Playing Indian: imagineNative 2008 tells the rest of the world what we Natives knew all along - Pop Culture was giving us fake images of our people.
NOW, Oct. 9, 2008, v. 28, no. 6, pp. 74-75
Native people in Hollywood film were traditionally portrayed by white actors. Drew Hayden Taylor writes "they say the camera adds ten pounds, but it also anglicizes." Greg Staats' work Harold J Smith, Jay Silverheels, Tonto showing as part of How: Engagements with the Hollywood Indian curated by Ryan Rice focusses on the first Native actor in Hollywood, and his effect on the dominant culture's perception of native people (rightly or wrongly) in his role of Tonto.
How: Engagements with the Hollywood Indian shows as part of the imagineNative festival in Toronto.
ITEM 2008.065 – available for viewing in the Research Centre
Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited
Harold J Smith, Jay Silverheels, Tonto – Greg Staats