Indians and the Cinema--Not the same old story

In the past, such Hollywood heavyweights as Marlon Brando, Richardo Montlebon, and other white actors have played American Indian characters. The most famous of these was Iron Eyes Cody who played the "crying Indian" in the anti-litter campaigns. Other Hollywood agencies have profited from the exploitation of Indian people--even when it was designed to "help" them--thanks for the help there Mr. Costner. That is now all about to change.

The world premiere of two American Indian short films screened at Paramount Studios as part of the first ever LA Skins Fest--a Native film festival. Both films, "Ancestors Eyes" written by Kalani Queypo and "Two Spirits, One Journey" by Shawn Imitates Dog, were the end result of the Southern California Indian Center's Creative Spirit Initiative, a week long film making program. The following is a link to the Center

http://www.indiancenter.org/pages/index.php

The face of Hollywood is about to change, and this time, I think, we can say it's for the better!

A Kansas City Casino?

Tribal owners of a downtown casino reported that they plan to open on January 10th. Recently, the states of Kansas and Missouri attempted to challenge the operation in court. The Attorney General of the State of Kansas filed a motion with the 10th Circut Court in Denver which asked the court to overturn an October decision that dismissed the federal suit against the casino. Members of the Wyandotte nation, the Oklahoma based tribe that controls the casino operation, has stated that until the tribe is notified by the federal courts, they will proceed with the grand opening. The casino and steakhouse is housed in a former Scottish Rite temple in the heart of Downtown Kansas City.

Other tribes have also attempted to open urban casinos in the area. The Kickapoo Nation and the Sac and Fox Nation recently attempted to work out a gaming compact with the state of Kansas to bring a Vegas-style gaming operation to a section of land along Intersate 70 just west of Kansas City. The state refused to negotiate the compact and the casino bid is currently on hold. With this new KC casino, the time is right for the Kansas tribes to try again.

Many forget that Kansas has an Indian population and that a a few tribes call the state home. States with larger populations receive more attention and federal dollars. Kansas Indians are left to find their own way--casinos would go a long way to increase the sovereignty of Kansas' Indian nations.