Native Americans of the Civil War 2007, Run Time 75 minutes, Rated G Written and directed by Stan Armstrong, a Desert Rose Production
By Brian Young
Winner of Best Documentary Mercury Films Festival 2003 When considering the Civil War, history pays most attention towards the warring Union and Confederacy. This leaves little understanding of the Native American population whose homeland hosted the battles. Stan Armstrong’s ambitious documentary, “Native Americans of the Civil War,” seeks to shed some light upon an overlooked and often ignored page of history. Examining key figures of the first Native American veterans, “Native Americans of the Civil War” narrates an important and informative topic. “Native Americans” uncovers encyclopedic amounts of information and facts, truly its greatest achievement. The documentary’s attention not only surveys the eastern United States but also southwestern territories during which massive relocations occurred. “Native Americans” focuses mainly on the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Muskogee Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole) and their involvement in both the Union and the Confederacy. Like their white counterparts, Native Americans were divided and fought on both sides. We begin with Stand Watie (Cherokee), the only Native American individual to attain general brigadier ranking in 1864. Fighting for the Confederacy, Watie captured a Union steamboat and also had been the last Confederate general to surrender. Next on the roster is Chief Opothle Yahola (Muskogee Creek) who refused alliance with Confederacy. Indian Agent General Douglas H. Cooper who had been determined to enlist the chief for the Confederacy, confronted the Creek leader and his warriors. Chief Opothle Yahola was able to successfully drive Cooper back. From there, the documentary mentions Ely S. Parker (Iroquois) a member of the Union who was the first individual to serve as Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the completely Native American unit Company K of the Missouri Sharpshooters. Events unrelated to the Civil War itself also make appearances. During 1862, the Santee Sioux revolted and killed approximately 800 settlers in Minnesota. Massive relocations, such as the infamous “Long Walk,” occurred in the southwest forcing Navajos and Mescalero Apaches to Bosque Redondo. “Native Americans” presents its information in a variety of ways. Most often, the two narrators, Maurice Showers and Krystle Plafero, guide the audience through this unbeaten path while black and white photographs from that time frame depict Native Americans. Dramatic reenactments shot in sephia, star the Associate Producer Leon Yazzie (Navajo) and showcase the battles. Historians, Cherokee ancestors, and a plethora of professors divulge detailed explanations of the time, settings, and Native Americans in their respective interviews. The biggest problem in this film is the pacing. It is one constant stream of regurgitated information. It never slows down for a second. There is no down time to let the information settle into your brain. After one story completes, the next one begins immediately. If you don’t own the DVD, good luck trying to fully comprehend the entire tale without the ability to rewind. Given the lack of 06 - WOTN-The Magazine
any map, or any visual references for that matter, it also leaves the audience guessing at to where it’ll land next. One moment the film discuses the Five Civilized Tribes and their removal from Kansas to Oklahoma and the next moment it accounts the Navajos and Mescalero Apaches relocation from Arizona to eastern New Mexico. The writing, by Marc May and Stan Armstrong, also confuses. Four minutes into the film, a narrator dictates: “Veterans of the Confederate service who saw action along the Missouri-Arkansas frontier have complained in past years that military operations in and around Virginia during the war between the states received historically so much attention that as a consequence the [study starting] west beyond the Mississippi river is either totally ignored or at best cast into dim obscurity.” Native Americans of the Civil War, 2007
I can’t accurately quote what is being said in between the brackets, [study starting]. That’s the best guess I can muster. In combination with pronunciation and articulation of the narrators, it can be quite the challenge understanding what is being told. In summation, technicalities trip this ambitious project. “Native Americans of the Civil War” presents an amazing topic with ample research. The information that is articulated well enough for comprehension just staggers the mind. Even more astounding than the Native American individuals who fought in the war is their reasons and what occurs afterwards. Most tribes fought as a political statement to show their loyalty and to improve their political standing. Those that fought in the confederacy were forced to renegotiate treaties with the United States. Even those that remained loyal to the Union also found their reservations diminished. Yes, this information is extremely tasty but hard to digest with the speed at which it is delivered. Unfortunately, it’s the audience responsibility to construct coherency. Given the lack of repeating what has been told, a map, and a timeline, it’s hard to completely grasp the first time through. This documentary is like a college lecture. You need to devote your entire attention and have a pen and paper handy to fully understand this narration of the first Native American veterans. ABOUT BRIAN YOUNG Brian was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from Yale University in 2010. This column reviews movies that portray or are constructed by Native Americans. Each issue, Brian will review a recently released film or a critically acclaimed film. On his spare time, Brian enjoys reading, video games, and has modeled for the 2011 Men of the Navajo Calendar. If you or someone you know has a film that portrays or is made by Native Americans feel free to email Brian at blyoung05@yahoo.com.
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