First Stewards symposium at NMAI

Pacific Indigenous Leaders Meet in Washington D.C. to Discuss Adapting to Climate ChangeAmong indigenous cultures being affected by climate change, coastal communities are in the lead. Since these cultures have been around for millennia—during which things have decidedly not stayed the same—they have had a fair amount of practice in adapting to various changes.

But climate change and its rapidity proves a formidable challenge to today’s indigenous. However, using their traditional ecological knowledge, they are finding ways to cope. Recently five U.S. tribes hosted a gathering in Washington D.C., the First Stewards symposium, to examine climate change’s impact on indigenous coastal communities and ways of life, as well as explore solutions.

Led by the Hoh, Makah and Quileute tribes and the Quinault Indian Nation tribes of Washington State, this national event took place from July 17–20, tapping into millennia of traditional ecological knowledge. Held at the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian, the symposium united hundreds of Native leaders, climate scientists and policy makers, as well as representatives from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Plans are to meet yearly.

The changes on way of life are marked. There are the Quinault Indians, whose salmon supply is dwindling. There are Native Alaskan villagers being forced to move as the permafrost beneath their dwellings melts. And in the U.S. Pacific Islands, storms are getting more intense as temperatures of both air and water increase, pushing up sea level, even as rainfall and water levels in streams decreases.Comment:  I believe this symposium led to the tribal leaders appearing on PBS NewsHour while they were in town.

For more on Indians and the environment, see Callingbull Protests Shell's Arctic Drilling and Indians Protest Minnesota Wolf Hunting.

Below:  "Northwest tribes perform during opening ceremony of First Stewards Symposium on July 17 at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C."

Tribal tourism without cultural explotation

A good article describes how tribes in general and the Quileute in particular "reap the economic benefits of tourism without falling prey to cultural exploitation."

A big old 'Twilight' welcome

Washington's Quileute Tribe has seen a rush of visitors since it became known as the progenitors of the popular vampire series' werewolf pack. How they're dealing with the vampire-mania.

By Bryn NelsonWhen the Twilight craze first erupted, the Quileute lacked a public relations contact and events coordinator. Ann Penn-Charles, a community leader who helps run the weekly drum and healing circle, says producers of the first movie randomly called villagers in hopes of securing permission to film a scene on First Beach. (It was ultimately shot on the Oregon coast instead.) The producers eventually visited La Push to get a better sense of the community. Tribal Secretary Naomi Jacobson says their ideas of Quileute kids were upended when they visited her cousin's home. "They didn't expect them to be modernized teenagers with iPods and Wii," she says.

Five years have passed since then, though, and the village has adjusted. Jackie Jacobs, the tribal publicist since 2009, has recruited several Twilight actors to visit the school and appear at the annual Quileute Days celebration in July. This festival has become the reservation's biggest tourist draw, and summer stays at the resort now require booking months in advance. When Jacobs asked some kids about how La Push has changed, she got a matter-of-fact response. "You definitely have to look now when you're crossing the street," they told her.

In the resort's main office, handcrafted basket earrings, drums, and decorative canoe paddles share display space with autographed pictures of movie stars. Centuries ago, the Quileute and other coastal tribes bred fluffy dogs for woven dog-hair blankets. Both the breed and art form are lost, though Penn-Charles and her mother knit woolen hats adorned with animals and geometric shapes. They too have adapted to the Twilight fans; one girl commissioned four purple-and-white "Team Edward" yarn hats last summer.

"The economic factor is big for our people who still do their arts and crafts," says Penn-Charles. In the summer, some of the tribe's youngsters sell handmade charm bracelets, rocks painted with wolf paw prints, and "La Push" and "Quileute" stickers, earning enough money to buy back-to-school clothing and supplies.

Group tours offer traditional meals served at the beach—crunchy biscuit-like "buckskin bread" and salmon cooked on sticks—along with the chance to sit around a bonfire and hear traditional stories. The outings—usually arranged through a new events coordinator—have generated much-needed income, and provided new ways for traditions and tales to be passed down to the next generation.Comment:  I like the note about how ignorant the producers were about modern Native teenagers. I wonder where they got the idea that these teenagers would be unsophisticated, primitive, clannish--like animals in human form. Oh, yeah...from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books, which portrayed them as an isolated band of wolf people.

For more on Twilight and tourism, see Quileutes Welcome Twilight Fans and Twilight Fans at Quileute Days.

Below:  "La Push's First Beach."

Truth vs. Twilight

Seattle's Burke Museum has created a website to present, well, "The Truth vs. Twilight." The stated purpose:In collaboration with the Quileute Tribe, this site seeks to inform Twilight fans, parents, teachers, and others about the real Quileute culture, which indeed has a wolf origin story, a historic relationship with the wolf as demonstrated in songs, stories, and various art forms, as well as a modern, multi-dimensional community with a sophisticated governance system. We also hope to offer a counter narrative to The Twilight Saga’s stereotypical representations of race, class, and gender, and offer resources for a more meaningful understanding of Native American life and cultures.All the site's critiques are worth reading, but I particularly liked these sections:

Racial and Class Stereotypes in TwilightTwilight pits vampires (the Cullens) against the wolf pack (the Quileute boys) in many ways as Meyer and Summit Entertainment highlight racial and class discrepancies between the two groups.

Those "Hot" Indians

Jacob, played by Taylor Lautner, may be a teenage heartthrob, but his continual depiction without a shirt shows how over sexualized, exoticized, and macho the fictional Quileute wolfpack is. Meyer describes the sexual, exotic Jacob as having “russet skin…bare-chested, wearing nothing but a pair of old cut-off jeans” (Eclipse, 183, 215). Likewise in the movie New Moon, Bella confronts a shirtless Jacob and his new tattoo, as he stands literally hot and steamy in the rain. Later in the film, as Bella gains more access to the wolf pack, the overly virile, meathead behavior that characterizes the Quileute boys becomes more apparent—out of sheer rage, Paul phases into a wolf and violently brawls with Jacob the wolf, and later at Emily’s house the boys bicker impolitely at the dinner table.

The Classy Cullens

In comparison to the Cullens (with their beautiful mansion, fine clothes, and luxury cars) the Quileute wolf pack and their modest homes, tattered clothes, and lack of shoes seem to represent the lower end of the class continuum. In all of the movies, Jacob shows up at Forks High School to whisk away Bella, curiously never seeming to attend a school of his own. Lack of education aside, the movie Eclipse reduces the esteemed responsibility of Billy Black’s tribal council leadership to the telling of ghost stories around a campfire. Furthermore, The Twilight Saga labels Quileute society with infidelity and broken family structures; Sam’s rise to alpha male stems from the necessity to be unlike his deadbeat dad, and Embry’s wolf “gene” comes from his Makah mother’s illicit affair with an uncertain but married Quileute father (Eclipse, 418). While many of these traits—being poor, uneducated, and having ubiquitous and dysfunctional relationships—are common among all groups of people, The Twilight Saga reinforces these shortcomings as synonymous with the Quileute, and in essence, all Native Americans.Seems to me some people didn't get it when I made similar points in my critiques. Which still mystifies me. The Indian werewolves are poor, working-class stiffs. The white vampires are rich elitists with fancy houses and cars. But you don't see a racial message in the huge disparity between whites and Indians?! Open your eyes, people!

For more on the subject, see Sexism in Twilight Saga and (More) Racism in Twilight Saga.



Cultural Theft in TwilightThe Quileute wolf pack is integral to the Twilight story, yet the Quileute Tribe has not received any of the billions of dollars of profit garnered by Stephenie Meyer, Summit Entertainment, and the many retail companies selling Twilight merchandise. Those profiting have avoided any legal claims, but the misrepresentation and misappropriation of Quileute culture causes deep ethical concerns.

Redefining a Culture on Her Terms

The most salient offense of misrepresenting Quileute culture is Meyer’s fabrication of a fictional origin story. In Eclipse, Billy tells of Kaheleha, “the first great Spirit Chief in [Quileute] history,” who used magical animal shape shifting powers to defend Quileute land (Eclipse, 245). The true Quileute origin story differs greatly, wherein Qwati transforms the first Quileute people from wolves.

Such an incorrect representation of Quileute origins is tantamount to altering the creation story of the Judeo-Christian world, and unlike the common knowledge of Genesis, it is a further affront in this instance because the Quileute origin story is relatively unknown. In presenting a real tribe to the far reaches of Twilight’s mass popularity, Meyer has unjustly rewritten Quileute identity into that of magical werewolves.

Everyone Profits Except the Quileute

Summit Entertainment and the ensuing merchandising surrounding The Twilight Saga add insult to Meyer’s injury, not only in visually manifesting and reinforcing the misrepresentation of Quileute traditions, but also in misappropriating Native art in the wolf pack tattoo.

The tattoo, seen on the sculpted shoulders of all the wolf pack boys in the Twilight movies, may not be grounds for visual copyright, as Summit Entertainment hired Canadian artist Lesza Snowdon to design the tattoo, but it does exemplify abuses of cultural appropriation. After visiting La Push and hearing a story about twinning wolves representing strength and solidarity, production designer David Brisbin passed the story on to Snowdon who then featured two wolves in the tattoo.

In addition to appropriating Quileute stories to create the narrative symbolic to the tattoo, Snowdon artistically appropriates Native graphic arts in her tattoo design. Particularly drawing from the Haida form-line style, the tattoo not only takes from Quileute oral traditions, but also does a disservice to all Northwest Coast tribes as it confuses and alters their rich and varied visual culture.

With the pervasiveness of Twilight merchandise at retailers like Dazzled by Twilight, Nordstrom, and Hot Topic, the tattoo has become visually synonymous with the Quileute, all without any approval given or royalties earned by the actual tribe.A blog summarizes the rest of the site:

Tribe takes on ‘Twilight’ silliness: We ‘do not turn into wolves’Among other things the site wants visitors to know:

Vampires don’t exist, and Quileute people cannot transform into wolves.

Contemporary Quileutes date much like other modern Western people, meaning no “imprinting.”

“Twilight’s” portrayal of the Quileute wolfpack as “over-sexualized, exoticized, and macho” beings is culturally insensitive, especially when compared to the refined vampires.

The “clumsy and weak” heroine Bella Swan isn’t doing women any favors.

For more on the subject, see Quileute Exhibit Says "We're Not Werewolves" and Fans Still Ignorant About Quileutes.

Rick Mora in a wolf hat

QWP Exclusive Interview with Rick Mora (“Ephraim Black”)In the first Twilight movie, there was a flashback scene where Jacob was explaining to Bella about this treaty, and Carlisle is speaking to a Quileute warrior, whom we know in the books to be Ephraim Black. This warrior was played by Rick Mora.

QWP:  Many seem to agree that the Twilight Saga has opened doors for Native American actors to more modern roles. What are your thoughts on this?

RM:  “Open Doors” is an interesting term. The Twilight Saga has definitely given the Native American a place within this current generation of actors coming through Hollywood. We all have a dream but commitment to this dream is what will make the difference for people to vision the Native in modern roles. Its kind of funny … the essence of the Native Spirit tends to resist modernization for a desire to return to the Old Ways, yet we struggle to show that the Native does not only come drunk, in breechcloth and sounding primitive. Don’t get me wrong, I embrace the loin, that’s my bread and butter but we still have a ways to go. I am so thankful for Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight Saga for bringing a well-needed change to the faces of Hollywood. I am excited to keep the energy flowing.Comment:  I wouldn't be too proud of this photo if I were Mora. <g>

This image kind of says it all about Twilight's respect for Natives. Who in their right minds thought this was a great way to portray traditional Quileute Indians? Half-naked and wearing little wolf hats that look like grade-schoolers made them in arts and crafts.

We discussed this scene in Flashback in Twilight Movie. You might think this flashback took place hundreds of years ago. No, it supposedly occurred in the 1930s--after Indians became US citizens and perhaps after the Quileute tribe adopted a constitutional government. These Indians may have served in World War I or the Civilian Conservation Corps...but Hollywood thinks they were still primitive savages.

Twilight tribe seeks fans' help

U.S. Tribe Cites Tsunami, 'Twilight' In Bid To Expand

By Tom BanseAn Indian tribe in Washington state wants to move its village to higher ground, citing concerns over a possible tsunami from earthquakes around the Pacific Ocean.

But it takes an act of Congress to expand a reservation. So the Quileute tribe is hoping to get the word out—in part by relying on its newfound popularity as a tourist site for fans of the Twilight series of books and movies. In those stories, the Quileute lands are teeming with werewolves.Restating the point in a bit more detail:Only Congress can adjust the boundaries of a national park. And it's done that before—in December, lawmakers gave the nearby Hoh Indian Tribe a sliver of Olympic park land. That tribe is now planning its move out of the tsunami zone.

But the Quileutes are asking for much more land: about 785 acres of the national park, some of it designated wilderness. And to help its cause, the tribe is seeking to enlist an unusual ally: the huge fan base of the Twilight vampire saga.Comment:  Other than doing what it's already done--communicating via its website and YouTube--it's not clear how the tribe plans to enlist Twilight fans. Ask them to write letters or e-mails? The article should've discussed this point since it was in the headline.

For more on the subject, see Quileute Exhibit Says "We're Not Werewolves" and Fans Still Ignorant About Quileutes.

Quileute exhibit says "We're not werewolves"

EXHIBITION:  Quileute separate fact from fiction for ‘Twilight’ fans

By Kara BriggsThe exhibition, “Behind the Scenes: The Real Story of the Quileute Wolves,” is meant to provide a counterpoint to the popular “Twilight” series of books and movies, which fictionalizes the Northwest tribe and its origins. When the first movie came out in 2008, the Quileute’s one-square-mile reservation in a remote part of coastal Washington state instantly became a worldwide destination for tween fans.

But real Quileute have nothing in common with the werewolves that the movies interpret them to be, as 1,600 people who crowded into the Seattle museum this summer to see the tribe’s teens and adults perform their ancient wolf dances soon learned firsthand.

“After ‘Twilight’ came out, I got my ears pinned back by some of our elders,” said Ann Penn-Charles, a Quileute, who dances and shares her culture with her tribe’s youth. She is known as Miss Ann. “They said, ‘How dare they portray us as werewolves? That’s so disrespectful. I want you guys to go represent us the way we Quileute are meant to be.’

“When you get directives from the elders like that you have to honor them. A lot of our youth were like, ‘We’re not werewolves.’ We have been here since the beginning of the flood. Our kids are like, ‘Man, we’ve got to show it.’”Comment:  For more on the subject, see Fans Still Ignorant About Quileutes and Quileute Exhibit at Seattle Art Museum.

Below:  "Quileute children point and observe in delight as three pods of whales approach the beach during the Quileute’s Calling the Whales ceremony. The Quileute Tribe’s reservation is on the Pacific Coast of Northwest Washington state." (Chris Cook/Forks Forum)

Quileute Chihuahuas okay in spoof?

A woman on Facebook offered the perhaps inevitable defense of the movie Vampires Suck. She claims it's okay to satirize one ethnic group (but not others) if you label it a "spoof."Uhhh perhaps this isn't gonna be a popular response, however isn't it the point of the movie to be a spoof of EVERY component of the Twilight series. I don't think they were isolating and even reflecting what "Hollywood" thinks of Natives....I think they were equally making fun of, everybody....Vampires, teen agers...the whole bit.Would you take a group of black characters in a movie and spoof them by portraying them as apes? When one group represents a race, you should think twice about spoofing them.It wouldn't surprise me if they did...that's the point of a spoof.

It's a SPOOF...not a serious movie...maybe the issue is that Natives have been through enough, and maybe they should be exempt from things everyone else isn't exempt from....Like spoof of culture, but again...that's the point of a spoof.It wouldn't surprise you if a movie portrayed blacks as apes? When you find such a racist movie, please let us know.

Have you heard of minstrel shows or Polish jokes? Cloaking your prejudice in "humor" doesn't excuse or justify the prejudice.

The point of "spoofing" a culture is usually to denigrate and belittle it. That's why ethnic "spoofs" are usually prejudicial. You can spoof a culture properly--Woody Allen has done it--but most non-Indians aren't smart enough to avoid the usual mistakes and stereotypes.

In fact, mainstream movies aren't spoofing any minority these days. Studios have realized that such spoofs usually end up racist or bigoted. In the rare instances when they try such a "spoof," the critics savage them.

Vampire Sucks spoofs races equally?

If Vampire Sucks makes fun of white people as a whole, then you might have a point. But the only ethnic group it makes fun of is Indians.

There are plenty of white people in the Twilight Saga. Why didn't the producers make fun of the entire white race if their outlook was evenhanded?

What you've apparently missed is that Vampires Suck is "spoofing" the Quileute tribe's religion. It's as if the movie "spoofed" the Navajo's Changing Woman by showing a woman changing a baby's diapers and calling that sacred. Or "spoofed" a Ghost Dance by showing Casper the Friendly Ghost dancing around a campfire.

Catholics believe you're eating the body of Christ when you consume a wafer at Mass. Would it be okay to spoof them by showing cannibals gnawing on Jesus's arms and legs? Why not, if spoofing "everything" justifies cultural or religious "humor"?

The Quileute people honor wolves in their stories and ceremonies. The "Indians" in Vampire Sucks turn into Chihuahuas. The Quileute already have mixed feelings about Twilight's bastardization of their religion. What makes you think they'll appreciate the Chihuahua version better than the werewolf version?

For more on the subject, see Ethnic Humor Suggestions for MTV, Ethical Code for Native Elders Needed, and The Dudesons, Polish Jokes, and Minstrel Shows.

Below:  "It's okay, we're only spoofing blacks!"



"It's okay, we're only spoofing Jews!"



"It's okay, we're only spoofing Mexicans and Indians!"

Vampires Suck parodies Twilight

A new parody movie shows what Hollywood thinks of Indians: no Native actors and the Quileute as Chihuahuas.

Vampires SuckVampires Suck is an 2010 upcoming vampire spoof film directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, starring Matt Lanter, Chris Riggi, Jenn Proske, Anneliese van der Pol, and Ken Jeong.

Plot

A spoof of various movies and pop culture, the film tells the tale of a teenager named Becca, who finds finds herself torn between two boys. As she and her friends wrestle with a number of different dramas, everything comes to a head at their prom.'Vampires Suck' Trailer Goes For Twilight's Jugular

By Perri NemiroffThis was bound to happen eventually; Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, the guys behind Scary Movie, Date Movie, Epic Movie and Disaster Movie are about to tackle another Hollywood craze: vampires. Vampires Suck stars newcomer Jenn Proske as a girl name Becca and--guess what--she finds herself torn between two boys, a brooding vampire and a were--er, Chihuahua. Before she can even choose between the two, she's got to deal with her overprotective father, the Jersey Shore cast and Lady Gaga.

Comment:  Chris Riggi plays "Jacob White." Charlie Weber (below) plays someone named Jack. There's a Wolf Pack of shirtless boys in shorts who dance like a boy band.

It goes without saying that there are no Native actors in the cast. But that's consistent with Twilight, which has treated Native actors as an afterthought. Who really cares if they're Native as long as they're brown and cute?

I didn't see any mentions of Indians in the trailer. And I can't tell what the movie's take on the Quileute werewolves is. Is Jack stuck in a transitional form? Do all the shapeshifters change into Chihuahuas?

The message of Vampires Suck

If this is true, what does it tell us? For starters, the Jack image makes the Indian-animal connection clear. Twilight's Indians really are subhuman creatures.

And the Chihuahua transformation shows how Stephenie Meyer has bastardized the genuine Quileute culture. We've gone from a wolf changing into the first human to a clan of shapeshifting wolves to a clan of shapeshifting Chihuahuas. This isn't some tribute to their heritage, it's a mockery of it. Real Native legends have become Mad magazine material.

It's roughly equivalent to acting out the New Testament with Chihuahuas playing Jesus and his disciples. You could do it, but I don't think many Christians would like it. It would denigrate and trivialize their religion just as Twilight has done with Native religion.

Note that I'm not blaming Vampires Suck for this mockery. It's merely taken Twilight's premise to its logical extreme. The mockery is inherent in Meyer's storyline. Thousands of years of beliefs, customs, and practices are compressed into "shirtless wolf boys protect their clan." That's so ridiculously simple that you might as well substitute Chihuahuas.

For more about what audiences are learning about Indians, see Fans Still Ignorant about Quileutes and Native Beliefs = Werewolf Story?

Below:  Vampires Suck shows the savage beast inside every Indian.

Fans still ignorant about Quileutes

'Twilight' leads Quileute tribe to help museum tell its true story

The goal of a new exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum is simple: to set the record straight after the Quileute Tribe's international exposure in the vampire-themed "Twilight" books and films, in which tribal members are depicted as teen werewolves provoked into snarling fits of temper.

By Lynda V. Mapes"A lot of elders are hurt because we were portrayed as werewolves, and they didn't want us portrayed as these wild Indians, they want people to know we are not these crazy Indians that change into werewolves when we get mad. We settle our differences peacefully.

"Our council was getting a lot of flak from our elders, saying 'Show them the real Quileute, not this Hollywood Quileute.' "

She is bemused by some of the "Twilight" tourists visiting the reservation.

"They didn't think real Quileutes actually existed; they just thought somebody made it up. It's, 'Oh my God, we got to see real Quileutes and the guys could be in the movie, they are so buff, why did they even use actors?'"Comment:  This is what happens when you grossly fictionalize the reality. People recognize the artifice and discount it--all of it. "Indians vanished long ago," they think. "And these Quileute werewolves are obviously phony. People don't change into wolves, fight savagely against vampires, or go around shirtless in cold weather. Therefore, the Quileute tribe doesn't exist. It's a figment of Stephenie Meyer's imagination."

We also see hints of the "werewolf = savage" meme. The writer says the fictional Indians display "snarling fits of temper." The Quileute think the movies are portraying them as "wild" and "crazy." In other words, the Quileute werewolf is an update of the stereotypical noble savage. Twilight is reinforcing the age-old belief that Indians are fierce, predatory animals.

For more on the museum exhibit, see Quileute Exhibit at Seattle Art Museum. For more on the effects of the Twilight movies, see Native Beliefs = Werewolf Story?, Media Doesn't Know Quileutes Are Real, and Twilight Readers Forget Quileutes.

Quileute exhibit at Seattle Art Museum

Behind the Scenes:  The Real Story of the Quileute WolvesThe wolf is central to the cultural beliefs of the Quileute Native Peoples of coastal Washington, and wolf imagery is prominent in their art forms. According to oral traditions, the first Quileute were changed from wolves by the Transformer, Kwati; those ancestral beginnings figure significantly in the Quileute world view, even today.

For better or worse, the Quileute were thrust into a media firestorm with the publication of the Twilight books and the release of the first Twilight movies. Because the Quileute were not consulted, their "wolf origins" were misrepresented, and in the books and films they have been portrayed as sexed-up teen werewolves. This has precipitated unwanted visitors to their territory (in the thousands!).

This exhibition consisting of about 30 objects seeks to provide a public platform for the display and interpretation of art works that represent Quileute wolf mythology specifically, and also the larger sphere of their beliefs about spirituality and transformation. As was true for the Coast Salish prior to SAM's 2008–09 exhibition S'abadeb, there have been no prior exhibitions of Quileute art. Although this exhibition will be modest, these carefully chosen works will reveal aspects of Quileute art history, style and meaning.

—Barbara Brotherton, Curator of Native American ArtSAM:  'Twilight' got it wrong with the Quileute wolvesBrotherton said she's talked with some of the actors who portray members of the "wolf pack" in the "Twilight" movies. Most weren't even aware the Quileute people really existed, though the movie is supposed to take place near their tribal land in La Push.

"None of it was shot on the Olympic Peninsula except for some scenic shots, so the actors were never here," said Brotherton, speaking from the peninsula where she's finalizing details for the exhibit's opening.

In reality, the Quileutes live on a small reservation. Brotherton said they were ill equipped to deal with the tourism mania that resulted from the popular books and movies--and that's one reason SAM decided to tell their story.

"They thought, let's use 'Twilight' as the entry point," she said. "But let it really be about our ancestral relationship with wolves. They've never been werewolves, but wolves are very important."Comment:  The actors weren't aware the Quileute existed...even though they're playing Quileute Indians? Wow.

That may have been how it was early in the series. I hope it's not that way now.

Even so, it shows how far we have to go. One or two movies featuring modern-day Indians aren't enough to overcome centuries of misinformation. It may take centuries of information--of seeing Indians in nonstereotypical venues and stories--before the old stereotypes fade away.

For more on what people don't know, see Media Doesn't Know Quileutes Are Real and Twilight Readers Forget Quileutes. For more on genuine Quileute culture, see 2010 Quileute Days and Twilight Fans Get Quileute Culture.

Below:  Wolf headdress, Quileute.

Birmingham to attend Quileute Days

Actor who portrays 'Twilight's' fictional tribal chief to attend Quileute festival

By Paige DickersonGil Birmingham, who plays the fictional Quileute tribal chief Billy Black in the "Twilight" saga, will visit LaPush for Quileute Days and meet the real-life tribal council.

Quileute Days will celebrate tribal culture from Friday through Sunday, featuring a salmon bake, traditional dancing, a fireworks display, stick games, poker and bingo, as well as events based on the four-novel series about vampires and teen love.And:On Saturday, Birmingham will join in the festival parade at noon, hold a 3 p.m. autograph session--a $20 contribution is required--and will make a 4 p.m. guest appearance at the Talent Showcase.

In addition to the Quileute Days events, Birmingham also will meet with the real tribal council, including tribal Chairwoman Anna Rose Counsell-Geyer.Comment:  For more on the subject, see 2010 Quileute Days and Birmingham, Spencer in Shouting Secrets.

Native beliefs = werewolf story?

Twilight Saga boosts Quileute Nation's profile

By Craig TakeuchiThough Jacobs encourages fans to learn about the real Quileute culture, she says the Quileute aren’t overly concerned about how the they're depicted in the Twilight series. “The reality is that The Twilight Saga is fiction. It’s a figment of [author] Stephenie Meyer’s imagination. Therefore, the Quileute don’t look at that as any kind of authentic representation of their culture or their traditions, and they’re quite capable of speaking for themselves. They have a very powerful voice, and what they’ve done is taken this global spotlight and are using it for educational purposes, to tell the true story through their own words, their own culture, and their own traditions, their music, their dancing, and their oral stories.”But:Deanna Reder, a Cree-Métis assistant professor of First Nations Studies and English at Simon Fraser University, who isn’t bothered by the stereotypical elements in the film, does have some other concerns. “The trouble I really have is with the very common disregard of cultural stories of actual First Nations,” she says. “The Quileute…are a real tribe and La Push is a real place, and there is the real originary story of being transformed or descended from wolves. Yet no one imagines it as any kind of outrage to turn that kind of story into a werewolf story. But imagine if someone wrote a novel or a film in which Jesus was a werewolf.…But that’s not a consideration that’s given to First Nations culture.”

Reder thinks this blurring of fact and fiction has deeper sociopolitical roots. “If you actually say that the stories are sacred, then the implications for the indigenous land claims are right there. Much easier to make indigenous people a fantasy and exotic and something separate from real concerns.”Comment:  I have to agree with the professor on this point. The Quileute aren't looking at the big picture. They're ignoring how the books and movies shape our overall perception of Indians.

It might be different if Twilight were deeply rooted in Native reality...but it's not. There's a minimum of genuine Quileute culture and a maximum of unrealistic fantasy elements. The takeaway from Twilight isn't "The Quileute culture looks so rich; I want to learn more." It's "Indians are mystical beings with supernatural powers. They don't have a real religion or culture; they have a grab-bag of magic tricks."

The consequences arise when we talk about, say, protecting sacred Native sites and remains. A non-Indian is likely to say, "Indians don't have a religion like Christianity. They worship trees, rocks, buffalo, eagles, and wolves. Therefore, they're not sincere about wanting to protect this place. It's nothing but a political ploy."

People get such ideas because of frequent media stories about Native shamans, spirits, burial grounds, demons, and shapeshifters. They think Native religion is some fantasy concocted by a fiction writer. Thus they don't take it seriously.

For more on the subject, see Quileute Quiz for Twilight Fans, Genuine Quileute History and Culture and Twilight vs. Quileute Legends.

2010 Quileute Days

Quileute Days a chance to see tribe's traditions

By Paige DickersonThe event will feature three days of stick games--a traditional betting game--bingo and poker.

The stick games will begin at 6 p.m. July 16 and 3 p.m. on July 17 and 18.

The games will run late into the night.

"Bingo, too, will go for many hours--in a way it is almost like the last man standing," Hart said.

Hart said that the tribe is also welcoming Twilight fans to learn more about the traditional culture.

A Jacob Black and Bella Swan look-alike contest will cater to the fans of the book.

Edward Cullen--the vampire hero of the books--isn't allowed on the reservation per the rules of the treaty laid out in the book.

A baseball tournament, horseshoe games, salmon bakes, street dance and more will ensure that fun is available for all, Hart said.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Twilight Fans at Quileute Days and Trimble "Superexcited" About Quileute Days.

Quileutes visit LA for Eclipse

The hype for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse continues:

Quileutes to walk red carpet at Los Angeles premiere of latest "Twilight" movie

By Paige DickersonAbout 15 representatives of the Quileute tribe will attend the Los Angeles premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" on Thursday.

The five-member council was invited to bring a guest as well as a student from the Quileute Tribal School.

However, Chairwoman Anna Rose Counsell-Geyer decided to give up her tickets to allow other members to attend the swanky event that will unveil the latest movie in the "Twilight" blockbuster series.

Although not one frame of film has been shot on the West End--where author Stephenie Myers sets her best-selling series of Twilight novels--the premiere of each film has been big news on the North Olympic Peninsula.Comment:  I saw a news report Tuesday morning about this premiere. People are camping out 2-3 days in advance for a chance to see the movie and its stars. One girl came all the way from New Zealand. These people apparently have nothing better to do with their lives than daydream about romance.

When asked, all the girls screamed that they were "Team Edward," not "Team Jacob." By the end of the series, I wonder if anyone will admit to liking Jacob better.

I suspect the movies will seal the impression that white heroines belong with white heroes. That Indians are suitable to be sidekicks or mysterious "others" but not lead characters.

For more on the subject, see TeenHollywood Interviews Wolf Pack and Quileutes Visit LA for New Moon.

Below:  "Leticia Jaime, who received a ticket to attend this week's premiere of the latest Twilight movie."

TeenHollywood interviews Wolf Pack

The premiere of Eclipse is almost upon us, so it's time for more Twilight hype.

INTERVIEW:  The Sexy Wolves of "Eclipse"

By Lynn BarkerTeenHollywood:  Has the Twilight franchise created more work for Native American actors outside the Twilight films?

Chaske:  Yes it has. What I like about it, it's brought us to pop culture in a way that's never been done before in film. We've been around for a while. I've been around for ten years acting and it's brought us to a place where we're not always playing with 'leather and feather'. That's how we paid our dues. It's up to the media as well to accept us as being other than mystical figures and putting on the leather and feather and speaking in a res (reservation) accent. I've done that so many times. The kids are more accepting of us than anyone else. That's what's so cool.

Julia:  That's also what excites me is we are being put in front of teens and children and people who are in the process of defining their ideas of what Native Americans are and I think that's probably the most valuable aspect of the way Native Americans are portrayed in this film. I still feel that a lot of adults are trying to figure it out.Reactions from Indian country:TeenHollywood:  In addition to the kids that you are hearing from, have you heard from the Quileute tribe depicted in the films?

Alex:  The fascinating thing about portraying a tribe that actually does exist, the things Stephenie had taken from the tribe she mixed it in the realm of fantasy. But, now a lot of people are going to Washington state, to La Push where the Quileute tribe does reside and they're learning more. They're forced to ask questions to learn more about the culture and I think that's great that they are getting a spotlight to tell the real creation story and that's important. Fans are so into it that they want to know the root of the wolf pack.

Chaske:  All over native country, we're getting great feedback and it's about time. We've gotten massive support from our people on reservations. It's opened up a whole different door to us and it's a little pressure too because now it's almost like we have to be role models now and that's something that kind of scares me as well. That's a big load to take on.Their dream projects:TeenHollywood:  What Native American legend did you hear as a kid or read about that you would love to see made in to a movie some day?

Chaske:  For me personally, I've always had a fascination with Crazy Horse. He's from my tribe too (Lakotah Sioux) and I've read so many books about him. That's something I'd really like to bring to screen. I think I'd like to direct it. It's one of stories people don't know about. He's such a mythical figure and a leader and warrior that his character fascinates me.

Julia:  Has there been a movie made on Sacajawea? The character has been in a couple of movies but...

Alex:  "Night at the Museum." (laughter)

Julia:  That doesn't count! As a female there aren't that many notable Native American figures. Pocahontas and Sacajawea. I know stories of family members of mine but it's not the same for the girls.Comment:  I'm glad they interviewed Julia Jones, who's a little bit Native, rather than Tinsel Korey, who apparently isn't Native at all.

I don't think there's been a great Sacagawea movie. But Native films about women don't have to feature historical characters. I think we've seen that in Naturally Native, Edge of America, Frozen River, Imprint, Pearl, Rez Bomb, and others.

These comments confirm what we've said many times. That Native actors can be popular with non-Native audiences. That casting these actors opens doors for them and other Native actors. That seeing Natives on screen can inspire Native youth.

All very obvious points, but Hollywood still doesn't get it. Especially the first point, which is the studios' responsibility. How many hits with nonwhite actors will it take before execs start casting them routinely?

Again, Hollywood needs to overcome its cultural conservatism. It needs to understand that whites will be a minority in a few decades. It's time for them to come out of their racist closet and start dealing with today's multicultural America.

For more on the subject, see Quileutes Welcome Twilight Fans and Wolf Pack on Quileute Tribe.

Below:  Since the actors can't be 6'7" like Jacob Black in the books, I guess having them shirtless is the next best thing. One way or another, they're a little more beastlike than the rest of us.

Name sought for Twilight cabin

Tribe contest on Facebook seeks name for Twilight-themed cabinThe Quileute tribe is hosting a contest to name a Twilight-themed cabin.

The plan is to remodel a cabin in a "Team Jacob" interior.

The contest will be run through Facebook.com, so those who want to enter must be members of the site, the tribe said in a news release.Comment:  I'm guessing the winning entry will be the Wolf's Den or something similar.

For more on the subject, see Twilight Site Sells Quileute Items and Quileute Werewolves in Twilight.

Quileute chairwoman visits Oprah

West End residents on 'Oprah' for 'Twilight' special

By Paige DickersonAnna Rose Counsell-Geyer, chairwoman of the Quileute tribe, and Forks resident Diane Winters were among the special audience guests who will be featured during the Oprah Winfrey Show's "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" special that will air May 13.

The show was filmed Wednesday in Chicago.

Counsell-Geyer was accompanied by tribal publicist Jackie Jacobs.

"It is so wonderful that both Forks and the Quileute Nation are represented," Jacobs wrote in an e-mail.

"You add 'Oprah' to the equation and it makes the event that much more surreal," Jacobs said.

"I personally hope she is 'Team Jacob.'"

The May 13 episode, which airs at 4 p.m. on NBC, will promote the June 20 release of the third movie based on bestselling vampire novels that author Stephenie Meyer set in Forks, LaPush and Port Angeles.Comment:  A few people on Facebook complained when the NMAI posted the Oprah news. In response I wrote:No one except a few fans cares about Oprah or Twilight. The point is a tribal leader on national TV. Get it, peeps?For more on the subject, see Twilight Saga: Eclipse Trailer and Quileute Werewolves in Twilight.

Below:  Chairwoman Anna Rose Counsell-Geyer at The Oprah Show.

Twilight site sells Quileute items

Quileute tribe starts Twilight-inspired items onlineThe Quileute tribe has launched a Web site to sell Twilight-themed merchandise handcrafted by tribal artisans.

Cedar wolf rattles and paddles, woven cedar baskets and hats, canned smoked salmon and other goods are available at www.twilight-quileute.com.

"Traveling across our great country and observing other native tribes commercially marketing their wares in a successful and respectful manner motivated us to explore the concept of promoting culturally appropriate authentic Quileute items online," said Chairwoman Anna Rose Counsell-Geyer.

"Though we began this exploration prior to the Twilight phenomenon, I am delighted for the artisans in the village who have a global audience interested in owning a part of authentic Quileute culture, and thrilled we can share our art with fans and collectors who are unable to visit LaPush personally."

Students at the Quileute Tribal School made hand-cut cedar paddle necklaces which are modeled after the ones worn by the character Emily in the movie, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," which was based on the second book in the Twilight series, New Moon.
Comment:  For more on the subject, see Quileutes Embrace Twilight Tourism and Quileute Werewolves in Twilight.

Below:  "This paddle necklace is one of the items Quileute Tribal School children are making for the tribe's e-commerce site inspired by the Twilight books and movies."

Twilight-Quileute.com

The Quileute Nation's website alludes only indirectly to the Twilight phenomenon. No doubt this is for the best, since the tribe has existed for ages before Twilight and will exist for ages after it.

But the tribe was missing a bet by not providing anything for fans searching for "Twilight" and "Quileute." Now it's rectified that with a few dedicated websites.

The main one, Twilight-Quileute.com, offers the following sections:

Our Story:  A window summarizing the tribe's genuine history and culture.

"Authentic Quileute" Store

Quileute Nation fan blog

Visit Our Photo Gallery:  Photos of the Twilight actors visiting the reservation and posing with tribal members.

Latest News at Quileute Nation:  Links to stories about Twilight and the Quileute Nation.

Comment:  No doubt thanks to publicist Jackie Jacobs, the Quileute Nation is getting more media-savvy all the time. This site is a good way to benefit from the fans' interest without tainting the tribe's official website.

You still can find all sorts of fan sites: Quileutes.com, QuileuteLegend.com, QuileuteLegend.net, QuileuteWolfPack.com, etc. Eventually these sites will fall by the wayside as the fans grow up and get a life. And the tribe's site will remain.

For more on the subject, see Quileute Name Used Without Approval and Quileute Werewolves in Twilight.

Quileute name used without approval

Sucking the Quileute Dry

By Angela R. Riley“Twilight” has made all things Quileute wildly popular: Nordstrom.com sells items from Quileute hoodies to charms bearing a supposed Quileute werewolf tattoo. And a tour company hauls busloads of fans onto the Quileute reservation daily. Yet the tribe has received no payment for this commercial activity. Meanwhile, half of Quileute families still live in poverty.

It’s important to point out that the outside uses of the Quileute name, from the “Twilight” books to the tattoo jewelry, are quite likely legal. American intellectual property laws, except in very specific circumstances, do not protect indigenous peoples’ collective cultural property.But:At the same time, like indigenous peoples around the globe, the Quileute want to be meaningful participants in the treatment of their own cultural property. This means, first and foremost, having their sovereignty and their culture respected by outsiders. The Quileute’s Web site tells visitors about the tribal laws that govern Quileute territory. One of these laws specifies that burial grounds and religious ceremonies are “sacred and not to be entered.” Had MSN acknowledged the tribe as a sovereign government, it might not have broken that rule. The Quileute believe that respect for Indian tribal sovereignty could likewise bridge cultural gaps between other Indian communities and outsiders.

Going forward, the Quileute should be engaged in the “Twilight” phenomenon. They should be able, first, to welcome Ms. Meyer to the reservation and introduce her to the Tribal Council and all the Quileute people. They should be consulted on projects where the Quileute name and culture are used to market products. And Quileute elders should be able to share with the world the true Quileute creation story, in which tribal members were transformed into humans from wolves (not vampire-fighting wolves).Comment:  I haven't heard about Stephenie Meyer or the Twilight people consulting with the Quileutes before using their name. I'm guessing it isn't happening.

For more on the subject, see Quileute Werewolves in Twilight.

Below:  "Get your genuine Quileute tanning lotion here! Look like a real dark-brown Indian!"