Indian Comics Irregular #34

Last November and again this May, NBC broadcast "Saturday Night
Live's" 25th anniversary special. Besides its many memorable
moments, the show was notable for opening with a Native-themed skit.
Since it covered similar ground to Howard Stern's recent "Son of the
Beach" episode, a comparison may be instructive.

SNL's skit was set in the "Omagolli" Indian casino somewhere near New
York City. I cringed when I realized Bill Murray was going to do his
usual insensitive lounge-singer act. But as I settled in to watch, I
realized it was a more honest portrayal than Howard Stern's travesty
of Indian life. Here are some differences:

SNL's made-up "Omagolli" (spelling?) name was arguably neutral, while
Stern's "Kahonees" was an insult (look up "cajones" in a colloquial
Spanish/English dictionary). Remember, this is the name the tribe
supposedly calls itself. Would anyone show Chinese people calling
their country Chink-land or French people calling theirs The Republic
of Frogs?

Stern threw together stereotypes from across America (e.g., a
Woodland Indian tomahawk, a Plains Indian tipi) and situated them in
coastal California. SNL's skit conveyed culturally valid information
about Indians in general and New York's Indians in particular. For
example:

* According to Murray, Indians "have been in this valley for 7,000
years." Give or take a few millennia, Indians HAVE been in the New
York area that long.

* Murray introduced Dan Aykroyd as Chief "Jimmy Joe Red Sky."
Compared to phony Stern monickers such as Chief Pokémon, Laughing
Cow, and Fire Bush, this name seemed reasonable. Chief Jim Billie
leads the Seminole Tribe of Florida, for instance.

* Acting as Aykroyd's niece, Laraine Newman said "Jimmy Joe's great
uncle...used to own all of Manhattan." Aykroyd added that his people
"lost it all in a lacrosse game." These comments recognized that New
York's Indians occupied the island and played the native sport. It
didn't mock them for selling Manhattan for beads, a "fact" that may
be a fiction.

* As Murray said of SNL and Indians: "At one time we were both very
culturally important, and then trashed, then on the bottom, spat
upon, and now rising again like a phoenix from the ashes." Another
statement that affirms the truth of Native existence.

In short, Stern mixed stereotypes into a casino story so he could
make fun of Indians while making a facile point. In contrast, SNL
used its casino story not only to entertain, but to enlighten. It
presented both flattering and unflattering--but honest--thoughts
about Indians. That's all anyone can ask.

For the full review, go to http://members.xoom.com/peaceparty/snl.htm.

More Advisors on Board

We welcome not one but two new advisors to our editorial board. They
are Vicki Lockard (Choctaw/Nansemond), editor and publisher of the
Canku Ota newsletter, and Anne Thundercloud (Ho-Chunk), a senior
staff writer with the Hocak Worak newspaper. Good to finally have
the women's perspective on our stories. Ms. Lockard also published a
nice review of PEACE PARTY. Check it out on our Reviews page
(http://members.xoom.com/peaceparty/reviews.htm).

As word on PEACE PARTY continues to percolate, people are starting to
perk up. I've been invited to speak at this year's San Diego
Comic-Con and the Unity Powwow 2000 in LA. For details visit our
Press Release page (http://members.xoom.com/peaceparty/releases.htm).
And in response to queries, I've posted the latest on PEACE PARTY's
direction (http://members.xoom.com/peaceparty/plans00.htm). More to
come.

Rob Schmidt
Blue Corn Comics