Robert Redford meets the Indians
Dr. David Yeagley is (justifiably) on the warpath at
Bad Eagle
The
specific article is here but there are other entries building up to it that are worth reading.
Dr. Yeagley opens up looking at some groups (predominantly athletic) that use Indian motifs and their support of American Indian interests. He then takes a look at Robert Redford's Sundance Institute.
bq.
Redford's Token Indians
The Cleveland Indians have
never claimed to support American Indian interests. Robert Redford's
Sundance Institute does. The
Atlanta Braves have
never professed to foster Indian culture or talent. Redford's Institute does. The
Washington Redskins, located in the national center of social ills, D.C.,
do profess at least a concern for inner city youth. Redford's Sundance Institute has nothing to do with Indian people or Indian reservations.
bq. The Skins, the Braves, and the Indians have all been relentlessly attacked by
Leftist Indian activists, because their professional athletic teams use Indian names, images, and logos. So why hasn't Redford's "Sundance" Institute been raided by the same Leftist-trained Indian activists and the hordes of white liberals behind them? Is it because the Sundance Institute professes to be culturally sensitive? Is it because the "Sundance" programs claim to have an interest in Indian people? Does Redford get a free pass to use an Indian name because of an appearance of concern for Indians? a political cover of "compassion"?
Dr. Yeagley then takes a long look at Sundance Institute, what it does and who does it. Follow the money plays out well here too. I'm cherrypicking from this article.
bq. Redford himself has produced not a single Indian script or film. The Sundance Institute does not produce either, for anyone.
bq. The Sundance offers misleading impressions about it's "work" for Indians. Under "Programs," one finds a "
Native American" category. Yet, to apply, one submits his entry to the general application, for a decision from the board. Bird Runningwater, who heads the "Native American Initiative," has no say in who is awarded a stipend-less fellowship to come to the Institute. The Institute looks like is has an Indian program, but it really doesn't. They may as well have a Lithuanian Initiative, a Somalian Initiative, and have a token representative, like Runningwater. Apparently Runningwater is the sole salaried beneficiary of the Institute. Yes, the Institute offers a giant step forward for Indiankind. Indeed. There is simply no special effort for Indians. The Institute offers only a fraudulent impression of interest.
Who?
bq. Since the Institute invited Michael Moore in
1997
Follow the money:
bq. ...the Institute will now be funding it's future 'documentarists' through the money of George Soros
This is a very well written but dense and long series of posts. If you are interested in the current American Left, Film in general or Robert Redford, it's worth checking this site out. Dr. Yeagley backs up his statements with lots of links and facts for you to check... Good stuff!
Posted by DaveH at January 22, 2005 8:34 PM