Inventing the Indian

Inventing the Indian
Directed by	Chris Cottam
Starring	Rich Hall Dallas Goldtooth
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Producer	John McCormack
Running time	1:30:00
Production company	BBC
Original release
Network	BBC 4
Release	2012 (2012)

Inventing the Indian is a 2012 BBC documentary first broadcast on 28 October on BBC 4,^[1] exploring the stereotypical view of Native Americans in the United States in cinema and literature.

Presented by Rich Hall and Dallas Goldtooth, a Native American, it uncovers myths about the American Indian and how they live currently. Hall looks at films including Soldier Blue, Stagecoach and A Man Called Horse, and books including The Last of the Mohicans, Black Elk Speaks and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. It also covered Geronimo and Sitting Bull.^[2]

Reception

Hall tore into the way that white people, such as Kevin Costner, insisted on becoming spokespeople for the pain of Native Americans. As the impassioned and conspicuously white Hall repeated the same sin, Dallas Goldtooth, an activist-comedian from the Dakota tribe, shook his head with mock disapproval. The unstated part of the joke was that Hall is said to be part Cherokee.^[3]

See also

• Imagining Indians (1992)
• Reel Injun (2009)

References

1. "BBC Four - Rich Hall's Inventing the Indian". Bbc.co.uk. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
2. "Review: 'Rich Hall's Inventing the Indian'". Digitaljournal.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
3. Anthony, Andrew. "Rewind TV: Brazil with Michael Palin; Rich Hall's Inventing the Indian; Top Gear: 50 Years of Bond Cars; Exposure: Banaz – An Honour Killing – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2016.

External links

• Inventing the Indian at BBC Online
• Inventing the Indian at IMDb
• Official site