War cries, charging horses and blazing guns in westerns like “Stagecoach,” “True Grit” or “Hondo” represent the stereotypical image many people have of Native Americans from the film industry. Beginning Nov. 5, in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month, the South Carolina State Museum offers a more complex view as it presents the Native American Indian Film and Video Festival: A Retrospective of Ten Years of Films.
Free to the public, the festival will feature some of the finest documentaries produced by and about Native Americans. Two to three different short films will be shown nightly Nov. 5 – 7 and Nov. 9. They will explore the history, culture and critical issues facing American Indians.
At the State Museum Nov. 5, a 5:30 p.m. reception will precede the 6 p.m. showing of the award-winning film “Alcatraz is Not an Island.” This in-depth documentary delves into the Native American occupation of Alcatraz in 1969, an event marking a turning point in the treatment and recognition of the 554 American Indian nations in the United States.
A second film, “In the Light of Reverence,” will treat audience members to a trip through beautiful tribal lands, investigating their modern-day usage. A panel discussion of the films and the concerns they address will wind up the evening.
Other films in the series consider the themes of Native American genealogy, cultural connections, traditional medicine, and music and dance. The film festival will be presented at the State Museum Nov. 5-7 at 6 p.m. each evening with the closing night Nov. 9.
Of special interest to families, the museum will show three short films on Nov. 9 from 2:30 – 4 p.m. followed by Indian storytellers. The program is free with general museum admission.
“We wanted to share the talent, knowledge and passion these filmmakers have for the Native American culture,” says Meika Samuel, director of education and programs. “I think people will be amazed at the contributions and complexity of Native American society presented in these films.”
The film festival is organized by the Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois and United Tribes of South Carolina, Inc. in collaboration with the Nickelodeon Theater and the South Carolina State Museum.
For more information contact Meika Samuel at (803) 898-4989, www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org, or www.cherokeesofsouthcarolina.com.
As part of the Native American Indian Film and Video Festival, a series of award-winning independent films examining the rich history and contributions of American Indians will be shown at the South Carolina State Museum at 6 p.m. Nov. 5-7 and Nov. 9.