[White Powwow Dancer]

Originally Posted by OlowanWi

I think that people are expecting way to much from Spielberg, and laying alot of blame on HIM for actually making pointed remarks on the attitudes that were around back in those days. You don't actually want him to rewrite history just to appease the indians, now do you? We want it told right, and if liberties are taken to convey the message of how horrible the attitudes towards natives were, then I say take them.
I WANT people to see how rampant the use of the term Squaw was. It has provided me plenty of opportunities to correct that bit of information to non-natives who I speak with about the series.
I really don't think that we want to nice it all up, just so Natives can say, FINALLY, a movie that tells it right! What do you mean?? We were treated horribly, and white men behaved barbaric and idiotic. TELL IT LIKE IT WAS!! Even if it ruffles your feathers. Shove the ignorance and hate and utter lack of remorse and sanity into the faces of white America. Show them, HERE, here is what your great ancestors did to us!! Here is the shame that you have all been kept in the dark about!! And look at the dignity and honor that OUR ancestors kept during the whole thing.
This series is hard to watch, as the episodes move along. Episode 5 was hardest to watch. But I'm glad for it. It has it's inaccuracies and flaws, but it tells a story that needs to be told. If you can't stand how it is told, go read an old history book to help gloss it over for you. I prefer to embrace the slow starts. And I also applaud Spielberg for taking a risk to help a fellow Lakota tell his story.
All the native actors featured in this series are sensitive to their culture and to accurate portrayals of natives. Don't you think we would have been hearing from them if it were such a horribe rendition of the truth?

You're right about that OlowanWi.

[Dawgwhisperer]

Originally Posted by OlowanWi

I think that people are expecting way to much from Spielberg, and laying alot of blame on HIM for actually making pointed remarks on the attitudes that were around back in those days. You don't actually want him to rewrite history just to appease the indians, now do you? We want it told right, and if liberties are taken to convey the message of how horrible the attitudes towards natives were, then I say take them.
I WANT people to see how rampant the use of the term Squaw was. It has provided me plenty of opportunities to correct that bit of information to non-natives who I speak with about the series.
I really don't think that we want to nice it all up, just so Natives can say, FINALLY, a movie that tells it right! What do you mean?? We were treated horribly, and white men behaved barbaric and idiotic. TELL IT LIKE IT WAS!! Even if it ruffles your feathers. Shove the ignorance and hate and utter lack of remorse and sanity into the faces of white America. Show them, HERE, here is what your great ancestors did to us!! Here is the shame that you have all been kept in the dark about!! And look at the dignity and honor that OUR ancestors kept during the whole thing.
This series is hard to watch, as the episodes move along. Episode 5 was hardest to watch. But I'm glad for it. It has it's inaccuracies and flaws, but it tells a story that needs to be told. If you can't stand how it is told, go read an old history book to help gloss it over for you. I prefer to embrace the slow starts. And I also applaud Spielberg for taking a risk to help a fellow Lakota tell his story.
All the native actors featured in this series are sensitive to their culture and to accurate portrayals of natives. Don't you think we would have been hearing from them if it were such a horribe rendition of the truth?

Thanx for posting. I think if you read back through the posts you'll see that there is agreement that it should be as vivid and harsh as possible. I said myself in a previous post that Spielberg did a great job with Saving Private Ryan depicting the violence at Normandy Beach and Mel Gibson did a great job depicting the entire events of The Christ leading up to his crucifixion. I think the harder it is to watch, the better......NOW we have to make sure that we integrate truth and positive motivation in our daily lives to insure that "we" are not forgotten nor portrayed any longer as we have been throughout history. Plenty Fox is right, we can STILL win. But alot of it depends on OUR solidarity and not dissension amongst us....regardless of tribe, blood %, etc. I'm actually starting to educate my white nieces, 9 & 11 years old with positive knowledge. They will tell their extended family and friends and THAT is how we can make an impact.....through ALL children, white or ndn.

[White Powwow Dancer]

Originally Posted by janet

Couldn't stop the tears when they cut the kids hair.So sad.

I seen the scene too I almost cried too. When Voice That Carry ran away from the hair cutting station. He said a prayer to the Wakan Tanka please have compassion on me. I cried during that scene too.

[Plenty Fox]

I've noticed on both of the threads related to Into The West a certain number of folks are volunteering their comments, primarily criticism, and they haven't even been watching the series. Does that make sense? Nada. If you haven't watched it, you don't have anything to say. We can all sit here and moan about how Natives have been treated historically--that's nothing new and, frankly, that's another thread... The two threads about Into The West are about that movie's depiction specifically. Seeing the previews only, in no way qualifies someone to critique the whole series... but perhaps I should be posting this on the thread "What gets on your nerves" elsewhere in this forum. However, it is frustrating to try and have an informed and intelligent conversation about something and then have someone chime in that hasn't even watched the show. Just my two cents.......Next week is the final episode...fasten your seatbelt, we're in for a bumpy ride...

[Dawgwhisperer]

Once again, Plenty you've poetically expressed what some need to hear. Where's the other thread relating to ITW? I'd be interested to see that one too.

[Plenty Fox]

Thank you, kind sir ! I believe the thread is under Native Issues and starts out with 'NEW MOVIE'...

I should add, the other thread is a great one started by WhoMe and also discusses his film project--I hope we all get a chance to see that!!! Should be great!!!

[Dawgwhisperer]

Thanks, Plenty.....I found the thread. FYI.......The Dawg is a woman....haha I really like some of the stuff you've put on this thread. Very informative and some I'm gonna copy and keep. Feel free to share things with me in general like ya have. I love to learn......

[OlowanWi]

Originally Posted by Plenty Fox & Proud

I've noticed on both of the threads related to Into The West a certain number of folks are volunteering their comments, primarily criticism, and they haven't even been watching the series. Does that make sense? Nada. If you haven't watched it, you don't have anything to say. We can all sit here and moan about how Natives have been treated historically--that's nothing new and, frankly, that's another thread... The two threads about Into The West are about that movie's depiction specifically. Seeing the previews only, in no way qualifies someone to critique the whole series... but perhaps I should be posting this on the thread "What gets on your nerves" elsewhere in this forum. However, it is frustrating to try and have an informed and intelligent conversation about something and then have someone chime in that hasn't even watched the show. Just my two cents.......Next week is the final episode...fasten your seatbelt, we're in for a bumpy ride...

You are so right about that. I have had people tell me that ITW is horrible, and they will never watch it, because of the disrespectful way they show the sundance. I say, whats to be ashamed of? The series isnt showing any actual ceremony that shouldnt be filmed, just an artistic representation, which I felt held the spirit of the ceremony without going to far. It wasnt accurate, no, but did we really want it to be? Nope!
Sometimes I think people get up in arms over things that they don't really know about because they mistakenly believe that it is the popular opinion. They lose credibility, and prove their narrow mindedness, and in the long run, cause more dissension and confusion than necessary.
Sorry for sounding hard, but we can help so much more if we form our OWN informed, well thought out views and opinions.

[Plenty Fox]

Originally Posted by Dawgwhisperer

Thanks, Plenty.....I found the thread. FYI.......The Dawg is a woman....haha I really like some of the stuff you've put on this thread. Very informative and some I'm gonna copy and keep. Feel free to share things with me in general like ya have. I love to learn......

Sorry. That's the problem with this internet stuff!

[Plenty Fox]

Originally Posted by OlowanWi

Sometimes I think people get up in arms over things that they don't really know about because they mistakenly believe that it is the popular opinion. They lose credibility, and prove their narrow mindedness, and in the long run, cause more dissension and confusion than necessary. Sorry for sounding hard, but we can help so much more if we form our OWN informed, well thought out views and opinions.

Part of the child development, personal development process is to feel comfortable and secure enough with 'doing our own homework' and forming our own opinions. Some of us will always go through life 'parroting' what they've heard at home without going through the process. I'm not saying that once having gone through the process one won't emerge from that exploration holding the same or similar opinion as the parents or other family; but at least the stage of growth has taken place, as it should. I think that, and the normal human need to feel a part of something, causes folks to 'detour' and instead of going through the process they are quick to side with whatever the 'popular' opinion is on any given issue. that's part of the problem with our political system, too. Voters see a 'party' label on a candidate and there goes that chad!!

[Dawgwhisperer]

We've been talkin' about this whole thing so much, I'm going to miss it when the series is over this week. Hopefully, it will continue for little while. Then I'll start checkin' out some of the other "issue" threads.

[Plenty Fox]

Originally Posted by Dawgwhisperer

We've been talkin' about this whole thing so much, I'm going to miss it when the series is over this week. Hopefully, it will continue for little while. Then I'll start checkin' out some of the other "issue" threads.

I know what you mean; I've been planning my whole life around these epidsodes!

Hey Dawg; is that a guinea pig dancing? Cute!

[Dawgwhisperer]

The AV is "Ninja Hamster".....I keep lookin' for those that fit my personality or make me laugh for one perverse reason or another. You're the therapist.....what does it all mean? (Maybe I don't want to know)