Indian Comics Irregular #172

Recently a group of Canadian Natives began publishing a magazine called Redskin,
believe it or not. They describe it as "the world's first indigenous adult
entertainment publication." Naturally it's filled with pictures of hot, hip
Natives. And naturally they chose the name to provoke people, cause
controversy, and thus sell magazines.

Naturally I mocked them for stereotyping Natives as blood-skinned savages. I
suggested they start a companion magazine for women called Squaw. I asked if
they'd call their elders "redskins." I posted comments from Natives who called
them sellouts. I noted similarities between Redskin magazine and a
Kristallnacht video game.

I've gotten some responses from Team RedSkin's writers and models. They laugh
off the criticism or claim they're fighting racism. But they're not exactly a
brilliant bunch. Here's what one of them wrote:

"RSM doesn't not believe in supporting hate, wash your hands of the education
you have been given that pigeonholes and stereotypes all our brothers and
sisters with ignorance and hate."

If you can tell if this is a pro- or anti-"redskin" message, you're more
discerning than I am. To follow the debate, or to join in, go to
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/redskins.htm#magazine .

Inside Indian TV

After one year on "Law & Order: SVU," Adam Beach has departed. Apparently the
producers weren't using him enough--which was obvious if you watched the show.
He went out with a stereotypical bang: hauled off to jail as a stoic, scowling
killer.

In "New Amsterdam," a short-lived spring series, Tamara Podemski played a Native
woman who cursed the protagonist with immortality. An interesting idea, but the
pilot ended with a ludicrous shot of teepees on Manhattan Island.

I've been watching repeats of "Family Guy," the crude animated comedy. If
you're not familiar with with the show, it's a cross between "The Simpsons" and
"South Park." It has a surprising amount of Native material, including at least
six bits in one stretch of 29 episodes. Unfortunately, most of its references
are stereotypical.

David Yeagley, the conservative crackpot and alleged Comanche, appeared in a
Swedish documentary by a supremacist similar to him. The film used Yeagley as
the sole spokesperson for Indians, which is about like using Custer. The
documentary claimed there are no traditional cultures left and said indigenous
people should assimilate into white society.

Nathaniel Arcand plays a veterinarian on the Canadian series "Heartland."
According to a website, it's "a multi-generational family drama series set in
the foothills of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. 'Heartland' is a place like no
other; a horse ranch with a special mission of healing abused or neglected
horses and finding them new homes."

Inside Indian Comics

Last month I published an article in Indian Country Today on the upcoming
TRICKSTER anthology. Because of it, several reporters called the creators with
questions. There's still no word on when the book will be available.

Chad Solomon has published a second volume of "Rabbit and Bear Paws" strips.
Titled "The Voyageurs," it recounts the adventures of a fur-trading expedition
traveling from Lake of the Woods to Montreal. It's on sale online.

Meanwhile, nothing good is happening in the regular monthly comics. A series
called STREETS OF GLORY features an Apache killing machine who scalps his
opponents alive. And a mini-series called CALIBER retells the Arthurian legend
in the Old West with a generic Indian shaman as Merlin.

Rob Schmidt
Blue Corn Comics