Evolution of NativeAmerican Portrayal in Hollywood
MUWEKMAOHLONE TRIBE
Early Westerns depicted NativeAmericans as "savages" threatening settlers, reinforcing stereotypes of White settlers as heroes and Natives as villains.
Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show and early films like D.W.
Griffith's “The Battle at Elderbush Gulch” amplified these biased narratives.
Transition Towards Truth and Respect
● Films like "Soldier Blue" (1970) and "Dances with Wolves" (1990) began to challenge these portrayals, showing Native Americans as victims of government oppression.
● Recent films, like Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," offer more nuanced depictions, but Hollywood still has a long way to go in portraying NativeAmerican stories with authenticity.
● Growing efforts to respect and honor Native cultures, such as the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, reflect a positive shift toward a more accurate and respectful representation.