films with Two spirit or LGBT Native Americans/Canadians

nikkif99uk · 03-06-2008, 03:17 AM

I am currently studying indigenous cinema and am hoping to write a paper on the subject of Two Spirit and LGBT natives in film and television. I have a few examples like Johnny Greyeyes and the Business of Fancydancying if anyone knows of more with links to clips etc. Or even better academic articles, journals, books etc on the subject.

Please help

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nikkif99uk · 03-10-2008, 02:48 AM

can nobody help me

Jeff Gatie · 03-10-2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikkif99uk

can nobody help me

What exactly are you asking?

Wait, did a little googling. Check out Little Big Man starring Dustin Hoffman. There was a character in that film who fit the criteria. As I remember it, he rode his horse backwards. That is the closest I ever got to a mainstream film handling the concept of "Two Spirit". His name was "Little Horse" and he was described as a "'heemanee' for which there ain't no English word".

Malcolm R · 03-10-2008, 11:54 AM

The only film that I can think of that may partially fulfill the criteria is "Big Eden".

The film stars Arye Gross as Henry Hart, a successful gay artist from New York City who returns to his Montana hometown to care for his dying grandfather. While at home, Hart is forced to confront his unresolved feelings for high school friend Dean Stewart (Tim DeKay), while simultaneously beginning to fall in love with Pike Dexter (Eric Schweig), the shy Native American owner of the town's general store.

David Brown Eyes · 03-10-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikkif99uk

I am currently studying indigenous cinema and am hoping to write a paper on the subject of Two Spirit and LGBT natives in film and television. I have a few examples like Johnny Greyeyes and the Business of Fancydancying if anyone knows of more with links to clips etc. Or even better academic articles, journals, books etc on the subject.

Please help

Give me a bit of time nikki. I will see what I can dig up but it may take a couple days.

David Brown Eyes · 03-10-2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Gatie

What exactly are you asking?

Wait, did a little googling. Check out Little Big Man starring Dustin Hoffman. There was a character in that film who fit the criteria. As I remember it, he rode his horse backwards. That is the closest I ever got to a mainstream film handling the concept of "Two Spirit". His name was "Little Horse" and he was described as a "'heemanee' for which there ain't no English word".

NO NO NO NO NO!

nikkif99uk · 03-10-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Brown Eyes

Give me a bit of time nikki. I will see what I can dig up but it may take a couple days.

thanks that would be great my presentation is Wednesday but more importantly I need it for my essay.

Jeff Gatie · 03-11-2008, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Brown Eyes

NO NO NO NO NO!

I did say it was mainstream. Maybe you could elaborate on your comment, for even you can admit this is a quite narrow genre probably not seen much by the general public and thus we plebes don't know what is considered offensive or not. I can't really learn much from "NO NO NO NO NO!", can I? Besides, the OP didn't request postive portrayals only and I would imagine an essay may seek to compare and contrast both positive and negative.

Scott-S · 03-11-2008, 07:55 AM

It might help if you told us what a LGBT is?

Jeff Gatie · 03-11-2008, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott-S

It might help if you told us what a LGBT is?

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender.

It's a common acronym in academia, but I'm not sure of the widespread use outside of that sphere. As far as "Two Spirits" is concerned, I definitely had to google for that.

I guess you learn something new every day.

Jeff_CusBlues · 03-11-2008, 10:47 AM

Ah. And Two Spirit has a transgender meaning as well. I just googled the term.

Two-Spirit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A little more explanation by the original poster would have been helpful. Good luck with your essay.

David Brown Eyes · 03-11-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikkif99uk

thanks that would be great my presentation is Wednesday but more importantly I need it for my essay.

Not a lot of time there. I will contact a friend of mine who will be able to give me a good list later this evening.

You got the main one. The Business of Fancy Dancing

My hunka brother is a winkte, two spirit. I am trying to get a hold of him.

David Brown Eyes · 03-11-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Gatie

I did say it was mainstream. Maybe you could elaborate on your comment, for even you can admit this is a quite narrow genre probably not seen much by the general public and thus we plebes don't know what is considered offensive or not. I can't really learn much from "NO NO NO NO NO!", can I? Besides, the OP didn't request postive portrayals only and I would imagine an essay may seek to compare and contrast both positive and negative.

Offering up a movie such as Little Big Man as a source for a serious topic on anything is laughable. It is unfortunate that the "general public" takes a film such as Little Big Man to be authentic or educational in any manner.

The original poster specifically stated indigenous cinema. Little Big Man comes no where near indigenous cinema. It can only be used as an example of stereotype portrayals produced by American/Canadian mainstream, something that Native writers, actors, directors, and producers are trying hard to reverse. Very few are interested in learning who we are and what we are they prefer to retain the old comfortable stereotypes, whether heathen savage or noble savage, in the end niether portrayal is accurate.

what I gather from the OP is that they are looking for a Native voice, Little Big Man is not a native voice.