Indian Comics Irregular #183

The PBS series "We Shall Remain" aired for five weeks in April and May. Some
reviews tell the tale:

"We Shall Remain," a five-part PBS series that retells American
history from the Native American perspective, is a remarkably
old-fashioned documentary. It is built up slowly,
chronologically, and powerfully from a few basic and familiar
elements: talking heads, an authoritative narrator and loving
aerial shots of the primordial forest. Even its use of historical
reenactments reminds one of the kind of movies screened at
National Park Service visitors' centers a generation or two ago.

Executive producer Sharon Grimberg and a team of directors and
producers (including Chris Eyre, Ric Burns, Dustinn Craig, Sarah
Colt and Stanley Nelson) have committed to telling an alternative
history, but they forgo alternative means. Even the events chosen
to anchor the individual films are already familiar from history
books: The Mayflower, the War of 1812, the Indian wars and
Wounded Knee. But slowly, over the course of more than seven
hours, one begins to realize the power of this approach. "We
Shall Remain" is unapologetically committed to the now suspect
idea of Great Man history, the chronicle of charismatic leaders,
epic battles and dramatic, decisive events indelibly marked on the
calendar and mythologized for centuries after.

It may be old-fashioned, but it radically shifts the sense of
agency and psychological complexity from familiar American icons
to Native Americans who once played only supporting roles. The
effect is rather like the psychological shock one gets when the
map of the world is turned upside down. It's still a map and
still reliable in every way. It's just disorienting. (Washington
Post, 4/12/09)

Native American filmmaker Chris Eyre--whose credits include "Smoke
Signals," "Skins" and "Edge of America"--directed the first three.

"This is not about nobles and this is not about savages. It's
about Native American leaders that need to be recognized in the
pantheon of American Indian heroes. If we're a collective of a
melting pot we need to recognize leaders of different complexions
that are also part of the American pantheon of heroes," he said.

"I normally see Indians in loincloths running from tree to tree
and rock to rock. In this case we've created Indians into
people." (Hartford Courant, 4/12/09)

Although the episodes' quality varied a bit, I'd say they were all well written
and acted. Especially good was the way they told Native stories without the
usual myths and stereotypes. I suspect they'll be the definitive films on these
subjects for years to come.

More Indians on TV

Like public television, the commercial networks have done a fine job of
including Indians this season. Here are some recent highlights:

On "CSI: NY," the subway murder of a "Montiquan" chief led to an illegal
Internet operation in a warehouse. Despite some silly mistakes and
coincidences, the show offered a fresh take on the cliché of crime-ridden
gaming.

"Parks and Recreation," the "Office"-style comedy starring Amy Poehler, is set
in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. On the air and on its website, the
show has referred to "Wamapoke" Indians killing people: twisting them to death
and cutting off their faces.

Wes Studi played a major role in "Kings," a short-lived series based on the
Biblical story of David. Tamara Feldman (part Cherokee) appeared in a
four-episode arc in "Gossip Girl."

For more on the subject, go to http://www.bluecorncomics.com/natv.htm .

Rob Schmidt
Blue Corn Comics