Alpha Gamma Xi

Reel Injun: A Film Screening and Discussion

Date: Sep 26, 2016 at 8:00pm to 10:00pm
Join us as The Native Peoples of America Colloquium hosts a film screening and discussion of Cree film-maker, Neil Diamond's "Reel Injun." An entertaining and provocative look at Hollywood's depiction of Native Americans, Reel Injun journeys through a century of cinema to set the record straight. Traveling through the heartland of the U.S., to the Black Hills and Monument Valley, Diamond examines how the myth of the movie ''Injun'' has influenced the world's understanding - and misunderstanding - of Natives. With clips from hundreds of classic and recent films, it is a remarkable feat of historical research, documenting the shift from nuanced silent-era heroes to the Western's ''Noble savage'' stereotype, leading up to the burgeoning Native independent scene of Smoke Signals and The Fast Runner. Containing candid interviews with celebrated directors, writers, actors and activists, including Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby), Robbie Robertson (The Last Waltz), Sacheen Littlefeather, John Trudell, and Russell Means, Reel Injun is an insightful and essential compendium for understanding the racial politics of Hollywood and the continuing artistic vibrancy of Native peoples.