Native Americans and Westerns
Native Americans have been portrayed in films since their inception in the late 19th century. Until recently, the portrayal has been one of brutality and savagery in the popular genre of film known as westerns. Native Americans in these films serve as the evil counterpoint to the good white settlers. The Searchers, a film that figures prominently in Return of Navajo Boy, is one of the most lauded and popular westerns. This cinema classic, directed by John Ford, and starring John Wayne, was filmed in Monument Valley, the home of the Cly's. Many other westerns were filmed in this beautiful desert setting and Return of Navajo Boy illustrates the role Navajo people played in the making of these westerns.
To learn more about westerns, try these sites:
Filmsite's Western Films Overview
Westerns: The Founding of Civilization as the Bridling of Masculine Desire
Do you want to know about the role of Native Americans in westerns? Visit these sites for information:
Native Americans: The Surprising Silents
Indians and Mexicans: Alternative Cultures in the Silent Western
"Reel" History and Literary Fictions: The Native American and the Western, Part I
"Reel" History and Literary Fictions: The American Indian and the Western
Images of American Indians on Film
Native Americans: Stereotype vs. Reality
Here are some sites to look at for information about The Searchers:
Filmsite's Review of The Searchers
Hero, Text and Ideology in John Ford's The Searchers
Teacher's Notes for The Searchers
30 Great Westerns: The Searchers
What does the future hold for Native Americans in Films? How are Native Americans being portrayed in films now?
Sending Cinematic Smoke Signals: An Interview with Sherman Alexie
Native Talent - A Profile of Bennie Klain
American Indian Film Institute