Native Americans on Screen

A thoughtful look at the progress (or lack there of) that Hollywood has made in moving away from negative stereotypes of Indigenous populations on screen, from Killers of the Flower Moon to Reservation Dogs. With a growing commitment from Hollywood to support Indigenous films and filmmakers, particularly writers, directors, and actors, now is the perfect time to assess just how far the industry has come. As the racist depictions seen in classic Westerns become less common, movies and shows like Reservation Dogs, which was nominated in four categories for the Emmys and won the Peabody and Independent Spirit awards, are receiving national attention on unprecedented levels. Lily Gladstone’s nomination for an Academy Award is a further example of how Indigenous creatives are breaking through industry barriers to boost Native American representation. Native Americans on Screen traces the evolution of often negative images and film techniques of earlier films depicting Indigenous peoples to the positive images and techniques of recent movies and shows. The book not only illustrates the “good, the bad, and the ugly” of the evolving stereotypes and images in earlier films but also points to the growing trend of Indigenous filmmakers telling their own stories in movies that counteract these older stereotypes. Michael Hilger explores these portrayals by grouping the various films and series discussed by theme and narrative, highlighting their similarities and differences and offering guidance on where Hollywood still has room for improvement.