As a Native American student, I have seen the profound influence of the media on shaping people’s thoughts about other cultures. Films and documentaries are either helpful in creating mutual understanding between different societies or they continue to support harmful stereotypes. Unfortunately, I feel that Hollywood has had a tendency to favor the latter when it comes to portraying Indigenous peoples. These stereotypes need to be challenged and authentic representations of Indigenous cultures should be advocated so that they are not misrepresented in the media.
After watching numerous movies on Indigenous people, I feel that Hollywood has reduced its portrayal of Native Americans to simplistic and inaccurate stereotypes. Between the “noble savage” image and that of the “drunken Indian,” many realities about the First Nation communities have never been captured through movies. Such was the case with “Dances with Wolves” (1990) where even though it attempted to portray Native American culture positively, it still fell into the “white savior” narrative where non-native characters are always portrayed as central heroes that civilize Indigenous people. The story negates the agency and contributions of Native characters, thus indicating that Indians cannot shape their own destinies without outside interference.
2015 documentary, “The Revenant,” is also guilty of this stereotype despite its own acclaim for its hardcore survival acts using Indigenous actors. The film displayed Natives as violent revenge seeking individuals, rather than showing off their rich traditions and intricate history. This representation is one-sided which misrepresents Indigenous people, leaving out how strong-willed they can be when faced with imminent danger or how wise they might turn out in life.
In “The Crooked Arrows,” Native Americans are shown in a negative light through several stereotypes, especially by using the “noble savage” cliché and the problematic “white savior” plot. Joe Logan, the main character, is depicted as someone who has abandoned his indigenous past and needs a spiritual journey to find himself again, while also leading his team of lacrosse players to victory. This storyline perpetuates the stereotype that Native American identity is tied solely to traditional mystical practices, ignoring the contemporary realities of Indigenous people. One typical instance happened when Joe took part in a vision quest with his father acting as a wise old man endowed with mystical attributes. I feel like this supports the notion that Native Americans have an inherent spirituality that they live and they refuse to be part of modern life. Furthermore, climaxing at the film’s championship, where their success hinged on getting back to their alleged true heritage suggests that for native people achievement lies exclusively in their return to an idealized past thus undermining diversity among them.
These stereotypes perpetuate not only misunderstanding, but also marginalization and cause more harm than good. It takes away from what makes up Native American culture today while making us unaware of the present concerns that Indigenous peoples are grappling with. Filmmakers and documentarians should aspire to make their representations genuine since it influences public opinion and policy.
I believe that true representation entails including indigenous voices in all aspects of production from writing, directing, acting as well as consulting. Instead of regarding Native Americans as historical relics or symbols of tragedy, they must be shown as contemporary individuals with diverse experiences. I think that the movie “Smoke Signals” (1998) is a good example that gives a true picture of life among Indians directed by Chris Eyre who is a Native American filmmaker.
As a Native American, I would like our stories to be represented differently. We are not just characters for history plays or tragic tales, rather we are communities full of life whose stories need to be told accurately and respectfully. It is time for the media to reflect this reality and to dismantle the damaging stereotypes that have plagued us for far too long.
