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Native Film Talk — Film Reviews
Native Film Talk

Hello! Welcome to Native Film Talk! The purpose of this podcast is to explore Native representation in film from the perspective of a Native, me. Native American representation in film is as old as the film industry itself, so there is a plethora of content available for review. I plan to watch movies, tv shows, and documentaries from the old westerns, i.e. The Searchers, The Outlaw Josey Wales, to more modern box office hits, Wind River, Hostiles, Magnificent Seven. Also I’d like to explore film that are from the Native perspective, i.e. Smoke Signals, Skins, Indian Horse, The Fast Runner. During this journey I will do research and dedicate an episode per film. I hope on this journey to gain a better understanding of what appropriate representation means to me. I realize my palate will change through the course of this podcast and I hope yours does as well!
Overall, the image of the Native American in film has changed in a lot of ways, in others it has not. There have been attempts to mature from the stoic indian, noble savage, and white savior but we also see modern instanaces where those stereotypes continue to be perpetuated. Also there is encouraging signs that we are heading in the right direction, with movies like Indian Horse, that recant accurate experiences of Native people in history. Also tv shows like Molly From Denali that show a positive image of native people on television while being accurate to the tribe being represented in the show. I’m excited for this journey and hopefully will have some great guests join me along the way. Thank you and happy listening!

Latest Episodes:

Dexter New Blood Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

This Dexter reboot that takes place 10 years after the questionable ending of the original show. Far from Miami, Dexter finds himself under the alias, Jim Lindsay, and is no longer killing. On top of not satisfying his urges, he is dating the Chief of Police Angela Bishop who is Seneca. A crime takes place on tribal land we are taken on a wild ride which eventually leads to Dexter meeting his demise at the hands of his own son, (SPOILER ALERT!)

Despite not having any Native producers, writers, or directors this show had excellent Native representation. While they did not have those roles filled by Native people, they had a Seneca cultural consultant, Caleb Abrams. It is clear they had a great collaboration during the show, the product is solid.

While I wish there was more Native representation in the show, what was shown on screen was graceful and real. I enjoyed seeing this reboot and I hope you all get a chance to see it! Let me know what you all think and stay tuned for the next episode where I interview the cultural consultant on the show, Caleb Abrams!

Grey's Anatomy S15E17 - Tradition Dec 12, 2021

Show notes

This unfortunately came out in a year where we were graced with superior Native representation in television, Rutherford Falls and Reservation Dogs. Fortunately for us we know better now because of those shows. Grey's Anatomy having Natives, at face value sounds amazing. The actual product though, left much to be desired. I felt like I was watching someone's attempt at being respectful to Natives. It's obvious that this was non-natives writing about native people. The representation felt romanticized, generalized, on the nose, and performative.

Overall, I love this show as a whole. I was so excited when I heard that Robert Mesa was playing James Chee, a Navajo intern and recurring character. So I was MORE excited when I heard an episode about Natives was coming and man did it fail to deliver. I'm happy though, had this come out a year ago I would have enjoyed it. Thankfully I have a graduated taste, thanks to the shows mentioned above.

Thank you everyone who supports the show. Like, subscribe, leave a review, and let me know what you think! Have a good one!

Joe Yates (Writer on Molly of Denali) Dec 04, 2021

Show notes

Joe is the father I want to be, the creator I want to be, the role model I want to be...everything.

Joe Yates runs Alaskan Films, his own video production and photography company. He also is a writer on Molly Of Denali, works on the upcoming show Life Below Zero: The First Alaskans, and is a Haida man trying his best to teach his kids the language.

He is a wonderful filmmaker and his work is available on his website alaskanfilms.com, go check it out and you will be amazed by his short films he has put together so far.

Joe is a phenomenal individual and we have a chat that ranges from language revitalization, to accurate native representation, fatherhood, and of course Molly of Denali!

Hope you all enjoy and please check out his work on alaskanfilms.com (Highly recommend Songs of Our Ancestors)

Reservation Dogs Episode 8 Nov 25, 2021

Show notes

Give that man an Ax!

What a way to end the season, Elora is the only one that ends up leaving?! And she ends up leaving with Jackie?! From the sworn rival gang the NDN Mafia?! Definitely some curveballs in this season finale but it was a great way to leave us wanting more for season 2.

I wrap up my miniseries on the Reservation Dogs season 1 and hope that everyone enjoyed it!

In addition to wrapping up episode 8 I also give my final thoughts on the show, overall positive, negatives, and where we go from here. I hope everyone enjoys it, likes, subscribes, and/or gives some feedback!

Thank you everyone who supports the show, talk to you later!

Reservation Dogs Episode 7 Nov 13, 2021

Show notes

What a great episode! Unfortunately this is what accurate Native representation looks like sometimes, suicide. While it dealt with an issue that we commonly see in our communities, it did it in a way that informs us of the circumstances that cultivate those high rates. Addiction, lack of opportunity, language loss, culture loss, poor access to adequate health care, etc. This show demonstrates that we need to talk about these things and sometimes we have to go to a non-native to talk about them.

This episode was heavy for me and for many people who saw it but it is important when controlling the narrative to tell the truth, even when it hurts!

This episode also gave Elora so much depth that we needed to see and always starve for in other shows featuring Native women. I love this show and episode. Episode 8, season finale, coming soon!

Reservation Dogs Episode 6 Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

This is the Willie Jack episode we've all been waiting for...it's not quite what we expected but over delivered in my opinion.

Willie Jack and her dad set out to hunt the deer that has eluded them, Chunk. While out and about Leon shares with Willie Jack his encounter of Tallman and they discuss the circumstances around Daniel's death.

This is a wonderful episode that touches on religion, belonging to place, connection to land, Land Back, and suicide. This is a powerful episode that doesn't get enough credit for what it is, the first TV show that depicts the reality of leaving the Rez.

I go over the new characters introduced, their backstory, plot review, positives, negatives, and final thoughts to take us home. Let me know what you all think! Leave a review, subscribe, or write into the show and give some feedback. Talk to you later.

Episode 7 coming soon!

Elias Gold Oct 15, 2021

Show notes

As seen on Natives React Rez Dogs episode!

I had the pleasure of having Elias Gold come onto the show, he is the creator behind the YouTube channel Native Media Theory.

This chat discussed Reservation Dogs, how we came to be enamored with Native representation and advocating for accurate representation, the state of Native representation in film & television, also where we go from here.

I had a fantastic chat with Elias in our longest episode to date! Thank you all for your support and like, subscribe, rate/review!

Reservation Dogs Episode 5 Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

This episode is my favorite of the season. It has Kiowa Gordon singing Midnight Rider, Big's origin story, learning more about Cheese, and Native suspense/horror like I've never seen it done before...so beautifully. Also Wes Studi is in this episode, man what a show!

Deer Lady is right behind William Knifeman aka Spirit as my favorite character in the show. I have never seen Native lore captured so beautifully and in such a terrifying way that took me back to all my stories being told as a kid.

This was a great episode that took a deep dive into Big's past and why he isn't just a conspiracy theorist, he actually has seen some wild shit! This show is spot on with how we dress, I talk about that. Also how we need to guard our stories a little so we don't get people trying to recreate this, a lot of Kenny Boy's out there...gotta watch out.

Please like, subscribe, and leave reviews if you can. Thank you so much for listening.

Reservation Dogs Episode 4 Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

This episode was real...like very real and strange. Absent father, people who have a weird Native fetish, phallic beaded jewelry, and of course frybread at diabetes awareness fairs.

I discuss the anti-black criticism surround this show, specifically targeted around this particular episode. I also talk about some of the great topics raised, like sexualization of Native women. How Native women are always the caregivers but never taken care of by their communities. Also dead beat dads in Indian Country and where this episode got it right and not so right.

I close it out with positives, negatives, and final thoughts. Listen soon for the upcoming episode on episode 5, my FAVORITE of season 1.

Enjoy!

Bobby Wilson Sep 18, 2021

Show notes

Writer, actor, artist, comedian...what can this guy not do?!

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Bobby to talk about his work on Rutherford Falls and Reservation Dogs. Keeping the spirit of making my show a mini-series about Reservation Dogs I thought it was fitting that we invite someone that writes for the show!

We talked a lot about his career. How he got to the point where he is writing on two major shows? We discuss Native representation up to this point, where we go from here, and how Reservation Dogs has changed the game already.

Hope you all enjoy and have a good one everybody!

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