Photo from the Friedman Archives
Iron Eyes Cody as the "crying Indian" in the 1970s 'Keep America Beautiful' PSA Campaign
Reel Injun was the opening night film of the 10th annual imagineNATIVE Film Festival this year. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to deadlines but I heard the film was a hit. The documentary by Cree Director Neil Diamond. Reel Injun is a retelling of the history of the Hollywood Indian. Embarking on a personal quest to deconstruct the image of the stoic Indian that dotted television screens all over the world," as stated in the imagineNATIVE Film Festival guide.
In my media swag bag I received a copy of Point of View, an independent documentary magazine that had a piece called "Going Native" all about Diamond and his doc Reel Injun. The most interesting part of this piece was that Diamond discovered during his research that Iron Eyes Cody of the famous '70s PSA and whom was cast in Native roles from the '30s to the '80s was actually of Sicilian descent.
But wait, it gets better. He was so involved in his own lie
With films like Reel Injuns exposing historical, stereotypical depictions of Native people and a history of misrepresentation it is assumed that we would have learned our lessons. Casting non-Natives in Native roles is not good for accurate depictions of Native peoples. Nor is it good for Native actors who struggle to land roles.
Non-Natives pretending to be Native shouldn't be role models, regardless of their charity work for Native peoples if they are living a lie pretending to be something they are not. I don't think deception is a very charming quality to look up to. These modern day Iron Eyes Codys couldn't possibly host receive Native American awards either right? No way, Natives and non-Natives alike would never fall for that old trick again, no matter how much beaded jewelry they wore, now would we? Will the Reel Injun's please stand up?
Thomas Builds-the-Fire (Smoke Signals): "You know the only thing more pathetic than Indians on TV? Is Indians watching other Indians on TV."
Reel Injun promo trailer
(see more on Iron Eyes Cody at 2:18)
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4 comments:
ABOUT TIME!!! There's a book exposing these Heckami's going back to the 1800's and beyond. People used to roam the country, whites and blacks alike, pretending to be "indian chiefs" and/or "indian princesses". They made immense fortunes and got away with it because at the time, here in America, real Natives caught off the rez system were punishable by death. So these Heckami's would dress as "indians" for performances, but dress normally any other time. I can't remember the book, but the book's subject was Native Identity. About time more people are recognizing this crap!
Interesting, I haven't heard of that actually. I have only read books relating to Hollywood's portrayal of Native people (which I would love to explore further). So much research to do, books to read, knowledge to attain and disseminate! Thanks for listening :).
I must add, that here in the United States, there has been a push of non-Native groups claiming to be "Native American", due to a supposed "ambiguity" in the term "Native American", and applying for federal recognition by the US government. These groups run the gamut from White Supremacists to Afro Supremacists. They're trying to steal our cultural and racial identity, which amounts to a cultural version of genocide.
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