Reel Injun

Since the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492, Native Americans of every tribe have been viewed as the enemy. Hollywood didn't exactly portray them accurately either until the movies Smoke Signals (1998) and Atanarjuat (Fast Runner) (2001) aired. These more respectable native films brought light upon the image of natives and their representation in America. It wasn't until I viewed the documentary Reel Injun (2009), directed by Neil Diamond, that I realized how Hollywood had stamped endless amounts of crude stereotypes on Natives. Throughout the 4,000 different native films that Hollywood released, six different types of views on natives were released as well. This includes the noble injun, the savage injun, the cowboy, the dead injun, the groovy injun, and the reel injun. Each of these native images portrayed them negatively and as the enemy until the reel injun began to portray them accurately. It wasn't until this unit began that I became aware of these images that Hollywood was giving natives. I look back to when I used to play cowboys and indians with my friends and come to understand how Hollywood had fooled us and that our perception of natives were invalid. "'Us indians deserve something better than this goddamn dried-up country around here. Blowing away, every day'" (Silko 55). Tying the book into the Reel Injun, Tayo and his friends and family really get the short end of the stick when it comes to the real world. All of the natives are against whites and vice versa. Tayo on the other hand is a "half breed" of native and caucasian. This puts both his family and friends against him and ultimately leaves him completely shut out of love, unaccepted by society, and unable to live a guilt free life.

In this next upcoming week I hope to expand more upon the native culture and learn more about Tayo's experience in the war. I am really looking forward to watching Smoke Signals (1998) and being able to view an accurate film about natives and their representation in America. All my life I have watched movies and played games where the cowboys are the "good" guys and the natives are the enemy. I am ready to see the other side of the story and learn more about natives. "'Now I know you boys love America as much as we do, but this is your big chance to show it!'"(Silko 64) It is ironic that Tayo and Rocky's army recruiter would think that natives don't show their love for America not even taking into account all of the wars they have fought against the white people. Even today natives are still fighting for equality and to bring awareness to their rights and the way the are viewed. "Maybe Emo was wrong: maybe white people didn't have everything" (Silko 56). Ever since America became a land full of both native and white people, there has been war and disagreement. To this day there is still racism and hatred. Sooner or later white people will come to accept and see natives for their true stance and natives will stop their blame against whites. I am intrigued to see the peace that should come between whites and natives and when America truly become the "free" country it claims to be.