Native Film Talk

New episode out now! Follow the link in my bio for podcast or check it out on YouTube with video.

Back again with an episode on Marvel’s Echo. My friend Chris joins me to talk about Maya Lopez’s journey back to her community in season 1 of Echo. We discuss why this is important for Native representation, specifically for women. I had a great time discussing how badass Alaqua Cox is as Maya and how much we are looking forward to another season.

There isn’t much I didn’t like about this show, it’s easy to like and does a lot for Native representation. Listen as we share our thoughts.

Read the effing room . I get that this was probably oversight but god, this is grotesxque. Did their social media person even see the movie? I hope not. If they saw the movie, know the context, and still made this up is tone deaf…that’s worse and gross.

No

My one sentence to sum up Killers of the Flower Moon. Look at these poor RICH Indians!

It’s frustrating how much they offer and fail to deliver on throughout the film. A testament to what happens when a native story is told from a non-native lens

Review coming soon. Stay tuned

Anyone know anything about this? I just heard that that there was a period where convenience store/gas station owners would give a kid a free piece of candy or another tootsie pop if they found a tootsie pop wrapper that had the “Indian star” on it.

I grew up in a Native town so idk if that’s why I didn’t hear about this one. From what I saw on social media it seemed to be a northeast thing? I thought it was interesting because it wasn’t a program sponsored or pushed by Tootsie Roll. It was a wide spread word of mouth program that was done on the honor system basically. I wonder why this happened and what the store owners did with all those wrappers with the Star Indian on them? Random thing I stumbled on today while scrolling social media.

But it ultimately adds mystic and rarity to kids’ minds that it’s a spectacle when you come across an “Indian.” I’m sure it frames young minds to view Natives as spectacles and almost akin to unicorns to some degree. Thankfully these are discontinued but kids who grew up loving this trend are now adults and probably also angry that the Indians are now the Commanders.

As we wait for the final episode of Reservation Dogs to drop it makes me reflect on life pre-Rez Dogs. In the mainstream, Native created representation was nonexistent. There were some shining moments that we could get excited about, but nothing on the scale of this show. I felt the future of Native representation was uncertain. I didn’t know if we would ever get, “Our shot.”

This show is the bar to be measured against now. I’m so proud to bring this up to people when I get asked about “Native content.” The rising tide raises all ships, this show has collectively elevated the game for everyone. Both Native and non-Natives have this as proof that Native led content is the gold standard and should be funded at every opportunity. This is one story of many that have yet to be told, and NEED to be told. I’m so excited for the future. Aho Young Warriors!

“What happened to the podcast?”

Well I will tell you. It’s on pause and has been since my last episode at the start of the year. I wondered why for a while and I’ve known but I hadn’t put my finger on it. Two reasons, what the audience has become and the massive increase in Native representation.

First the increase in Native representation has been overwhelming in a good way. I just can’t keep up with all the content which is amazing. But also it’s pioneering in great ways with all native writers rooms, all native casting, directing, etc. Frankly that was the goal of my show, to get more people talking about Native representation so a boom like this would happen. That’s happening all around me and that’s part of why I haven’t recorded. Where do I fit now that Native representation has ballooned and will continue to boom.

Second reason, the audience. It’s mostly non-Native at this point and will increasingly become more non-Native. I didn’t anticipate this one because I’m talking about Native experiences and perspectives. While I made this show for curious people, it made me look at other Native content creators who make “Native” content. They also have followings that are mostly non-Native also. That’s something I can’t seem to figure out if it’s something I like or don’t like.

So I’ve been thinking, if my audience will be mostly non-Native. What should I talk about? Why should I talk about? What needs to be said that isn’t already being said? At times I feel like a spectacle, other times I feel like a teacher, and other times I feel like I have no footing on what this show is supposed to be…

So for now, on pause. Still pondering. I will still be on social media while I figure out next steps for the show. So reach out and let me know what you all think.

There’s so much Native content on TV it’s insane. Here is a list of non-Rutherford Fall/Rez Dogs tv shows that are running or just finished, that feature Native characters. Sometimes I can’t keep it straight because there’s so much out there, which is VERY exciting. (If I left any off please let me know)

Check these shows out and let me know what you think, I left some shoes off. Molly of Denali, Spirit Rangers, Dark Winds, Resident Alien, all the Yellowstone shows, and Outer Range.

As always question, why is this Native character in this show? What are they trying to accomplish by having this character? Was there Native talent in the writers room, behind the camera, or as a producer? The list of questions goes on but ask yourself, but bottom line…you make the determination.

So much out there to consume! Showing off the diversity of Native people. It’s beautiful.

I had a wonderful chat with Joey Clift. He is a writer on Spirit Rangers, which just got renewed for season 2! Woot woot!
Joey has also created amazing short films like My First Native American Boyfriend and How To Cope With Your Team Changing Its Native American Mascot. 
We talk a bit about the Spirit Rangers premiere, in addition to how the show came to be. We also touch on the state of Native American representation today. While I typically speculate on, "Where do we go from here..." I feel that Joey's opinion and perspective on this topic is the most unique one that has been aired on the podcast.
So check this episode out! Enjoy and let me know what you think, talk to you later.