hostility. All we can do is make a conscious effort to first love ourselves, learn about our own and shared history and work to make tomorrow better than yesterday. Be Blessing

[@gnostic268]

​​@@chanceDdog2009There are Indigenous peoples of the now North and South America continents but Mexican American with Indigenous heritage who live in the U.S. need to understand that people who belong to Native Nations here have specific cultural, language, ceremonial and commmunity ties to their Nations. Native people while we support other Native Nations, are not pan-Indigenous. It's frustrating when Mexican Americans or Mexican nationals move into urban areas which are the ancesral homelands of Native Nations and start demanding recognition and a share of federal funding for their projects when there are barely resources for the Nations who have been there for thousands of years pre-colonization.

[@nathancanaan102]

Hey victor!

[@TheJosman]

​@@gnostic268 As a mixed-race Mexican, i actually agree and understand what you're saying. I like that many Mexicans and other Latinos are reconnecting with their ancestors' roots and stuff like that. However, even though we may have Native ancestry, that doesn't make it right for us to overshadow actual Native American communities on their land. That's my issue with the Aztlan movement. These self-proclaimed "Indigenous Chicanos" wanting the American Southwest to be returned to Mexico are basically nationalists justifying their territorial expansionism under an "Indigenous"/"decolonial" movement, not knowking that many Natives from the Southwest actually fought against Mexicans to be able to be independent on their lands.

[@kellyradtke4885]

I, a WHITE girl, grew up on/near the reservation. My dad had been adopted by his white uncle, who was married to a native woman, so we were raised with native cousins. When I went to a fancy college in Minnesota full of mostly privileged kids from Minneapolis it was fascinating to watch Smoke Signals for class and I was the only one who was laughing at some of the jokes. I'd never felt so out of place watching a movie that made me feel so at home. Our part of the world rarely sees the big screen.

[@user-vu3fq2re8x]

Hey, stop saying that. We aren’t white, we’re pink.

[@chadwik4000]

How often do you get broken into living so close

[@jessenoreligionno5731]

​@@chadwik4000by natives? Never, by other poor whites, a couple of times.

[@jamesd7606]

As a white dude who enjoys history, I loved hearing the director of "Prey" (Dan Trachtenberg) talk about how the costume department decided to forgo complete historical accuracy in favor of letting the cast each bring in elements of their own peoples traditions. It is a cool touch and good to hear the the "popcorn flick" could take so much care.

[@mionysus5374]

I don't think that was a good call.... feeds into that whole "Pan-Indian" myth.... that they were all just one people (when really each tribe/nation was an entire world unto itself different from all other nations); but hey, like you said, it was just a popcorn flick. Definitely hope they are way more accurate to the Comanche aesthetic when they adapt Empire of the Summer Moon into a movie.

[@lilmermaid246]

I think Tai missed the biggest future blockbuster: Tai-tanic

[@firegirl_lanae]

I watched a horror film called Slash/Back about a group of Inuit teens fighting an alien invasion. It's directed by Nyla Innuksuk and is super campy and fun, I recommend checking it out!

[@gyrrakavian]

Going to have to check that out.

[@totor0lling12]

I've been meaning to check that one out! Thanks for the reminder.

[@PurpleNoir]

That sounds great thx for the recommendation

[@Eosinophyllis]

Oh that sounds awesome

[@revolosh8093]

There’s also a really good Canadian First Nations horror movie called Blood Quantum! It’s about the people of a Canadian reservation trying to survive a zombie apocalypse.

[@edencollier3212]

While Killers of the Flower Moon is by no means perfect, I love that fact that in every scene with Lily Gladstone they were able to hold their own and even outshine DiCaprio and De Niro two of the most well known (and highly paid) actors in Hollywood.

[@SKULLKR3W]

Lily is the best

[@SorenAlba54]

I thought it was flawless, to be honest. A film that was created by one of the most distinguished directors of our time who actually did his research and was able to portray the story on both sides of the argument. Lily Gladstone did her thing; so much so that she became the first indigenous woman to receive a Golden Globe award before the Oscars. I was also surprised that the song that was played before the movie ended was one of the nominees for the Best Original Song category. For the first time in American history, the rightful heirs of this continent have their voices to be heard and this time, they will not be ignored or forgotten ever again.

[@decemberkat]

Lily learned to speak Osage for that role. I grew up in Oklahoma and I was always amazed how that tribe and the grandchildren of those murderers lived so close still….btw Angie Debo let us all know clearly that what happened in killers of the flower moon is not unusual and happened to most tribes(My mothers included) Killing us for land and oil is exactly how all of Oklahoma was built!🪶🪶

[@apnosaurus]

denying native people roles because they cut their hair is gross. especially once you learn in some cultures cutting hair is a grief thing.

[@vixendoe6943]

During the Vietnam war the military carried out experiments on whether or not long hair does give a warrior sensory advantages. According to the reports, yes, it does.

[@krisrhood2127]

Especially if you think about it long hair might get in the way of costumes and makeup

[@vixendoe6943]

@@krisrhood2127 A lot of First Nation people wear makeup and still keep their hair long. They use barrettes, ponytails braids.

[@SurfbyShootin]

The execs, producers, and screenwriters of film industry had to cut their foreskins off to get in the club. They made sacrifices.

[@apnosaurus]

@@SurfbyShootin "oh it was a different time". same excuse people use to defend gone with the wind.

[@MWhaleK]

A movie with all native actors or mostly native actors about the Mississippian civilization or another of the great mound builder civilizations might be good.

[@gyrrakavian]

Agreed.

[@thatdude3977]

Naw anything Hollywood touches will be negative for Native Americans

[@Hogfan11]

I read a book about Cahokia in my History of The American Indian class at Univ. of Arkansas. It absolutely needs to be portrayed in a film

[@karolinakuc4783]

I recommend you Arkady Fiedler's book "Crazy Horse". In it author collected memories of native Americans and you can see their point of view and how American nationalists tainted image of Crazy Horse to the point that we find out true name of Crazy Horse is Untamed Horse.

[@danielkover7157]

That would be a neat movie.

[@barbarastrayhorn4667]

Im an old white woman who was raised in an abusive household by an alcoholic father. I watched Smoke Signals, more thanbonce. I laughed. I cried. I got it. Marginalized people are everywhere.

[@dontwalkdontrun]

How many times have you seen Smoke Signals? When Arnold asks Victor who his favorite Indian is and he says "Nobody", Gary Farmer, three years before Smoke Signals came out, played an Indian named Nobody in the Jim Jarmusch film Dead Man. Can you beat that?

[@RraMakutsi]

Dead Man is one of my favorite movies... Gary Farmer is perfect in the role of Nobody, he is such a talented actor!

[@amethystamaris]

"Avatar, Space Pocahontas" 😄

[@ritawilbur6128]

Dances with Aliens

[@jimmyryan5880]

It's not subtle about it.

[@Leightr]

I heard it referred to as "Dances with Smurfs", which Southpark doubled down on.

[@dragoninthewest1]

​@@ritawilbur6128That's good.

[@ANTSEMUT1]

​@@jimmyryan5880 but some how still chooses to be completely oblivious about it, the movie could have done with an ounce of self awareness.

[@spencergellsworth]

the gags about Yellowstone in Rutherford Falls were *chef's kiss*

[@ChromeHeartsCart]

he's just mad he lost and know his race is on the verge of extection

[@duncanluciak5516]

John Trudell (the radio guy) said: 500 years ago, we hadn't heard the word "Indian", and now we're trying desperately to live up to it. Inuit, Anishnaabe, they mean "people".

[@benjaminacuna8013]

I mean when the word Tonto in Spanish translates to a word for dumb so it’s double offensive

[@julietfischer5056]

I doubt the writer was even thinking of that. He just wanted terms that 'sounded Indian.' Neither he nor the illustrator ever developed the character.

[@commonsense215]

Wrong spelling....

[@raticusfinch]

@@commonsense215 no its not? tonto means fool/idiot in spanish

[@JurassicLion2049]

Since you’re pitching films with authentic Native rep how about a film about something my grandma always wanted to do but couldnt: A Yaqui’s Search for the Loch Ness Monster. She was a cool Indian lady in life & apparently had like a fascination with the Loch Ness Monster. She never left California but I feel like if she had the chance, she’dve tried. And imagine how dope itd be if it was real, was found, and it was by an old Indian lady?

[@A7exandersca7es]

I thinknits your responsibility now to share her store. Write a peace praising her in her adventures she'd seek. You can do it. Your the only one who can.

[@genevarockeman9721]

I rented Smoke Signals having no idea what it was about. The "how do we forgive our fathers" bit totally broke me. A truly amazing movie.

[@NextToToddliness]

Diné, here! Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to put these videos together. I recently was involved in a racist Instagram attack, after I spoke up about the depictions of my tribe's cultural beliefs, with the most notable being the proliferation of the "skinwalker" mythos. Similarly to Sasq'ets (Sasquatch), native ancestral beliefs are being bastardized for the entertainment of non-native people, which spreads misinformation, creates further cultural erasure, and whitewashes history against our favor or wishes. What used to be sacred, or a spiritual teaching tool, has been commodified into Pokémon. Needless to say, it was a nasty attack, as a lot of non-natives have taken personal ownership of our identities. Or, as one person put it, "[Natives] lost, we can bastardize what we want." I'd appreciate it, if your team considered making a video about this topic, as your platform allows a wider range of viewers. Much obliged, and thank you again for this series. Ahéhee'!

[@gyrrakavian]

Criminy!

[@annabelcunningham2848]

My nephews have been really getting into those myths and I've tried to teach them about the real roots and mythology but they just like their tik Tok fed ideas :(

[@jasonGamesMaster]

As always, great information. I am a white dude who grew up in a very white, very small town called Pocahontas (yeah really) whose mascot was, of course, an Indian. I grew up on my parents westerns, and while I don't think I ever had a truly NEGATIVE view towards Native Americans, I really didn't get the true situation, at least not until I got to college and met a Native American from Cherokee, NC. He didn't really rant about it, he was not a hugely political person, even though I was, but it was through many of the small things he said and did that made me step back and realize how messed up everything really was. Part of a general awakening to reality that I underwent in those years. Insane how messed up these movies are, as well as much of the other media. I'm so glad things seem to maybe (mostly) be getting better, even if slowly.

[@aubreejobizzarro1208]

Smoke signals helped me forgive a small part of my families alcohol problems. We’re of settler descent but Thomas’ monologue at the end of the film helped me think about alcoholism differently within my own family setting. A very good film, nostalgic in the resilience and humor in the face of poverty and not having much. ❤

[@gibberishname]

A Million Ways to Tai in the West

[@gyrrakavian]

Ok, you got me good with that.

[@tsingletary6311]

Tai a scarf in the west, as an Indigenous ack-tour *slides tail over the shoulder* 😄😄😄

[@biondna7984]

I LOVE Smoke Signals. Have watched it over and over and over, for the humor, the moving through pain, the struggle with alcoholism (as in my own family), and the beauty of healing. Also bought Skins, with Eric Schweig and Graham Greene. That was a hard watch, but also inspiring for the strength, resiliency, and humor.

[@user-vu3fq2re8x]

Bro, I was in Bemidji Minnesota for two years and spent most of that time in group homes and treatment centers with tons of Ojibwe and Lakota kids. We used to quote Smoke Signals nonstop, every day. One of the group homes I lived in this girl named Deanne, would wake us up every single morning by shouting “HEYYY VICTOOORRR” to wake us up and start the day on a positive note. Thank God for this movie

[@pencilpauli9442]

Saw Dances With Wolves when it was released and thought it was good. It showed Native Indians in a more sympathetic light. Okay, you can rightly tear a strip off me for being a naïf White man that had never heard of the White Saviour narrative. I deserve it. But remember that having been fed nothing but Hollywood westerns while growing up in the 60s and 70s, there was bugger all else to go on. Any road, this old dog hopes he can learn new tricks and have a better understanding of the misrepresentation of the indigenous peoples of America. Thanks for the video.

[@ChromeHeartsCart]

dont listen to that liberal chat about how white people are to blame for everything, he's speaking for a way of life his people dont even practice anymore

[@terdragontra8900]

Media made by a culture portraying people of their own culture in a positive light shouldn’t be surprising, literally every culture does this. Western society might even be exceptional for the amount of critics of itself it fosters, though I don’t really know much about how much other cultures do the same, so I’m unsure.

[@NeversurrenderMM66]

I was just impressed that a movie about Native Americans had them speak a Native language and not broken English. I will always love the movie because it portrays Natives as smart, loving, humorous, and kind people. Not rampaging stereotypes.

[@pencilpauli9442]

@@terdragontra8900 Yeah that's an interesting question. Native Americans are essentially a colonised people, who exist not only in a historical context, but as part of the USA's own mythos and self image. As such the native peoples played a major role as the antagonists in westerns. The genre is not as ubiquitous as it used to be in popular culture, but for boomers like myself, "cowboys and indians" was a game we played, films were regularly aired on TV and pulp western books were popular throughout the 20th century. The stereotype of the "injun" in popular culture was really bad on the whole. The context of fighting against the encroachment of settler colonists and land theft was rarely, if ever, mentioned. They were overtly referred to as "savages", and the burnt farm with bodies with arrows lying around was a common trope. Like you I'm not well enough informed to be able to compare with other nations. I'm sure there are equivalent racial minorities in China with the colonisation of Tibet, for example, but I can't think the Tibetans are depicted in an equally egregious manner. But I could be wrong. China has a history that is much older than that of the USA, but indigenous people's much longer history has been grossly ignored.

[@terdragontra8900]

@@pencilpauli9442 This is a very generational difference, indeed, I literally know no one my age (24) who thinks of Native Americans as savages (though I am introverted and don’t know many people to be fair), in fact an opposing stereotype of being very noble and near-magically attuned with nature and sustainability is more common. (This stereotype probably wouldn’t exist if their population densities hadn’t been so low due to European diseases killing 90% of them at first contact; in fact, lots of history would have been different)

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

"Tai, Robot" really got me lol, and so did the following ones

[@kokuinomusume]

"Live and Let Tai" was right there.

[@kellylyons1038]

As a huge Iaaac Asimov fan, that made me laugh and I would absolutely watch it "Tai, Robot" 😂

[@jamillawebb3567]

Thank you all for making this. This was a great video. I’m African American and a HUGE history buff and I am not happy with the erasure or white washing of Indigenous and Native American stories and representation in American history and cinema.

[@wwrk25]

John Waynes Teeth.

[@kuroazrem5376]

There was a movie about Indians fighting Vikings during the X century. I think is the only movie in which the Indians were the good guys and the whites the bad (except the protagonist). Also, is the only one when the Indians win.

[@mperezmcfinn2511]

Pathfinder?

[@mikeisernie]

I'm 99% sure that falls into the category of "Whites are better at being Indians than Indians." Isn't the main character a Viking baby that is left behind after a battle and raised by the indigenious people.

[@temujinjones658]

Are you thinking of "Valhalla Rising"?

[@mperezmcfinn2511]

@mikeisernie Yes. But from what I remember, he only Vikings better than the other Vikings because he supplemented his childhood Viking training with Indigenous warrior knowledge. He later takes out the main bad guy using his departed father's sword in a Viking way. I think? So technically, he didn't outfight the natives so much as he implemented their training to become a more well-rounded Viking warrior. Thereby allowing him to fulfill his journey of personal vengeance against the Viking who killed his father. In the end, it's actually that foxy-ass Moon Bloodgood who becomes the medicine woman and spiritual guide for the tribe after the death of her father, Russell Means. But I don't recall any "Mighty Whitey makes the best Chief," type jive going on. Then again, I haven't seen it since it came out.

[@kuroazrem5376]

@@mperezmcfinn2511 yes pathfinder! Thanks, I'd forgotten the name.

[@horseenthusiast1250]

Jokes aside about "All Tai-et On The Western Front," there's actually a fantastic graphic novel by Chag Lowry (and illustrated by Rahsan Ekedal) about little-regarded indigenous veterans of WWI, called Soldiers Unknown. When it was published, there were some rumblings of it getting a movie adaptation, but I haven't heard anything since. But it's an underrated gem if you're interested in WWI and its effects on future generations and culture.

[@joeshadows]

It might actually be interesting to see a Lone Ranger reboot that, in addition to not having Johnny Depp doing his most aggressively offensive redface schtick, recontextualized the titular ranger as less white savior and more actually being a tool that the local native folk use to interface with the settler culture and justice system. As an often norm-passing white male who has existed in queer/punk/POC spaces and social groups, I've had glimpses of that dynamic, e.g., being the designated cop-talker.

[@rightsarentpolitical]

I would watch the hell out of that.

[@ChromeHeartsCart]

that movie was a joke on old movies

[@DemPilafian]

The movie was satire. Making fun of stereotypes is the opposite of stereotyping.

[@arubinojr5670]

"Anything bad is actually satire."

[@fluidthought42]

​@@ChromeHeartsCart If it was a joke, it clearly was a bad joke that nobody understood. I don't even know if Disney knew it was a joke when they made it.

[@tecpaocelotl]

There's two ways of seeing "who's your favorite Indian?" Response from young Victor "Nobody". There's the obvious which is a literal nobody then there's Nobody from Deadman which ironically is played by Gary Farmer. I watched smoke signals too much. Lol. I was disappointed with the New World.

[@prestonrussell1913]

what makes The New World so problematic, I've always assumed Terrence Malick could do no wrong

[@meander112]

Engagement for the engagement god!

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

ENGAGE

[@astrocoastalprocessor]

Activate! Only a third of the way through but hope there's mention of Echo from Marvel

[@MordentInkyCap]

The movie, "Windtalkers" was such a disappointment. Nicholas Cage had a bigger role than the actual Navajo codetalkers being depicted with the important role, during World War II, of interpreting the allies's code based on their language. Most of the film was about Cage's character's moral quandary of protecting the code at all costs, even if it meant killing codetalkers that got captured.

[@gmg9010]

I saw smoke signals last years for the first time it’s great.

[@nowthenzen]

Indians are people too with everything good and bad that comes with it. Like we all are.

[@RM-xr8lq]

this video is about america not india

[@nowthenzen]

@@RM-xr8lq relax

[@vixendoe6943]

​@@nowthenzenhe does have a point. The peoples of the Americas were never Indian, a European misconception. They are Nations, each with their own name.

[@nowthenzen]

@@vixendoe6943 and America isn't actually America bc nobody who lived there called it that. So, what next?

[@vixendoe6943]

@@nowthenzen What next? What do I care what people call it. Some First Nations call it Turtle Island. If you don't like calling it America go with your own.

[@gingeralice3858]

I can only hope there will be a day when people stop saying things to us like "you don't look native / you're lying about being native" just because Hollywood put out this image of what we should look like instead of what we actually look like.

[@AzureRook]

There was that bar scene in Fallout that pokes fun of the accuracy of indigenous characters portrayed in early Hollywood that I thought was pretty funny

[@whimsicalhamster88]

Rutherford Falls was soooo good and I was devastated when it was cancelled.

[@pencilpauli9442]

Is there an indigenous peoples' equivalent of Afro-futurism... Sioux-Fi? Oh come on, you get to have Tai-Hard! lol Seriously is there any speculative fiction by Native American authors? No Tai-Fighters please! lol

[@literaterose6731]

Oh yes, of course! A *very* small sampling of North American indigenous sf/fantasy/speculative fiction (for more, google is your friend!): Rebecca Roanhorse (many books, including Trail of Lightning and a trilogy that begins with Black Sun); Louise Erdrich (many books, including Future Home of the Living God); Owl Goingback (Crota); Daniel H. Wilson (Robopocalypse); Stephen Graham Jones (Mongrels); Darcie Little Badger (A Snake Falls to Earth); Jennifer Givhan (Trinity Sight); Cherie Dimaline (The Marrow Thieves). Some collections (short stories and/or anthologies): Love After the End (Joshua Whitehead); Love Beyond Body, Space and Time (both of these are two-spirit and queer themed); Walking the Clouds; Take Us to Your Chief (Drew Hayden Taylor). And a couple of graphic novels for dessert: Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection, vol. 1; A Girl Called Echo (Katherena Vermette).

[@xDianaMoonx]

@@literaterose6731 Ooh, thank you for these recs! I'm more of a sci-fi/fantasy genre person so I def would love to expand my reading. I've heard of Rebecca Roanhorse before, but not the others. Adding these to my TBR~

[@pencilpauli9442]

@@literaterose6731 Many thanks Rose, you're a star!

[@moonshadowmagic7116]

Ok... I don't think Andre Norton connected herself with any indigenous ancestry, but as a librarian she used the resources she had, hopefully well. Her Beast Master and its sequel present an indigenous culture through the eyes of a Navajo several centuries in our future .... Do not even think of any eighties movies pretending to this title. Miss Norton felt so disgraced that she had her name removed from the credits. She published at least one other story I have read, with the truly awful title The Sioux Spaceman (musta been the publisher.) I would be interested in seeing a Native American's reactions to these, especially if they thought it could be made into a movie or TV series....

[@pencilpauli9442]

@@moonshadowmagic7116 Many thanks! Your info is much appreciated! Will add to the list!

[@SisiAvellana]

Smoke Signals is my husband and I’s FAVORITE movie. We once saw an IMDb review that said “this has ruined all other movies for me. I’ll be watching something else and just be thinking, I could be watching Smoke Signals instead”.

[@pdzombie1906]

Exactly!! Real representation is letting people tell their own stories, not forcing diversity in already existing IPs. Great video, Thanx!!!

[@acecat2798]

SG̲aawaay Ḵ'uuna (Edge of the Knife, 2018) is a movie all in Haida. Stepping away from movies, it's been really cool seeing indigenous groups all over the world making video games in their native languages. Kisima Ingitchuna (Never Alone), Skábma - Snowfall, Tchia, Rievssat... I hope it continues!

[@oO0catty0Oo]

This is my favorite series on the channel. More of this.

[@jar8425]

I actually saw Smoke Signals in the theater - and even went back to see it again with friends. One of my favorite movies.

[@GenaTrius]

Oh this is gonna be about Smoke Signals? Respectfully, I gotta close the video and go watch Smoke Signals. I've been meaning to do that for I don't know how long now.

[@GenaTrius]

Okay I'm back, glad I finally got around to that

[@Raddiebaddie]

@@GenaTriushow was it?

[@GenaTrius]

@@Raddiebaddie Oh, I laughed, I cried, I learned, it was great. Excellent movie

[@TheZenGarden_]

Hellywood didn't create those movies to get it right!

[@Khyranleander]

Well, as an old white nerd, at least I have ONE bit of this video I can feel deeply: good dad jokes at the end! [Rest, still working on.]

[@ChromeHeartsCart]

why are you reasoning with the enemy you traitor

[@bjdefilippo447]

Thank you for an informative piece. Calling out the role of faulty stereotypes and how they are perpetuated by filmmakers will hopefully open their eyes and minds at least a little bit so that they can accept perspectives of those who have the most knowledge and experience, Indigenous people themselves.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

YES! So happy to see this ❤

[@StrayVagabond]

Pfft Avatar wasn't space Pocahontas, it was space Ferngully... Which was Australian Pocahontas tyvm

[@BryanRedeagle]

I thought it was Space Dances with Wolves...

[@gracieofgod8899]

Well Pocahontas was animated Dances with Wolves, so there’s a connection

[@karolinakuc4783]

​@@BryanRedeagleIt was space Dancing with the Wolves meets Pocachontas. But it is a Science Fantasy. Nobody expects it to have 1:1 reference to what is on Earth.

[@laurasommer2510]

I, white German Autistic, watched Smoke Signals for the first time two days ago and I was pleasantly suprised to see such an awesome autistic coded character.💜

[@skallywalla502]

Thank you for this. I hope things start to shift soon for the depiction of indigenous folks on TV and in movies. 🙏🏻

[@grandam195]

Thank you. I subscribed. I will be 65 on Memorial Day. I grew up being told I was part Cherokee and my mother's bastard by my dad's best buddy. Nope. I am Dad's kid and he himself contributed along with mom all my excellent Indigenous looks and features. My parents only thought they were white folks. They sure looked it, but were misinformed. Good thing I am not the Cherokee man's kid, Turns out he is related to my mom. His grandma is one of my mom's aunts. I type out on DNA tests at for sure 4 percent and possibly up to 8 percent Indigenous. Which means I probably have a lot of Indigenous grandma's and grandpa's. Most of them I cannot verify or trace. Most of my Indigenous ancestry is from the Powhatan tribal groups including Patawomeck. I was shocked when I read the results of my research. I thought no way. Yes, way., Met a distant relative and they got records in the family archives. I am from Oklahoma. There a common thing to call an Indigenous person who acts white is an apple. What do you call a white person with an Indigenous heritage that finds out and embraces that part of themselves and is Indigenous at their core? I got immersed in Indigenous culture when I got married to an Indigenous young man I was introduced to as a teenager. My mom thought he was such a nice boy. Then when we got married, he became not nice. I am proud of my heritage and try to absorb more native culture. My ex husband's cousin is the author of The Way to Rainy Mountain. The woman who was his inspiration for "Gray" is my mother-in-law. She did not age well. Crazy family, But I love them all. Even her. Being Indigenous and knowing I was at least part and growing up and being raised in white society it is hard to be true to my roots. My best friend as an adult for years was a Sioux woman who lived on the Rez. She had some tales to tell, I can tell you. Irene Janis, Have a good one and keep it up.

[@grandam195]

I think Scott Momaday's books The Way to Rainy Mountain and House Made of Dawn should make it to the big screen. What some awesome movies they would make. As well as casting a lot of Indigenous people from both areas. I would sure pay to see them. Maybe someone in the Industry should mention them as future projects worth doing. I wouldn't see any cash, but it would do my heart good. When Scott would visit Kiowa County after he won the Pullitzer Prize, the White folks would treat him like trash and he would wind up at our place. Since he could talk to me about writing and poetry and such. He would recommend books and I would look for them at the library. Awesome dude and awesome author everyone should read his books. If the famous author was a white dude his books would feature at the library and even a black author would possibly get a poster. Scott got nothing. They did have copies, but just one of each They gave me a hassle just trying to check them out back in the 80s. That's when I recognized some of the characters in the books. The names and stories were a bit changed to protect the innocent and guilty. LOL!

[@CoolClik-hg7cr]

Smoke singles is a realistic approach to a native American writer and actor. Need more of them in Hollywood for sure. ❤ it keep doing what you are doing ! You are making a difference.. Especially with me .

[@pillarnexustheancientgladiator]

I remember Smoke Signals as a movie we watched in Social Studies class in high school, and I thought it was an interesting look into a world I hadn't seen before, but also a good movie.

[@cokedupnormies2651]

As an indian, the whole stories of Native Turtle Islanders are really heart wrenching. It really could have been us as Sanatanis (Uzbekistani colonizers named us Hindus lol, Navajo moment) but we somehow survived. I hope one day Turtle Islanders can reclaim their lands. You guys should always keep your animist religion, culture and traditions alive. Check out this movie: Swatantra Veer Savarkar, Kerala Story (shows how colonization still continues), Kashmir Files Check out books: J Sai Deepak (2 books; India that is Bharat & India Bharat and Pakistan), and Vikram Sampath (Bravehearts of Bharat, Waiting for Shiva). I really pray for the Turtle Islanders every day to Suryadev. Amrikani still try culturally appropriating us lol.

[@aj5068]

This needs to be shared...

[@danp6897]

Smoke Signals was great, but don't forget Dance Me Outside with much of the same cast. It was really good too.

[@samwill7259]

I'd love to read more Native American superheroes written by natives. Both of the Big 2 have plenty I just don't know of any storylines written by native writers

[@karolinakuc4783]

I think a movie Education of Little Tree would be interesting to you because it is just memories of a Native American being forced to take American education. I think you would also find interesting book Crazy Horse by Arkady Fiedler because he got Indian customs, believes, military tactics and point of view right

[@julietfischer5056]

@@karolinakuc4783- Education of Little Tree was written by a Klansman.

[@julietfischer5056]

Arigon Starr writes _Superindian._ I'm trying to remember some others. Blue Corn Comics has a Facebook page and could turn you to some others.

[@xalaxie]

I was excited to show my mom Smoke Signals because I thought it would be a way to connect about our heritage, but after the film she said it was too sad and didn't want to see things like that. this has been a consistent theme. I think she wants to hang on to her patriotism for the United States and doesn't want to see or read things that might challenge that. 🙃

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

Some people just don't like sad movies. Stop reading so hard into things.

[@francishollingshead2134]

I need to see this guy react to Ghosts. It's a TV show that airs on CBS and is a remake of a British series. The show is set in the Hudson River Valley and one of the characters, Sassapis is a member of the Lenape Nation.

[@marieroberts5664]

Excellent choice, and I was thinking about Northern Exposure -for such ground breaking tv, nobody talks about it much anymore.

[@ajbrown2845]

@@marieroberts5664 yes!! I really loved that show, and I'd be really interested in knowing more about how that show holds up to a "native litmus test". I believe the two main native characters(Marilyn and Ed) were both actually native, and I remember reading an interview with Elaine Miles (Marilyn) saying that after getting hate mail from native Alaskans complaining about inaccuracies, the show's producers did better about native portrayals, but what would Tai say?

[@user-pt3gi5ul2e]

​@@marieroberts5664 white from the plains, in Alaska when Northern Exposure was on, I was irritated by Marilyn's tales of her uncle's horses in the Alaska panhandle.

[@marieroberts5664]

@@user-pt3gi5ul2e so I guess that with all that rugged coastline, no horses? Forgive the ignorance, I just wouldn't have guessed that was a flub. Were the old tales of Raven tribe appropriate, or was it a case of close but no cigar?

[@yoyoodc]

I'm not Native. Smoke Signals blew me away emotionally with the poem at the end, How Do We Forgive Our Fathers? Yes, an indigenous-produced/written/directed/starring film, dealing with the issues of rez life, but also touching on a universal theme. So rare in Hollywood, and done so well in Smoke Signals. I speak Navajo/ Dine Bizaad (doo hozhoon da). I have vocabularies in Keresan, Inupiaq, Han Tsisas, Hochungra, and Umaanhaan. With more than 600 ethnic groups, I can't even say I've gone so far as to scratch the surface. From an extremely limited experience, I can firmly say that not all Native cultures are alike, and not all Natives within that culture are alike. It's easy to gloss over nuance of history and culture, and by so doing, arrive at stereotype. It's much harder to address each person and ask, What is your ethnic identity, and what does it mean to you? Just a bit more about Smoke Signals: I wept at the end of the movie, then I hunted up that poem.

[@DavidJamesHenry]

I'm a screenwriter and I've been working on a Western pilot for a long time, and it's taking so long because I'm consistently unsatisfied with how I'm writing my native characters. On the one hand, obviously, I don't have the lived experience to write about it effectively. But on the other hand, I also want to write it so that if it gets sold i can hire native writers who can join the writing team and help to better craft the stories to be authentic.

[@adamgreenspan4988]

Visit a reservation and spend some time talking to the people. Make sure your native characters are characters first, before you adorn them in a way that signifies their culture. Seek out (research) authentic historical details and be consistent about them - don’t mash up different native cultures together. An error can be more easily forgiven than a lack of effort.

[@acecat2798]

I appreciate this video doing a breakdown of some of the broader trends-- "mindless savage" and "magical indigenous" definitely coexist as stereotypes, but they had different times in the limelight based on the political motivations of people using this rhetoric. I think it's even more interesting how they were applied to different groups at the same time depending on whether they were allies with white people at the time (often against other indigenous groups, for endlessly complicated reasons).

[@ParisLawLess]

When I was in high school my teacher told me about the film smoke signals and every played it for the class . But I think what was the most special for me was Marvel's Echo which it's the first time I can recall watching a show or movie that portrays my people the Choctaw tribe and also show elements of our culture.

[@irohsteacup]

This is the second video I've seen with this host in particular, and with all due respect PBS doesn't deserve you. All jokes aside, I enjoy the videos.

[@Andrei-sg7lu]

PBS shows more news & life documentaries that center Native Americans than any other network on air.

[@jenisedai]

I love Smoke Signals! I'm old enough to remember when it came out on video and I used to rent it all the time.

[@abstractglam]

I love Smoke Signals! I squealed as soon as it was mentioned and my roommate looked at me like I was a crazy person. It's now one of my comfort films when I miss my dad who passed away, we loved watching it together and singing "John Wayne's Teeth" 🤣

[@naimharris4516]

That comment about the hair is so similar to black culture, the white gaze doesn't like our hair in brades or locks.

[@davruck1]

Black and Indian people are the same thing. They just change the names of what they call us.

[@hilariousname6826]

"the white gaze doesn't like our hair in brades or locks."- That's the most pretentious, pompous, facile BS I've read on the internet in days - congratulations!

[@DamienDrake]

​@@hilariousname6826 You can throw as many adjectives as you want out there. It won't change the fact that there are schools that penalize Black male students for having braids or locks. Maybe have an actual point the next time you comment.

[@hilariousname6826]

@@DamienDrake So what's that got to do with this guy not being able to get roles after he cut his hair?

[@hilariousname6826]

@@DamienDrake Btw, I'm old enough to remember when it was white boys being "penalized" at school for their hair, so don't gimme this BS about "the white gaze".

[@Gambit-Lobo]

I used to own a screener vhs copy of Smoke Signals that I was given for free as a tween. It was one of my favorite movies. It was not until years later that I found out from my birth grandmother (I'm adopted) that I am Native and Spanish mixed.

[@LewisCoxIII]

Excellent!! How about Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner?

[@shoontz]

Smoke Signals and Dance Me Outside were my favourites back in the day.

[@ronfleetwood944]

I am so happy you used Thomas's victor for the introduction!!

[@willmendoza8498]

love this series

[@purplevampireanime]

Smoke signals hold a close place in my heart.

[@joyswenson7941]

Thanks so much for this video. Films about cultures done by people of those cultures is often eye opening and well done. Now I gotta see Smoke Signals. 😊

[@TonyBullard]

Thanks for sharing your story. I've got some movies to add to my watchlist!

[@noobkytty4586]

I was really waiting for him to call out twilight

[@madiantin]

I learned many things today.

[@stoonookw]

Love your videos guys! So much luv

[@jaymacpherson8167]

Thank you for reminding me of the excellent film “Smoke Signals.” May more just films grace our conscious.

[@angusmacdonald7187]

Smoke Signals is one of my favourite movies!

[@ricopaulson1]

I was always sus about "Yellowstone" due to the worst type of conservatives losing their shit over it. Seeing this indigenous actor shit on it backs up my suspicions. I hope to see more "true" indigenous representation in media and film. I live in former Ute territory. They were removed from here very late in one of the last forced removals of the 19th century. We have streets name after Ouray (a super interesting polymath Ute leader) but it feels very hollow. This is their land and was for tens of thousands of years. Its hard to enjoy it knowing I'm on stolen ground. I do my best to give thanks and remember the people who were sent down to the res in the four corners. Where life became pretty awful for them. I can't change history but I'm not going to forget it either.

[@katdenning6535]

I went to college near a large reservation & even worked at the casino on the rez but still never felt like I knew anything about the tribe. I wish the university or tribe had offered more opportunities for education. I know that even if my children went to that same university they’d still lack those experiences :(

[@AdrianGonzalez-dl8id]

this is an amazing video and the host was awesome!

[@cocoaorange1]

I have to hear Jay Silver heels regular voice someday, however I did like Lone Ranger as a kid, but glad he stood up for better roles.

[@AvaGrail]

I love this movie I saw years ago at the Sonoma State Institute.. I really appreciate this analysis. Thank you

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

Great video offering a perspective that is sorely lacking in the media. I wish there was more of this and less of Yellowstone clones and knockoffs we're going to be subjected to in the coming years. It's sad that reality has to fight such an uphill battle.

[@Fiona-fk9zo]

really informative video! thank you :)

[@ATL1999]

Beautiful lesbian story of perseverance, determination and sheer will. We come in all forms- like everyone else. Ain’t nothing new under the sun. Nothing.

[@Pottery4Life]

Thank you.

[@jordanlemon4102]

this person needs funding, yesterday, and millions of it.

[@bahiras]

Thanks for your insight! Love Smoke Signals!

[@rksnj6797]

Just finished watching Smoke Signals. I thought it was great! Lighthearted at times and serious too. I am definitely recommending it.

[@MrCamSemple]

"2 Tai 2 Furious," take my money.

[@rachellee.9389]

I found the film Smoke Signals on Pluto and I'm going to watch it tonight.

[@badazzfeliciano]

I love Smoke Signals. I am what most people call Chicano /Indigenous Mexican American. I grew up on US bases here and overseas, then in Mexican neighborhoods in West Texas. I've only seen one Rez and funny enough I learned decades later my x3 great grandma was once registered there back in 1880s. My dad lived next to Rez in Oklahoma when his step dad was stationed there. His brothers and him hung out at the Rez. My dad told me only difference between Rez Indians and Mexicans is Rez indians don't speak Spanish. Smoke Signals always felt true and you can feel the love that went into the movie. Hollywood does Mexicans dirty all the time too. Even PBS talks more bout human sacrifice that Spanish made up while ignoring genius of Mexica/Aztecs, Olmec Mayans, ect. Then they have Spanish play our mythical heroes like Zorro.

[@tomdchi12]

So glad I somehow saw Smoke Signals when it was in theaters and I've recommended it to lots of people. I'm not sure why I decided to go, but it was one of the most memorable and enjoyable films I've seen. My relationship with my dad is very different than the characters in the film, but it helped me to think a lot about his perspective and our relationship. It should have opened more doors to more media by/about Native Americans. Hopefully we'll see more and more with time, hopefully good, but knowing that some of it will be lousy, just like everything else. Still haven't seen Dances with Wolves, though.

[@joeldcanfield_spinhead]

I was with you wholeheartedly until your movie pitches at the end. Sadly, the names just don't trip off the tongue, and I can't give you my millions and millions to make any of those movies. I love this series desperately. As a white guy from a long line of white people, I'm given the greatest possible gift: a perspective other than my own. Thank you to everyone involved. I don't really have milions. Sorry.