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November 19, 2021
Native American Heritage Month! MCA Denver Staff Shares Their Influential Artists & Creators
November is Native American Heritage Month! It is a time to honor and recognize the diverse cultures, contributions, and achievements of Native Americans. In recognition, we asked MCA Denver staff to share artists/creators who have impacted their lives, as well as those that have made an influence on arts and culture in contemporary society.
Zaria Swanson - Visitor Services Manager
Who is an artist/creator that has been an influence in your life?
Neil Diamond Cree-Canadian writer, director, and filmmaker.
The creator of award-winning documentary, Reel Injun, that examines the portrayal of Native Americans over a century of cinema. Through his own experiences he found that most people derived their preconceptions about Indigenous people from the stereotypes portrayed through films.
Share and discuss your favorite work from this artist/creator?
I first watched the documentary in high school when writing an essay on representation of Indigenous, Black & Latinx culture in the media, and I came across this documentary. I found it to be so eye-opening, not only to the origins and meanings of stereotypes about Native Americans shown in films, but also how these stereotypes and portrayals have led people to perceive Indigenous people as mystical ideas of the past, and not as real people existing now. “These people are now mythological. You know, they don’t even really exist, they're like dinosaurs.” - Jim Jarmusch, Reel Injun. These stereotypes and portrayals, and how they make Native Americans see themselves and their identities, are often shaped through the lens of romanticization & fetishization or demonization.
Reel Injun showed me just how necessary accurate and true representation of Native American identity and experiences are within the media, and that works created by Native American artists and writers are something to be amplified and celebrated.
Share some resources for us to learn more!
Q&A: 'Reel Injun' Director Neil Diamond
Watch Reel Injun on Amazon Prime