Reel Injun

While we watch the documentary “Reel Injun” produced by Cree film maker Neil Diamond, we want to think about how the media has shaped the images of First Nations people. We also want to think about who benefits from the construction of these images. Remember, media images are CONSTRUCTED; that is to say that they have been created by people for a purpose.

Your task as a learner and as a citizen is to develop skills that allow you to DECONSTRUCT the images by analyzing them and putting them in their historical and social context. The documentary “Reel Injun” attempts to do this by studying the Hollywood portrayal of “Indians” in the movies.

We are going to watch the documentary and record the most important ideas that come out of the Neil Diamond’s work.

The documentary has a structure that is important to understand. The film maker interviews experts and eyewitnesses while superimposing images from movies over the years. He is attempting to connect pictures with ideas. This technique is used constantly in film making. This technique is powerful in that human memory is stronger when ideas are connected to images or stories.

Your task is to view the film and make those connections. In order to do this you have to engage in the film in a more active way. You have to watch with focus and record what you see and the commentary made by the experts and eyewitnesses. At the end of the documentary you are going to answer some important guiding questions:

1) Describe the images of First Nations people in film. 2) Explain why these images have changed over time. 3) Discuss how these images have distorted “Indians” into stereotypes rather than “real” people. 4) Why have “Indians” been stereotyped by film and the broader media? 5) Are these stereotypes and images still with us? How are they changing?

To answer these questions you have to record the important ideas and images from the film. The attached guide will help you do this.

VIEWING GUIDE

Reel Injun by Neil Diamond (Cree Film Maker)

While viewing the film, write down the most important information in the spaces.

EXPERTS

Film Historians

Melinda Micco Images Who is she? What does she say?

Andre Dudemaine Images Who is he? What does he say?

Angela Aleiss Images Who is she? What does she say?

Film Makers

Chris Eyre Images Who is he? What does he say?

Jim Jaramusch Images Who is he? What does he say?

Zacharias Kunuk Images Who is he? What does he say?

Film Critic

Jesse Wente Images Who is he? What does he say?

Others

Name: Images Who are they? What do they say?

Name: Images Who are they? What do they say?

Name: Images Who are they? What do they say?

Name: Images Who are they? What do they say?