In Whose Honor?
(1997, 56 min. Documentary) US
Producer: Jay Rosenstein
Director: Jay Rosenstein
From cartoonish Indian caricatures to the tomahawk chop, the
imagery of hugely popular sports teams like the Washington Redskins,
the Cleveland Indians, and the Atlanta Braves have played a pivotal
role in the symbolic depiction of Native American culture. With
In Whose Honor?, Rosenstein focuses on the story of Charlene
Teters (Spokane), a Santa Fe resident whose campaign against Chief
Illiniwek, the beloved mascot of the University of Illinois, forced
many to rethink the larger issues of culture and identity. Teters,
who has been called the Rosa Parks of Indians, became the spark
that ignited a national movement. The film examines the issues
of racism, stereotypes, and minority representation in the media,
and their effects on both Native Americans and non-Natives.
Image credit: Audience at Club Red Radio,
2000 Native American Film and Video Festival - photograph by Amalia Córdova,
NMAI
