Cowboys & Findians in The Dudesons

The DudesonsThe Dudesons is a Finnish television series, which originally started in January 2001 under the Finnish name Extreme Duudsonit. A combination of extreme stunts, comedy and reality, the show has become the most widespread Finnish TV-series of all time. The show follows the every day life of four best friends, who have a tendency for chaos and perilous situations.

The Dudesons in America: 2010

After a multi-million dollar deal with MTV, a new show called The Dudesons in America was green lit. With a budget of six million dollars, it would consist of the same line-up of all four Dudesons, and is set to be produced by both Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine.

The first episode was shown on MTV May 6th, 2010, to widespread critical acclaim. The show has so far been very successful.Cowboys & Findians is the second episode of The Dudesons in America. Here's the official description:The Dudesons want to know if they can hack it like the original Americans once did, so they have found a Native Indian mentor named Saginaw who has agreed to lead them through seven painful rites of passage. Ranging from a canoe ride from hell to a game of ball busting dominoes with totem poles--even a 911 trip to the hospital won't stop the Dudesons from pursuing their goals of becoming honorary members of the tribe.A blogger named Stephen gives us his take on it:

"The Dudesons" Mark a New Low...I thought the Hipster headdresses were weird enough and our new "Indian" friends at the Stanford Powwow equally awkward. But ladies and gentlemen, there is a new winner. And I'm still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor.

Meet The Dudesons--four Finnish friends whose new MTV television show combines wild stunts and outrageous comedy...

...and the most unbelievable ignorant and disturbing take on Native culture seen in decades!Rob's review

The four Dudesons appear in front of teepees wearing phony feathers and facepaint. One has a toy bow and arrows. They're joined by actor Saginaw Grant, who plays "Saginaw, King of All Indians."

Right off you know this is going to be bad. It combines the most common Plains stereotypes with a strong implication that all Indians are the same.

Stephen describes the action:Not only do they dress in outrageous Indian headdresses and outfits but they make a complete mockery of Native spirituality and culture. They rescue their "Indian" brothers in jail from the evil cowboys by being yanked off a horse. They attempt to fly like the eagles by driving an SUV off a ramp and into a moving target. And as "Saginaw" instructs them, they must only catch fish with their mouths like "real Indians" using a rotating fish slapping machine of course.Here's a slideshow of the show's lowlights:

The Dudesons | Ep. 2 | 'Cowboys & Findians'



"Some Cowboys and Findians."



"Jukka and Native Indian mentor, Saginaw, share some gossip."



A Dudeson shows his mastery of canoe paddling in mid-air.



"Jarppi: Finnish Dudeson turned Native Indian Male Model." This is just before the idiot jumps onto a barrel to prove his horse-mounting skills. The totem pole is a prop that has nothing to do with the rest of the show.



Jarppi the Dudeson tries to catch a fish in his mouth. Saginaw (Grant) claims this is a Native practice, but it's not one I've ever heard of.



Being dragged by a horse is another alleged Native rite of passage.



"Flying like an eagle" is the final alleged Native rite of passage.



Jarppi and other Dudesons receive golden feathers from Grant, who says they've earned honorary membership in his (unspecified) tribe.

Conclusion

I don't know if I'd call this a new low in stereotyping. I've seen a lot of terrible stereotypes in my time. But it's probably the worst stereotyping of the month, if not the year. It's probably the worst mockery of Indians on TV in several years. And the final "ceremony" may be the most repugnant misuse of feathers ever.

At least the Dudesons didn't try to kill, torture, or scalp anyone. That might've made them the stupidest stereotypers ever. Alas, I suspect these wannabes think they're "honoring" Indians by fabricating their "rites of passage."

Then there's Saginaw Grant's role. I don't know what his situation is, but no self-respecting Indian should've participated in this idiocy unless he was desperate for money. Grant seems like a tool or a fool for giving this modern-day minstrelry a veneer of respectability.

It goes without saying that this show is racist. Can you imagine the Dudesons play-acting as primitive Africans in grass skirts and bones? No, of course not. Singling out one race for stereotyping is a textbook example of racism.

For more on the subject, see TV Shows Featuring Indians.