Whisper of Art
~ Stephanie Deplanque ~
In each issue I will present one book and one film. They may not be recent ones, just books and films that I liked, or loved, entertainment
I want to share with our readers.
One Book
This month, I would like to talk to you about a book that I only discovered and read recently, a book that actually changed my life as it has given me a new, or should I say completely different, knowledge of what Native American people had suffered. Today I choose to talk about Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, written by Dee Brown and published in 1970.
Since reading the book, I have recommended it to everyone, and with every opportunity I get to make a present, I offer a copy of the book to those I know will be interested. The best thing is: so far everyone I gave it to simply loved it!
However I am still wondering why this book doesn’t have more success in America, although I’m sure many people have read it, I’m also almost sure that many have not and probably will not. I believe it should be part of the educational curriculum in every high school, and everyone should have to read it. Not only is it a historical piece, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is also a testimony of what it was, what it really was to be Indian in the 19th century, and what was that so-called conquest of the West, depicted in so many in films, so many times, showing Indians as savages. Dee Brown’s research - eyewitness accounts and official records - gives a truthful account of what American Indians suffered. Although the period described throughout the book is about 30 years only, the number of treachery, murders, deceits, and every unlawful method used by the government, army, citizens... to get what they wanted is painfully impressive.
The government was thirsty to expand its possessions at the expense of an existing nation; they wanted more: more gold, more territory... less Indians. The book gives the stories of people who were afraid to stand up for others, although they knew they should. Of people who tried to find ideas to help Indians, starting from a good intention (assimilation instead of annihilation) but that resulted in even more suffering in the end. Or simply as a Nation that, even though they suffered greatly and still do, the people managed to keep some of their authenticity, what made them unique, and kept their tradition alive against all odds.
In the introduction of the book, in 1970, Dee Brown wrote: “And if the readers of this book should ever chance to see the poverty, the hopelessness, and the squalor of a modern reservation, they may find it possible to truly understand the reasons why.” And here, 40 years later, to say the same is still true.
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is simply a must read for anyone, American Indian or not, whatever the nationality, who is interested in Truth and History.
One Film
While I searched what film I would present, I realized I already knew what I wanted to write about. I love everything about legends and stories. I have always loved Native American legends and myths. And it is only recently (in the past year) that I was made aware of the real situation prevailing on some Indian reservations, the struggle for many young American Indians to find a place in America, where they sometimes don’t feel like they fit in.
And so, Steve Barron’s film Dreamkeeper seems to be the perfect to open this new column Whisper of Art.
Dreamkeeper was such a great surprise to discover. I loved that they used the present struggle of a young man who is part of a gang, hates white people, and basically has a lot of anger within himself, and his journey of discovery of who he is, in a way, with his more traditional grandfather. The old tribal legends and the present day journey intertwine and cross paths. This is simply a very entertaining as well as a smart film.
Watching the bonuses on the DVD, I learned that there was only one white actor on the set, and everyone else came from different tribes. The casting directors made it a point of honor to cast American Indian actors to play the roles, and it gives even more credibility and honesty to the film. There were many people from different tribes working on verifying the screenplay (written by John Fusco), legends and scenery for authenticity.
The stories of Shane Chasing Horse (Eddie Spears) and of Eagle Boy (Chaske Spencer) are linked, and the journey to the Powwow becomes a spiritual journey for Shane, who then renews with his origins and pride, his grandfather - Pete Chasing Horse (August Schellenberg) - and his father (Gil Birmingham). The cast is definitely worth watching the film: Delanna Studi, Nathaniel Arcand, Michael Greyeyes... and the story is too. It is very well constructed. It’s completely new: a seemingly truthful account of a young man in the modern world mixed up with the legends, spirituality and myths of a wonderful nation that most of us don’t know so much about.
The special effects are amazing: from a giant snake monster to a mountain that turns into a bear, a flock of ravens forming a spirit's face, witches and ghosts, and the watery domain of the Thunder Spirit, wonderfully managed without the blue screen but instead altered by computer after filming.
Much care has been given to the “not special” effects: from teepees to buckskins to face paint. Most impressive is the way the camera captures the landscape and what fills it; shot on location from Arizona to Canada (Jon Joffin) Dreamkeeper is beautiful to look at, and it is in this that it best expresses the invaluable aboriginal notion that all things in Nature – humans, animals, rock, tree and water - are alive, worthy of respect. All have their importance in keeping the balance of Mother Earth.
All in all, that makes Dreamkeeper the perfect family entertainment.
To conclude on this first review of a book and a film I would like to take a few lines to say something personal. It is not an innocent choice I made by choosing these two pieces, indeed I believe that what Dee Brown did is a little bit like what Billie K Fidlin did in creating this magazine: he gave back the speech to the people; he gave them back their voices. He told the Truth. And that is what we want to do, give back the voices to the people, so everyone can tell his or her story. Everyone who has something to say can actually speak, and that’s priceless. I am French and have never set a foot on the US territory (yet) and here I am, part of this amazing magazine, defending what I like, love, writing about what I enjoy, and reading about it, and hoping that this could change something, someday. That my voice will be heard (or that my writing will be read). And that it will weight into the balance. And as for Dreamkeeper, I again think that it has a lot in common with Whisper n Thunder, where we want to write, read and hear about past and present, History and stories, legends and real life.