The Reel Indian or The Real Indian?: The Three Modes of Representation of Native Americans in Western Movies
Abstract
Using the lenses of colonialism and gender, this article explores
the evolving nature and perception of Native American women’s leadership historically and in the present. Historically, women and men had
different yet equally important leadership roles to play within the community. These roles were inextricably interdependent. Euro-American
colonialism through conquest and religion brought concomitant gender
ideologies that slowly tore at the fabric of indigenous communities and
ultimately altered the nature of gender parity within community leadership. Today, Native American women are taking back a degree of the
significant sociopolitical power they once exercised. Native women
are rising to the top ranks of leadership in the nation as members of
the US House of Representatives, in their states as executive officers
and as state representatives in their state legislatures, as well as in their
communities as tribal officials, education advocates, environmental activists, and as culturally empowered mothers, sisters, and daughters.
Keywords
Native American Women, Indigenous Women’s Leadership, Indigenous Culture, Indigenous Community
References
- A Man Called Horse. Directed by Elliot Silverstein, performances by Richard Harris and Judith Anderson, Cinema Center Films, 1970.
- Atını Seven Kovboy. Directed by Aram Gülyüz, performances by Sadri Alışık, Figen Han, Elvan Film, 1975.
- Avatar. Directed by James Cameron, performances by Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Film Partners, 2009.
- Basinger, Jeanine and Jeremy Arnold. The World War II Combat Film: Anatomy of a Genre. Wesleyan University Press, 2003.
- Berger, Thomas. Little Big Man: A Novel. Dial Press Trade, 1989.
- Bird, Elizabeth S. “Introduction: Constructing the Indian, 1830s-1990s”. Dressing in Feathers: The Construction of the Indian in American Popular Culture, edited by Elisabeth S. Bird, Westview Press, 1996, pp. 1-12.
- Buscombe, Edward. ‘Injuns!’ Native Americans in the Movies. Reaktion Books, 2006.
- Covered Wagon, The. Directed by James Cruze, performances by J. Warren Kerrigan and Lois Wilson, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, 1923.
- Cowie, Peter. A Concise History of the Cinema: Before 1940. A. Zwemmer, A. S. Barnes, 1971.
- Dances with Wolves. Directed by Kevin Costner, performances by Kevin Costner and Mary McDonnell, Tig Productions and Majestic Films International, 1990.