Curbing the myths

"Native Americans and Hollywood" was the theme at a Thursday panel discussion that featured Geri Keams, a Navajo actress and storyteller.

Keams spoke to students about her role as a consultant to the Disney film "Pocahontas" and other issues effecting Native Americans working in Hollywood.

Though "Pocahontas" was successful, Keams said there was great opposition from the Native-American community since the movie's early conceptions.

Those like Keams faced criticism for their involvement with the animated film, she said.

"Geri feels that Indian peoples should not be just reactionary toward films like 'Pocahontas,' but proactive," said Mabelle Drake, American-Indian student-services coordinator at CSULB.

Three and a half years ago, Keams was asked to meet with Disney executives on their plans for an animated film starring Pocahontas. Encouraged by the success of "The Lion King" with its African theme, Disney wanted to produce a picture with a Native American theme, she said.

"Pocahontas is probably one of the most famous Indians, with the story of her saving the life of John Smith known by most people," Keams said.

In reality, Pocahontas' life was a tragic story and not all historical accounts are necessarily true or in agreement, Keams said.

In meeting with Disney executives, Keams was told that they wanted to take a small portion of Pocahontas' life, namely her allegedly saving John Smith's life, and develop a romantic relationship between the two.

"I read the first script for the film and I thought it was just terrible," Keams said. She then wrote seven pages of things she felt that should be changed.

In the early draft, Pocahontas had been portrayed as a roaming, Earth goddess with no family, friends or community, Keams said. Through Keams' and the other consultants' efforts, Pocahontas was given a strong relationship with her father, a best friend and a community.

Another important aspect of the film revolved around the song "Savages," Keams said. In the early draft, while the English are singing the song and preparing for war, Pocahontas' people were displayed as pacifists, she said.

"I felt that if the word Ôsavages' were to be used, both sides should be shown preparing for war and singing the song," Keams said. "I felt it balanced the equation a bit."

Keams said she was unable to change the manner in which Pocahontas was drawn.

"At first the character was drawn more docile, but two years ago I started to see her drawn with a low-cut skirt and having an hour-glass figure," she said.

Though upset at first, Keams said talking with parents and children helped modify her feelings. Most of the people she talked with said they weren't so much concerned with Pocahontas' appearance as with her actions, Keams said.

"Parents were telling me that after seeing ÔPocahontas,' their children didn't want to litter anymore and had a greater respect for the Earth," she said.

Keams said reactions to the film ranged from anger of how native peoples were portrayed to admiration for Pocahontas' sense of independence.

Keams pointed out that Disney intended to make the film with or without Native-American consultants and that native peoples need to become more involved with the movie industry.

"That risk factor of failure really stops most from getting involved," she said.

With the recent cutbacks that directly effect the various tribes, Keams said she feels that more Native Americans will become involved in script writing, producing and directing films. "I know they can do it," she said. "It may mean that they need to make one really good film as opposed to a hundred films that are not so good."

Keams was born in Arizona and belongs to the Streak-of-Black Forest Clan. She said she was taught by her grandmother the art of storytelling, and often shares her stories in schools, museums and libraries throughout the country.

In addition to CSULB students and faculty, ten students from Southern California Central High School, a re-entry program for Native-American youths who have dropped out of high school, were present along with their teacher, Georgiana Sanchez.

The visiting students were treated to a luncheon prepared by the American Indian Student Council.