The Earth is an Indian Thing (An Interview with Valerie Red-Horse)

THE EARTH IS AN INDIAN THING (An Interview with Valerie Red-Horse)

By Jerry Saravia

(Note: interview is reprinted with permission from Times Beacon Record newspapers, specifically The Village Times whom I used to write for. Excerpts are from a 1998 Stony Brook Film festival article) 

I always think back to the line from Jack Kerouac's wonderful, off-balance rhythms of his iconic book, "On the Road." That line is, "the Earth is an Indian thing." Indeed it is, but you would not know it from Hollywood's treatment of Native-Americans on celluloid. There have been exceptions: Arthur Penn's powerful 1970 film "Little Big Man," for one, and the sprawling Kevin Costner western, "Dances With Wolves," which certainly brought to life Native American history and led to more films dealing with this intrinsically isolated people, sometimes told from their perspective. A few years back, "The Exiles" was a rediscovered 1960's picture that dealt with Native Americans adjusting to city life, far away from the reservations and their natural habitat.

There is also a landmark 1998 film few have heard of called "Naturally Native," the first film (at the time, aside from "The Exiles") to focus on Native American life outside of reservations. It is specifically the first film made about Native American women written, directed, produced and starring Native American women. It was written and co-directed by Valerie Red-Horse (of Cherokee-Sioux heritage) who started her own Red-Horse Native Productions, Inc., a company specializing in motion picture and television production and Native American herbal skincare and hair care products. Valerie received financing for her film through the Manshantucket Pequot tribal council in Connecticut, but she walked a rocky road before finding a financial backer. "There were the typical rejections, obstacles, and attitudes towards Native Americans," she said. "I realized then I had to go to my own people to tell a story from their perspective." The film was shot in the Los Angeles area in October and November 1997 with a total of 19 shooting days due to a modest budget, and it stars some familiar, Anglo-Saxon faces such as Max Gail (TV's "Barney Miller") and the underrrated actress Mary Kay Place, who shot her scenes in one day.

"Naturally Native" deals with three Native American sisters (Valerie Red-Horse, Irene Bedard, of Inuit heritage, and Kimberly Norris Guerrero, of Colville/Salish heritage) attempting to start their own business in cosmetics. Although they are of American Indian ancestry, they were adopted by white foster parents and, naturally, each sister has identity issues. And they must also endure obstacles to get financing for their business, as Valerie Red-Horse herself endured in trying to make this film. As Valerie explains, "Many stereotypical Native American women are shown as weak and speaking in Broken English. I want people to see this movie, feel alongside these women."

The film itself had caused people to cry at some screenings, according to Valerie, and many Native American groups called it a blessing for such a film to finally exist. I admire the picture myself and found it moving and extraordinarily introspective about the lives of these women (the film also touches on issues such as casino gambling, Native images used as sports mascots and the portrayal of Native Americans in the media). "The Exiles" is a darker picture overall, finding that these souls do not adapt to city life and resort to alcoholism. "Naturally Native" is more optimistic and just as truthful. The final shot involving the three sisters forming a union in the middle of a road will move the most jaded viewer. We need more films like this, especially about a people who are steadily being forgotten. The Native American images need to be re-casted for an entire culture that needs the education. "Naturally Native" is a wise first step.