Theatre Event U.K

[CrashNburn Theatre]

Dear Subscribers,

I am about to start the creative process in my efforts to tell the story of Native American people in the last 150 years or so. I understand that this may be beyond the scope of the work and will likely focus on an aspect or period in particular that is emblematic. Although I have done lots of reading and had some discussions I want to tell the story of another culture respectfully and accurately and so would welcome advice and suggestions. I am English and so have no tribal connections but a lifelong interest in a story that must be told but has rarely if ever been told to a UK audience. Is there anyone in the UK who would like to get in touch? Is there anyone out there who would like to get involved in this project at the writing/editing/discussion stage which is about to begin? It could be really interesting to cooperate online via a blog etc or simply via email. Please get in touch if you are interested or know anyone who may be. We are a professional company but this is not primarily a commercial venture although there may be a paying audience. The work may form a part of my Masters degree research and I would like to tour the event in summer 2009.

Regards,
David

[WhoMe]

Dear Subscribers,

I am about to start the creative process in my efforts to tell the story of Native American people in the last 150 years or so. I understand that this may be beyond the scope of the work and will likely focus on an aspect or period in particular that is emblematic. Although I have done lots of reading and had some discussions I want to tell the story of another culture respectfully and accurately and so would welcome advice and suggestions. I am English and so have no tribal connections but a lifelong interest in a story that must be told but has rarely if ever been told to a UK audience. Is there anyone in the UK who would like to get in touch? Is there anyone out there who would like to get involved in this project at the writing/editing/discussion stage which is about to begin? It could be really interesting to cooperate online via a blog etc or simply via email. Please get in touch if you are interested or know anyone who may be. We are a professional company but this is not primarily a commercial venture although there may be a paying audience. The work may form a part of my Masters degree research and I would like to tour the event in summer 2009.

Regards,
David

David,

1. There is no standardized generalization about Native culture or peoples.

2. Native history spans from our creation stories to the present. Archeological evidence places us in North America for at least 50,000 years.

3. Our cultures span geographical areas including, the Arctic, the tundra, the bush, the plains, the mountains, the coastal waters, the great lakes, the prairies, the deserts, the forests, the waterways, the swamps. the plateaus, etc. But take note that many tribes migrated to where they are now.

4. In North America, of the estimated 10 to 75 million Native inhabitants before European contact, less than 500,000 were alive by the year 1900. Native people were eradicated by attempted genocide, disease, government policies, forced labor and even target practice.

5. We had our own holocaust in the Americas. Great numbers of our people were eradicated by YOUR people and their decendents.

6. Today there are over 650 combined American Indian tribes/nations, First Nations people and Alaskan Natives/corporations. Collectively we speak/spoke over 250 different languages and dialects.

7. We look different from one another. Our body types, skin color and facial features are different. They always have been.




These are just a 'few' things to consider for your project "to tell the story of Native American people for the last couple of 150 years or so."



Uhhh .... "how long IS your play going to be?"


*L


Actually, most Natives who are active in their Native communities don't like non Natives telling THEIR stories and feel more comfortable having another Native to do it - preferably from their community.

There are enough books, plays and films that tell our story, that have been produced by non Natives. Too many inaccuracies abound when someone not of a culture tells the story of someone elses culture.

~just something else to consider.



Cheerio!

[CrashNburn Theatre]

Thank You!

Well, thanks, that's just the kind of response I was hoping for! Of course I posted a very naieve opening statement because I do not want to tell you my ideas-I am hoping that you will tell me yours! I am in no position to impose "an history of the native peoples" I am really pleased you posted. Thanks! Like many europeans I grew up with the image of the noble savage, the plains indian astride his pony and before we knew anything of the holocaust we FELT a sense of the FREE and the NOBLE and the possibility of a real sense of BELONGING TO AND COMMUNING WITH NATURE AND EACH OTHER. Now you may say these ideas are fanciful and of course history tells us that in some regard this is true HOWEVER you as a race cannot take that away fro us europeans however naieve and ignorant you may imagine us to be. Your people are a simulacrum for what is FREE and possible about the human spirit and heaven knows your country in particular (the USA ) needs some role models! So please forgive my naievete, it is not born of arrogance at all. I feel that in one sense English people can relate to North American indians (don't take this the wrong way! I am not suggesting we suffered in anything like the way you did) My culture has been eroded year by year by the white, american, dominant ideology. I have seen my language become *******ised and my culture altered and twisted by the media storm that is shunted into this country daily. My own children cannot always tell the difference between what is history and what is a Disneyfied history. You may have noticed that many Disney villians havbe an English accent!
We have been colonised democratically! The dominany ideology sweeps all before it.
I feel that I would perhaps focus on the plains indians as this is perhaps the best documented. The play needs to tell it's story by realising an event or series of events that illuminate the events to which we refer. I believe that the story may be told not by taking a linear narrative approach but moving between the sacred (cult and origin myths, your inner life) and the profane (the story of what was done to your people) Please keep replying even if it is to tell me I have no idea of what I speak, in fact, especially if it is to tell me I don't know what I am talking about! By the way-what are your origins?
David