Native Americans have been part of American popular culture for centuries. Unfortunately, their portrayal has been primarily stereotypical and consequently negative. Wild West shows, cigar store Indians, Plains tribes labeled as “savages” in books and movies – these are the indelible images most Americans have of Native Americans. The most recent identifier tying “Indian” and “casino” in the same phrase has done little to bring America’s first residents into the cultural mainstream. The situation for Canada’s Native People has been much the same.
However, change is afoot. New books, commercial as well as academic; museums, cultural festivals and heritage centers – many of the latter funded with income from the casinos – are raising the visibility of the culture and history of Native Americans. The most significant, though certainly not the only heritage museum, is the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C. In addition, films and film festivals, with works created by Native Americans, are raising awareness of the culture in the movie-going public. Nothing on film yet exists like the gritty, realistic portrayal of Latin American Indian culture in Apocalypto (2006), but it could happen soon. And now, finally, television has produced a high-profile, intelligent look at American Indians in We Shall Remain, a new five-part American Experience series from PBS icon WGBH in Boston.
I asked the series’ executive producer, Sharon Grimberg, why American Experience decided to introduce these programs now. Although this has been a five-year project, she points to the significance of recent changes in attitudes and politics as indicative of the willingness to accept painful periods of American history – slavery, the Civil Rights struggle, the elimination of the greater part of the Native American population – by a broader American public. She also sees current difficulties such as economic stress and environmental problems causing a period of societal upheaval not unlike previous pivotal changes on the continent.
“I think that’s what Native people went through. They had a way of life and everything was thrown up in the air and somehow they survived it.”
The stories are presented in dramatic form, punctuated by on-camera commentary from Native and non-Native scholars. The photography and staging are sometimes artful and panoramic, sometimes thrusting one in the middle of some detailed action or exchange. Routine and extraordinary events co-exist and are held together by the soothing yet determined narration of actor Benjamin Bratt. Indian characters and interviewees often speak in native tongues. The five programs cover a broad time span from first contact. They include “After the Mayflower”, “Tecumseh’s Vision”, “Trail of Tears”, “Geronimo” and “Wounded Knee.”
It is risky to attempt to tell the history of Native Americans, even that which has occurred since first contact, through these diverse, unrelated snapshots. An even greater concern is that these stories end in defeat or disappointment for Indians, ignoring the many positive ways they have shaped American culture. Grimberg defends the decision to separate the tales geographically and jump chronologically through different centuries. And, she says, “We wanted the stories to have strong characters that the audiences could connect to. We also wanted stories to represent the different ways the Native people resisted and ultimately survived; to show that Native people were ingenious, courageous and adaptive in their responses.”
An ambitious outreach plan accompanies the airing of the programs, focused on 15 cities in which PBS affiliates involve schools, libraries, Native American and other organizations in screenings, discussions and other activities. Grimberg says, “I hope that this sparks a national conversation about this history, a new awareness about its complexity and a new respect for Native people.” Certainly the time to do this is right, and the need is great.
Editor’s note: Visit Great History’s partner site History Net to view a slideshow of Native American images and read What Do We Owe the Indians?
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