Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting

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Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting

Released Mar 31, 2023

1h 35m

Documentary

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82%

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11 Reviews

22%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting is an award-winning documentary that examines the movement that is ending the use of Native American names, logos, and mascots in the world of sports and beyond. The film details the current uprising against the misappropriation of Native culture in a national reckoning about racial injustice that has succeeded in the removal of Confederate imagery, toppling statues of Christopher Columbus and forcing corporate sponsors of Washington's NFL team to demand it change its most-offensive name. It examines the origin and proliferation of the words, images, and gestures that many Native people and their allies find offensive. Imagining the Indian explores the impact that stereotyping and marginalization of Native history have had on Native people. It chronicles the long social movement to eliminate mascoting. As many schools, teams, and institutions choose to make the change and others meet with continued resistance, The Ciesla Foundation invites you to engage with the film and consider the important subjects it addresses.

Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

A necessary strength-in-numbers corrective when battling a pervasively dehumanizing, monolithic depiction of a vast and varied people across all walks of life.

Apr 14, 2023

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Mark Jenkins

Washington Post

The documentary could have been shapelier and better focused, but it packs lots of information and even more emotion.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 4, 2023

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Natalia Winkelman

New York Times

The marriage of talking heads and troubling material from the archives is a familiar documentary format, and “Imagining the Indian” rarely breaks free from the generic quality of its structure.

Mar 30, 2023

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

[Imagining the Indian] explores a rich mine of popular culture, including paintings, comic books, toys, and posters as well as clips from movies, cartoons, and live-action television programs.

Rated: 6/10

Feb 6, 2024

Full Review

William Schwartz

Book & Film Globe

Cherry-picking facts to make an argument seem stronger is never a good look, especially when you can make an even better argument with better context.

May 24, 2023

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M.V. Moorhead

Less Hat, Moorhead

We're given a glimpse of the struggle, by native advocates, to persuade these organizations that they ought to change this imagery.

May 18, 2023

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Deepti S

Really poorly done and obnoxious

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/25/24

Full Review

Nikki S

Very poor execution. The "chiefs" are supposed to be offensive now? I am half shawnee - from Oklahoma. That is embarrassing. No thanks!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/19/24

Full Review

Cintu A

As a Kickapoo Indian member, this film goes against and contradicts what the overwhelmingly majority of us believe

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/24

Full Review

L

Really moving documentary. A great range of voices are featured. This film opened my eyes to the mascot movement, and its very real impact on native people.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/14/23

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Aviva Kempner

Director

Ben West

Director

Aviva Kempner

Producer

Ben West

Producer

Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation

Executive Producer

Michael Moser

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting is an award-winning documentary that examines the movement that is ending the use of Native American names, logos, and mascots in the world of sports and beyond. The film details the current uprising against the misappropriation of Native culture in a national reckoning about racial injustice that has succeeded in the removal of Confederate imagery, toppling statues of Christopher Columbus and forcing corporate sponsors of Washington's NFL team to demand it change its most-offensive name. It examines the origin and proliferation of the words, images, and gestures that many Native people and their allies find offensive. Imagining the Indian explores the impact that stereotyping and marginalization of Native history have had on Native people. It chronicles the long social movement to eliminate mascoting. As many schools, teams, and institutions choose to make the change and others meet with continued resistance, The Ciesla Foundation invites you to engage with the film and consider the important subjects it addresses.

Director: Aviva Kempner, Ben West
Producer: Aviva Kempner, Ben West
Distributor: The Ciesla Foundation
Production Co: Ciesla Foundation
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 31, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 6, 2024
Runtime: 1h 35m

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