Guest Blogger: Russell Means

Windtalkers is John Woo’s worst action movie. The classic white hero comes in to teach the Indian how to be a modern human being and therefore saves him.

Skins-Another movie about drunken Indians

Smoke Signals-stereotypical drunken Indians-the only thing that was good is that it captured Indian humor.

Black Robe-AIM wrote an 8 page condemnation of that movie. It was so bad we couldn’t keep it concise.

Dances With Wolves-Most of its Indians were good guys, but they remained simple savages who needed a ‘civilized’ white messiah, played by Kevin Costner, to become their savior.

In the Lakota language we have the feminine and masculine.  A woman was hired to translate so Floyd Crow Westerman, Rodney Grant, Graham Green and Kevin Costner were speaking Lakota in the feminine!

And then there are times Hollywood got it right, Outlaw Josey Wales, Thunderheart (the only contemporary movie where there aren’t dysfunctional Indians, the documentary Incident at Oglala (very good based on historical fact) and Pocahontas: It’s the first time in history that they told the truth about the Europeans:  The reason they came over was to plunder, kill, and rape.  I know Walt Disney turned over in his grave once that was released.

Russell Means is one of the best-known and most prolific activists for the rights of Native Americans Indians. Thirty years ago, he led the historic 71-day takeover of the sacred grounds at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. Today, he has instituted programs for the betterment of his people, including the Porcupine Health Clinic and KILI radio, the first Indian-owned station. He has also built thriving careers in screen acting, film and television production, and music recording.