Establishing shot:
Named locations:
Major themes covered: celebrating Christmas in the Russian Orthodox manner in the Orthodox villages of the lower Kuskokwim River
Native activities shown:
Individuals? Named?
Native language spoken:
Audible?
Noteworthy elements:
Other notes: KYUK TV
Major themes covered: dancing, more scenes from Indian play
Native activities shown: Passion play blended with Schitsu'umsh legend.
Named Individuals:
Chief Circling Raven, Chief Twisted Earth, Spotted Badger (Medicine Man), Dancing Sunlight (the chief's sick daughter) -- These are all historical/legendary figures. There is no known record of the names of those who played these parts. Father Pierre Jean De Smet is also played by an actor in this film, which shows the latter portion of the play (not featured in Films 1 & 2).
Major themes covered: Schitsu'umsh legend about the coming of "the Black Robe," the role of the Medicine Man, the Feast of the Assumption
Named locations: "The Place Where the Lake Flows Out" (the tributaries of Lake Coeur D'Alene); Cataldo Mission, Idaho
Native activities shown: A passion play blended with Schitsu'umsh legend
Establishing shot: Rita Good Thunder standing in the Lower Sioux Pottery holding a ball of Minnesota clay on the Lower Sioux Indian Community reservation in Minnesota.
Named locations: Lower Sioux Pottery, Lower Sioux Indian Community reservation, Morton Minnesota, Bloomington Minnesota, Berkeley California, St Cornelius Bishop Whipple Mission Chapel, Olivia Minnesota, Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe NM, Little Big Horn Big Horn County Montana
Establishing shot:
Named locations:
Major themes covered: Chief Shatka Bear-Step offers the sacred Christian prayer in Indian sign language
Native activities shown:
Individuals? Named?
Native language spoken:
Audible?
Noteworthy elements:
Other notes:
Establishing shot:
Named locations:
Major themes covered: Episcopal Church interacts with Guatemalan Indian people, teaching Spanish to the children and assisting adults earn a living
Native activities shown:
Individuals? Named?
Native language spoken:
Audible?
Noteworthy elements:
Other notes:
Establishing shot: people camping in a grove; tents, pickup truck, campfire,
Named locations: Rehoboth, Zuni, Two Wells, Gallup, Bethlehem Chapel, Tohatchi, Naschitti, Toadlena, Sanostee, Redrock, Beclabitoh, Beclabitoh, Teec Nos Pas, Farmingto
Major themes covered: scenes from religious films about Navajos and other tribe Christians in New Mexico and Utah
Native activities shown: weaving,
Individuals? Named?
Native language spoken:
NOTE: This film contains demeaning and condescending language that is a product of the historical period of its creation. These attitudes are not endorsed by AIFG.
The film Real Americans uses multiple references to Native Americans in the past tense via the narration. Jean O’Brien, in Firsting and Lasting: Writing Indians Out of Existence in New England (2010), discusses similar techniques used by non-Native authors of local historical texts of the 1800’s to relegate the “Indian” to the past.
Warning: This film purports to explain the religion of the Akimel O'odham (Pima) Indian. Most content material is incorrect and reflects the mainstream cultural biases of its time. The title indicates a misunderstanding of petroglyphs and Native belief systems. The narrator's language is condescending and culturally insensitive.
Photography: Roland C. Price
Editor: George Halligan
Musical Score: Lee Zahler