Avatar: Another Film About the Conquest and Colonization of Indigenous Peoples
Hollywood and James Cameron have high expectations for the new film Avatar, with its cutting edge technology and supposed science fiction plot. However, on closer inspection, this film is a thinly disguised film about conquest and colonization of Indigenous peoples. No doubt, this film will be as popular as the establishment hopes given the actual plot.
As a professor of American Indian Studies who has taught numerous classes on American Indians in Film, there are many examples of this plot throughout the history of filmmaking. The typical plot of films about the “White Man’s Indian” [1] is the plight of the conquered peoples, helpless before the approaching colonizer, only to be saved by the sympathetic hero who appropriates Indigenous identity and in effect becomes more indigenous than the people he set out to conquer. Examples of these films include classics like Little Big Man and Dances with Wolves. In each of these films, the conqueror (the White character) feels sympathy for the conquered and decides to become one of the conquered and thus only he can save the people. For a lengthy discussion on this, please review Jacquelyn Kilpatrick’s book Celluloid Indians.
Having taught about this premise in filmmaking for years, the film Avatar sounded the alarm bells in this professor. Even more distressing was the lack of critical discourse about the film upon its release. Now, the criticism has begun on Facebook, in the Washington Post and in Blogs; hopefully the film will spark a discussion on race in film. No doubt Cameron and Hollywood do not want any discussion; they just want your money. After all, the story of conquest and colonization of Indigenous peoples has always sold well; the American public has been buying it for decades.
[1] See James Berhofer’s seminal work The White Man’s Indian: Images of the American Indian from Columbus to the Present on pp xvi, “…to understand the White image of the Indian is to understand White societies and intellectual premises over time, more than the diversity of Native Americans.”
Major Breakthrough Announced on Settlement of Cobell Litigation
| FROM NCAI:
Today, the Departments of Interior and Justice and Eloise Cobell announced a settlement of the ongoing Cobell trust accounting litigation on behalf of Individual Indian account holders. The terms of the settlement:
There are many more details about the settlement available on the Department of Interior website at www.doi.gov and at www.cobellsettlement.com. The proposed settlement of the litigation represents a significant breakthrough on an issue that has troubled Indian country for many decades. The settlement amount is lower than was expected when the litigation began, but is significantly higher than the $456 million awarded by Judge Robertson after a trial in 2008. The higher amount likely represents the value of adding trust mismanagement claims to the accounting claims. In addition, the funds for consolidating fractionated lands under tribal ownership will help to resolve longstanding land management problems and will increase economic development opportunities. |
American Indians Stand to Gain in Health Care Overhaul
New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country
November 19, 2009
As digital communications and the Internet become increasingly pervasive, Native Americans continue to lack access to this digital revolution. Native Americans are among the last citizens to gain access to the Internet, with access to broadband often unavailable or overly expensive in Native communities. Beyond that challenge, there is a fundamental lack of qualitative or quantitative empirical research on Native American Internet use, adoption, and access, stifling the Native voice in broadband and media policy. As the Federal Communications Commission develops a data-focused and comprehensive National Broadband Plan, the Native voice, and supportive research, is more important than ever.
The New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses contains the first valid and credible data gathered from the ground up on technology use, access, and adoption in Native American lands. The report combines both a survey of Native American technology use, normed against other national surveys, and case studies of six successful projects exhibiting Digital Excellence in Native America.
The study finds the digital revolution is stirring in tribal communities. Native Americans are using technology when it is available to interact, communicate, share culture, and gain the skills needed in a digital world. Despite a lack of access, higher prices for broadband and often non-existent infrastructure, leaders in these communities have developed a vision and built self-sufficient networks and community technology centers to connect and strengthen their Native communities.
The survey respondents and success stories highlighted in the report are representative of a widespread desire in Native America to have access to 21st century communication technologies to affect the policies that will shape the future of the technological landscape. Towards this end, the report combines a best practices model for deploying similar projects and includes recommendations for the necessary interventions and policies for bridging the Native American digital divide. The report helps to propel Native voices into the national broadband discussion and lays the groundwork for Native deployment, access, and adoption of digital communication that is driven by and serving the needs of Native America
Please click here to view the presentation of the New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses at New America Foundation on November 19, 2009. To download the study go here.
New Media, Technology & Internet Use in Indian Country Report Release and Breakfast Roundtable Hosted by Native Public Media and the New America Foundation
On November 19, 2009, Native Public Media and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Initiative will release New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses, one of the most extensive studies of on the ground technology use, access, and adoption in Native American lands. Demonstrating the great need to include Native Americans in the discourse around the National Broadband Plan, the report combines both a survey of Native American technology use amongst 120 tribes, normed against other national surveys, and in-depth case studies of six successful projects exhibiting Digital Excellence in Native America.
As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) noted in 2004: “By virtually any measure, communities on tribal lands have historically had less access to telecommunications services than any other segment of the population.” Today, many Native American lands tribes have little or no affordable access to broadband – putting Internet connectivity and its associated benefits out of reach for many of these communities. Until now, the lack of data about the Native American telecommunications landscape has been a considerable barrier to developing informed policies to drive Internet deployment, access and adoption in tribal communities.
Propelling Native voices into the national broadband discussion, New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses lays the groundwork for Native deployment, access, and adoption of digital communication that is driven by and serving the needs of Native America. This work is authored by Traci L. Morris and Sascha D. Meinrath.
featured speakers
Loris Taylor
Executive Director
Native Public Media
Traci Morris
Policy Analyst
Native Public Media
Sascha Meinrath
Director, Open Technology Initiative
New America Foundation
Blair Levin
Coordinator
FCC National Broadband Plan (invited)
Geoffrey Blackwell
Native Public Media Advisory Council and Chair
Telecommunications Subcommittee of the National Congress of American Indians (invited)
Patricia de Stacy Harrison
President & CEO
Corporation for Public Broadcasting (invited)
For questions, contact Stephanie Gunter at (202) 596-3367 or gunter@newamerica.net.
For media inquiries, contact Kate Brown at (202) 596-3365 or brown@newamerica.net.
NCAI President Jefferson Keel Introduces President Barack Obama at White House Tribal Nations Conference
WASHINGTON—November 5, 2009—National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) President Jefferson Keel (Chickasaw Nation Lieutenant Governor) introduced President Barack Obama today at the first annual White House Tribal Nations Conference. Below are President Keel’s remarks:
“I have a great honor today, and I am humbled to be here on this historic day for Tribal Nations and for our country. History teaches that failure to include the voices of tribal leaders in formulating policy affecting our communities has all too often led to undesirable and, at times, devastating results, such as federal policies that led to allotment of our lands, termination of tribal governments, and relocation of our families to urban areas.
By contrast, where dialogue with Indian nations had a meaningful role in the policy making process, we have enjoyed greater opportunities and have been better able to address important challenges. This dialogue is a critical ingredient of a sound and productive federal-tribal relationship.
I believe this is why tribal leaders have responded to the person I am about to introduce. He campaigned on the promise of greater engagement with Indian Country. President Barack Obama has recognized that our union will be more perfect when the Indian Nations are respected as they were by the founding fathers in our Constitution.President Barack Obama understands that our brightest future lies in strong Nation-to-Nation relationships.
Here, at the beginning of a historic U.S. Presidency, we have the opportunity to meet with him and renew the promise of our democracy once more. It is my extraordinary honor to introduce President Barack Obama.”
Native American Voices: A Reader Released: Chickasaw Scholar is Editor and Writer
Native American Voices: A Reader, 3rd Edition, published by Pearson-Prentice Hall, is now available through the publisher and on Amazon. Traci L Morris, a Chickasaw scholar and educator, is one of three editors on this edition, including Susan Lobo and Steve Talbot. Morris is also an author of numerous entries in the reader.
This 3rd Edition is significantly updated and appropriate for lower level college courses in American Indian Studies, Anthropology, and Ethnic Studies. It is also very accessible for the general reader. Native American Voices: A Reader has been extensively revised to reflect the most contemporary thought and scholarship regarding Native themes and issues.
Voices is exactly what the title indicates, a selection of readings by various Native American educators, authors, scholars, elders and community members. The topics range from history to NAGPRA, from the environment to economic development, from art to nation building.
Included in this comprehensive revision of entire book includes three new parts added to the revised original 10 parts: Native Representations: Media and the Arts; Nation Building and Sustainable Development; and Urbanism: Ancient and Contemporary. The expanded appendices include a comprehensive list of internet resources, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, and educational institutions. New informative boxes are scattered throughout the book give quick reference to essential facts and statistics, events, and people. Numerous new Native works of poetry and art have been added that demonstrate contemporary Indian vision and creativity.
If you would like more information, please contact Traci L. Morris. The book can be ordered from Pearson-Prentice Hall and Amazon. Please contact the publisher for desk copies.
Arizona Native Assets Coalition Community Needs Survey
The Arizona Native Assets Coalition (ANAC) is a new organization currently conducting a community needs assessment with the ANAC Financial Fitness and Tribal Economy Survey. ANAC encourages the following people to complete the survey, including Tribal leaders and Tribal Program Directors working in community development, financial planning, health and human services, tribal housing, and other related departments. If you would like more information, please write ANAC at: ANAC INFO If you would like to complete the survey, please go to: ANAC Survey and scroll to the bottom for the survey.
