> I am a bit confused by a statement that David Seals made in his article
> THE LAKOTA NATION: ANOTHER BREAKAWAY REPUBLIC. He writes that the Lakota
> are "...forming a Lakota Film Commission to make sure such travesties as
> Dances With Wolves are never allowed here again..." I thought that DWW
> was considered a very positive film for increasing awareness of the Native
> American Indian issue. Can someone clear this up for me?
Well, it just goes to show how complex these issues really are, and why
it's often difficult to find practical solutions to Indian problems: if
you ask 27 Indians their opinions on a given issue, you're going to get
27 different answers. The idea that there is a single solution or maxim
which would represent all Indians is naive at best and racist at worst.
I have spoken with members of the Lakota tribe which was represented in
"Dances" and have gotten quite a diversity of opinion. Many reservation
Lakota appeared in the film as extras, and these and quite a few others
have shown a lot of support for the film. A few even went so far as to
say that the film had improved relations between the Lakota and the local
white residents, who had previously looked upon their Indian neighbors
as little more than lazy drunks, savages, or lots of worse names I won't
bother to print here.
On the flip side, many other Lakota, especially the more militant groups
who resent ANY white intrusion, are bitter about the film for - you
guessed it - a variety of reasons. Some simply don't like the attention
the movie brought to the tribe, and the requisite "do-gooders" whom they
figured would follow in its wake. Others like to dwell on historical
inaccuracies they perceive in the film, or inaccuracies in its represen-
tation of Lakota life. Some feel that "Dances" presents a cardboard
picture because it paints Indian life as being "perfect", with no
problems; others are actually angered by scenes which they feel further
the stereotype of the "savage" Indian. Quite a number of Lakota feel
angry because the movie addresses only the atrocities committed in the
past and does not make mention of their current problems; nor have any
proceeds from the film been donated to help the Lakota people, which
angers some.
I couldn't really tell you whether more Lakota support the film or
condemn it; I've heard about equal voices on both sides. Personally,
while some of those who have slammed "Dances" may feel they have valid
points, I'm not sure it's such a great idea to quibble over something
like this. Clearly, this movie was made in the spirit of support, and
it is only after all a movie. Kevin Costner did his best to research
the project with genuine Native Americans, and that's all he could
reasonably have done. That some Indians do not agree with the ones
Costner consulted with is to be expected.
While I have fought my entire life to present a view of Indians which
was different than the propagandist Anglo version, I'm not sure I like
much better the radically revisionist attitudes which are surfacing in
its place. To eradicate all language or icons which are in any way
offensive to any Indian is not only impossible but un-human, and actually
just gives the remaining racists more ammunition with which to undo
whatever good has been done. All of us have done things which are
offensive to someone else, usually unintentionally, but in the rush
to achieve political correctness we have now become hyper-sensitive
when what we really need is a lot of inner strength and a good sense
of humor.
We must all be careful of which issues we choose to focus on. Clearly,
solving problems such as land rights and unemployment are a lot more
important than, say, whether Atlanta Braves fans waving plastic tomahawks
is racist, or whether "Dances With Wolves" portrayed a Lakota battle
scene correctly, or whether the term "Native American" is less offensive
than "Indian". Yet, if we continue to lend importance to these more
trivial matters, those whom we most need to enlighten will turn around
and trivialize the important stuff.
I know I've done a lot more than answer Alison's question, but this
has been bothering me for some time now, especially seeing the recent
posts about entire conventions which are being devoted to protesting
against sports teams with Indian mascots and that sort of thing. I
hope we can keep a good perspective now that the political climate
in this country is starting to open up to our issues.
= Lee =
Lee A. Flier
Internet: lee@cavern.vortex.com