The Native Filmmaker: Smoke Signals

With the rise of sympathetic westerns during the early 90's came a new enthusiasm for Native Americans. Several motion picture companies took their chance to cash in on the revival of Native Americans in film. More importantly, young Native American filmmakers were given the opportunity to showcase their work to a public eager to view films on Native culture. Smoke Signals, written by Sherman Alexie and directed by Chris Eyre is regarded as the best film directed and produced by Natives. The film questions all native stereotypes but from a humorous standpoint. The two main characters are trying to understand their identities and along the way they deal with the common misconceptions about Indians that pervaded their upbringings. It is the first true effort to present modern Native American life from the perspective of a Native writer and director. Even if the film was not well received it is important because it opened the door for future generations of Native filmmakers. With every passing decade, Native Americans are moving away from negative stereotypes and closer to the possibility of controlling their image as well as the depictions of their culture. At least in the film world, Natives are becoming less marginalized and are gaining the necessary agency in order to create more positive images of Native Americans.