Bearing Witness
Native American Voices in Hollywood

For over 100 years, Hollywood cinema has crafted the ultimate “villain”—the Indian, as they were labeled in early Westerns. Confined almost exclusively to this genre, the Western became a vehicle for American racism, obscuring the genocide upon which the United States was built. For more than four decades, these films glorified “Manifest Destiny” and the conquest of so-called “wild” lands, with little regard for those who stood in the way. It wasn’t until the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the protest movements of the 1960s and 1970s that a shift occurred. A new wave of films, such as Little Big Man and Soldier Blue, emerged, offering more authentic portrayals of Native Americans and acknowledging the horrific massacres they endured. In this documentary, only Native Americans are given a voice to share their story, one that has been overshadowed by Hollywood’s portrayal. Their narrative, part of the larger American story, highlights how cinema has long been used as a powerful propaganda tool, distorting history and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

Filmmakers : Clara Kuperberg & Julia Kuperberg
Production : Wichita Films
In association with : Kali Pictures
Producers : Clara Kuperberg & Julia Kuperberg
Co producer : Martine Melloul
Executive producer : Darrell Redleaf Fielder
Network : OCS Ciné +
Year : 2024
Distribution : BMG Deskpop
Running Time : 60 & 75 minutes


Casting

Tantoo Cardinal
Actress

Irene Bedard
Actress

Darrell Redleaf-Fielder
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist

Frank Javier Garcia Berumen
Author of American Indian Image Makers of Hollywood

Hanay Geiogamah
Playwright, director and historian