Essay

Savages dancing in the wind: A look at Aboriginal portrayals, stereotypes and general racism in movies.

Written by: Kaylee Deline

Gr.10

The movie Pocahontas is believed by many, to be a racist movie, where as the movie Smoke signals is believed to be a comedy. Is it because smoke signals in a genuinely funnier movie? Or does it have to do with the writers of the movie. Disney’s Pocahontas was written by white men and women. Smoke signals was written by a well known aboriginal writer- Sherman Alexie. At what point does a movie stop being funny, and become racist, and at what point does racism become funny?

Many don't believe it is racist at all. It is just a romanticized and partially fictionalized true story, told in true Disney form talking trees, friendly raccoons and hummingbirds? - come on. The truth in the matter is, there really was a Native princess called Pocahontas, she really did save and befriend John Smith - as far as being lovers...she was the favorite daughter of Powhatan, John Smith was this strange person that was adopted into the tribe only because Pocahontas saved him, but Powhatan didn't trust the other white men, and wouldn't like his daughter harmed by them whom John Smith still associated himself with. Natives really did whoop, yell, caw, war cry, etc. Maybe not as much as in the movie, but different hand/body motions and sounds besides spoken language meant different things.

Smoke Signals, is based on something written by Sherman Alexie. It has real perspective, and insight into life on a reservation in the United States. Many of the aspects in the movie, are common on reservations, like fires, abuse, alcohol abuse, hit and runs- etc. Smoke signals is believed to be non-offensive. The movie was credited greatly for the capturing of Native life.