Native American Warriors

Native American Warriors Native American Indians are an important part of the culture of the United States.

This iconic photograph from Little Big Man (1970) captures a pivotal moment in cinema history, with Chief Dan George sta...
05/19/2026

This iconic photograph from Little Big Man (1970) captures a pivotal moment in cinema history, with Chief Dan George standing alongside Clint Eastwood. At the time, Chief Dan George was in his late seventies and had little formal acting training. However, his wealth of life experiences and exceptional storytelling skills brought authenticity to his performance, making it one of the most memorable in film history.
Director Arthur Penn and Eastwood encouraged George to speak in his natural voice, allowing him to improvise and move beyond the limitations of a traditional script. This approach allowed George to infuse his character with depth, wisdom, and a unique sense of humor that resonated powerfully with audiences. His performance was not only genuine but deeply personal, drawing from his own experiences and perspective, creating a profound connection with viewers.
Chief Dan George's role in Little Big Man was revolutionary in Hollywood’s portrayal of Indigenous characters. His portrayal broke away from harmful stereotypes, offering a more respectful and nuanced representation. His performance helped pave the way for future films to portray Indigenous peoples with more dignity, contributing to a broader cultural shift in the film industry towards diversity and understanding.

Phillip Deere (1929–1985), a Muscogee (Creek) spiritual leader, medicine man, and activist from the Nuyaka Ceremonial Gr...
05/18/2026

Phillip Deere (1929–1985), a Muscogee (Creek) spiritual leader, medicine man, and activist from the Nuyaka Ceremonial Grounds in Oklahoma, became a guiding figure in both cultural preservation and Indigenous rights movements.
He played a key role in the American Indian Movement (AIM), offering spiritual guidance to its members while also engaging in national and international advocacy. As part of the International Indian Treaty Council, he represented Indigenous voices at the United Nations, bringing attention to human rights issues affecting Native communities.
Deere also participated in The Longest Walk (1978), a historic cross-country protest opposing legislation that threatened Indigenous sovereignty. His activism was grounded in traditional values, emphasizing responsibility to community, land, and future generations.
At the center of his work was culture — he encouraged youth to learn their language, maintain ceremonial practices, and carry forward Muscogee identity. The Phillip Deere Round House in Oklahoma continues to serve as a gathering place for ceremony, teaching, and cultural continuity.
He often spoke of a guiding principle —the “Law of Love, Peace, and Respect,”a philosophy rooted in balance, community, and connection to the Earth.
How important is it to preserve traditional knowledge in modern times?

That moment explains his entire career better than any award.In 1991, Graham Greene was fresh off an Academy Award nomin...
05/18/2026

That moment explains his entire career better than any award.
In 1991, Graham Greene was fresh off an Academy Award nomination for Dances with Wolves. Hollywood had just crowned him the face of “respectful” Native representation. Studios called it a breakthrough. Greene recognized it as a containment strategy.
The context mattered.
At the time, Native characters in U.S. film existed for two purposes only. To die violently, or to spiritually educate a white protagonist. Dances with Wolves was praised as progressive, but the structure stayed intact. Kevin Costner’s character changed. The Lakota did not control the story. Greene’s Kicking Bird was intelligent, calm, admired, and narratively subordinate. Wise, but never decisive.
Hollywood wanted that version forever.
After the Oscar nomination, Greene received offers to play variations of the same man. Elders who forgive genocide. Chiefs who explain history in perfect English. Characters who exist so America can feel evolved. When he challenged dialogue, accents, or endings, executives labeled him “uncooperative.” When he refused roles that ended in ritualized Native death, calls slowed.
So Greene flipped the power equation.
Instead of chasing prestige, he chased friction.
In Clearcut (1991), he played a Native character who survives, refuses reconciliation, and terrifies white audiences by not being redeemable. In Thunderheart (1992), he helped anchor a story modeled on real FBI abuses at Pine Ridge, forcing American viewers to confront contemporary Native resistance instead of historical nostalgia. These films did not comfort. They unsettled. That was intentional.
Greene paid for it.
He never became a franchise lead. He never received the protection Hollywood gives compliant figures. What he gained instead was autonomy. Over 100 roles across four decades, moving between U.S. studios, Canadian cinema, and independent projects without surrendering authorship of his dignity.
Greene later said Hollywood loves Native people “as long as we don’t want anything.” Land. Power. Narrative control.
Graham Greene was never misunderstood by the industry.
He was understood perfectly.
And he chose to make that understanding expensive.

Before 1492, the northern part of the continent was not a vast empty space, but a complex network of more than 500 Indig...
05/17/2026

Before 1492, the northern part of the continent was not a vast empty space, but a complex network of more than 500 Indigenous nations with their own political systems, languages, and cosmologies. From the democratic confederacies of the Northeast to the sophisticated desert cultures and the coastal peoples of the Pacific, North America was a vibrant and densely populated continent.
These nations were not merely isolated tribes; they formed trade networks that connected the Arctic to central Mexico, sharing knowledge in astronomy, medicine, and agriculture. Each nation possessed a unique sovereignty and a profound relationship with its territory, creating a cultural diversity that rivaled that of any other continent at the time.
Recognizing these 500 nations means understanding that the history of North America did not begin with a “discovery,” but was already written in hundreds of languages and etched into the geography of the land by millennia-old civilizations. v

Native American elder and actor David Bald Eagle has passed away at the age of 97, leaving behind a life deeply connecte...
05/17/2026

Native American elder and actor David Bald Eagle has passed away at the age of 97, leaving behind a life deeply connected to both Indigenous history and Hollywood storytelling. Best known for his role in the Academy Award-winning Dances with Wolves, Bald Eagle brought authenticity and humanity to the screen, helping audiences see Lakota culture through a more respectful and truthful lens.
His story carried extraordinary historical significance. Bald Eagle was the grandson of Chief White Bull, who fought alongside Sitting Bull during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. That connection linked him directly to one of the most important moments in Native American history. Decades later, he would use film and storytelling to help preserve those cultural memories for future generations.
Throughout a career spanning more than 40 film and television productions, Bald Eagle consistently represented Indigenous characters with dignity and pride during a time when Native voices were rarely centered in mainstream entertainment. His performances carried lived experience, cultural depth, and a quiet strength that left a lasting impression on audiences around the world.
Beyond the screen, David Bald Eagle was remembered as an elder, storyteller, and cultural ambassador within his community. His nearly century-long life witnessed immense change, yet he remained committed to honoring Lakota traditions and helping Indigenous stories reach wider audiences. His legacy will continue through the history he carried, the stories he shared, and the respect he inspired both on and off screen.

In 1907, photographer Richard Throssel captured a striking portrait of Lone Elk, preserving far more than a likeness. Lo...
05/16/2026

In 1907, photographer Richard Throssel captured a striking portrait of Lone Elk, preserving far more than a likeness. Lone Elk carried a family legacy deeply bound to the history of the American West—he was the son of Brave Wolf, a warrior who fought at the Battle of Little Bighorn, one of the most consequential clashes between Indigenous nations and the U.S. military.
The image stands as a quiet but powerful testament to endurance. Through displacement, conflict, and attempts at erasure, Indigenous peoples continued to protect their identities, lands, and traditions. Throssel’s photograph freezes a moment of dignity and resolve, reflecting survival not as an abstract idea, but as lived experience carried across generations.
Looking back, Lone Elk’s story reminds us that history is not only written in battles and treaties, but also in faces, families, and memory. Honoring these stories matters—not as relics of the past, but as living foundations that continue to shape Indigenous communities and the future they are still building.

Lakota Sioux man in 1899 & Lakota Sioux man today with his daughte
05/16/2026

Lakota Sioux man in 1899 & Lakota Sioux man today with his daughte

The Piipaash people, also known as the Maricopa, are a Native American tribe located in the southwestern United States, ...
05/15/2026

The Piipaash people, also known as the Maricopa, are a Native American tribe located in the southwestern United States, primarily in Arizona. Throughout the 19th century, their culture and history were profoundly influenced by migrations, alliances with the Akimel O'odham (Pima), and increasing pressures from Euro-American settlers.
The Piipaash were successful farmers, relying on the Gila and Salt Rivers for irrigation to cultivate crops such as corn, beans, squash, and later wheat. They lived in villages along the rivers, often adjacent to the Akimel O'odham, with whom they formed a strong alliance for mutual protection against hostile tribes.
They are renowned for their exceptional skills in pottery, weaving, and tool-making. Their social organization is based on family groups led by respected leaders, and their spirituality centers on dreams as a source of guidance and insight. They have distinctive funeral customs that include cremation and the burning of personal belongings to help the deceased transition to the spirit world.

Artist....Z.S.Liang.......Protectors of the Lakota
05/15/2026

Artist....Z.S.Liang.......Protectors of the Lakota

The Pawnee people, originally from the lands that are now Nebraska and Kansas, live a unique lifestyle that combines sub...
05/14/2026

The Pawnee people, originally from the lands that are now Nebraska and Kansas, live a unique lifestyle that combines subsistence farming with seasonal bison hunting. They build sturdy earth lodges along riverbanks and often move to the plains for hunting.
The Pawnee worldview is rich and complex, with a deep reverence for the stars. They believe in a supreme deity, Tirawa, the creator of the universe, who brings life and light to all beings.
However, the Pawnee have faced many harsh challenges, including diseases and attacks from neighboring tribes. To protect themselves, they allied with the United States military, which led to conflicts with other tribes on the plains.

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