Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
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Marina Del Rey, California - Out of frustration for the way American Indians are portrayed by Hollywood, Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman has launched a company dedicated to creating productions from the Indian's point of view. The American Indian activist, actor, author, folksinger, probably best known by some for his portral of Chief Ten Bears in "Dances With Wolves", Kevin Costner's Academy Award winning film, said that he hopes his company, Red Crow Creations, will be able to address the inaccuracies through education, by way of film, television.

An announcement was made on Thursday, September 7, 2000 during the completion of the flagship documentary production of. 'Exterminate Them!' America's War on Indian Nations, Part I "The California Story". Westerman explained that the story coincides with the state's 150th anniversary and tells the story of the attempts made in California to kill off the Indians during the Gold Rush.

"The Indian point of view in America is so important today. We have agonized for several centuries now over why the Indian point of view is not mentioned," said Westerman. "When the truth is told, there is a healing that comes and dispels the denial, and I think America needs to go through the healing about this."

"Most of the roles being given to us were very stereotypical", Valerie Red Horse, founder of Red Horse Native Productions and co-producer and co-director of the film 'Naturally Native', said.

Red Horse praised Westerman for working to get beyond the typical stereotypes portrayd by Hollywood such as "the beautiful princess or wise shaman." Red Horse added, speaking of the people who produced the films, "I don't want to sound racist, but those people were not people that lived on a reservation and knew what they were writing about. Most of the time it was someone's bad concept of John Wayne Western stereotypes."

Red Horse said she does not see Red Crow Creations as competition for her own company, which was formed in 1996, because there are more than enough Indian stories to go around and predicted that Westerman's company will fare well in Hollywood.

"By taking control of their own image in history books and entertainment media, Indians will be able to assert greater control over their overall future." Red Horse said adding, "Members of Congress who were raised with inaccurate images of Indians now are making laws that affect Indian sovereignty and are influenced by those stereotypes." She also

An animated project, "Storytellers", and a one hour music concert documentary special are also in the works. Red Crow Creations also plans, to operate as a full-scale studio, as well serve as a consultant to others in Hollywood. The complany will use Indian trainees from Westerman's nonprofit Eyapaha Institute on its projects, in the hopes of getting more Indians involved in the business side.

Red Crow Creations hopes to release "The California Story" by the end of the year. California Indian tribes, that have established casinos across the state, have been the primary funders of the project.