Dances With Wolves Week One

     Dances With Wolves the movie does a really good job of giving people an idea of native life but anybody who knows the ways of Native American life has some problems with the film. One thing the film does well is showing the relationship between the Sioux and The U.S Army as well as the Pawnee. The only issue is that the film portrays the Pawnee as horrible savage people which isn't true but it was necessary in order for the film to have a "bad guy". Something really interesting and probably one of the biggest parts of the movie as well as during this time was the communication block between the Indians and the "white people". With no communication nothing could be worked out or settled. Also made trade difficult and without knowing what each side is saying it often led to a stronger misunderstanding and fear for the other side which led to more bloodshed. The movie shows this fear and misunderstanding when Dunbar first encounters the Sioux Indians and vice versa. The relationship was built through signs of gratitude and the willingness on both sides to learn more about each other. Lieutenant Dunbar the Sioux sugar and coffe beans which might not seem like much but the Sioux had never been exposed to these things and they enjoyed them. Something to think about though is that at this time that sugar Dunbar gave to the Sioux came from black slave labor which doesn't seem right at all. Communication is so key and when you cant communicate which others let alone your enemy your bound for hard times. You can also tell how frustrated the Sioux were as well as Dunbar with continually trying to say or explain something but it going no where. Not only in the movie but during this time period the communication block was the biggest issue for Indians and the White people.

Scene from the movie showing the communication block. Using hand signals for communication

      One reason most of people familiar with Native American lifestyle have issues with this movie is because there is a ton of stereotypes. The people who have the biggest issue with this movie and rightfully so is the Pawnee. The Pawnee are represented as savage murders who are really only out for blood and not only White blood but Sioux blood. The Pawnee were known for being one of the more brutal tribes but the way they were portrayed in Dances With Wolfes was inaccurate and stereotypical but the film makers needed a bad guy. Another stereotype in the film was with the ceremony cenes and the Sioux tribe. The ceremonies are portrayed as savage but really there a really important part of Native life and is there way of celebrating and coming together. Not only in Dances With Wolfes but most ceremonies involving Indians are extremely stereotypical. Another stereotype in the film was the use of weapons by the Sioux and Pawnee. During this time the Indians has traded with the Spanish and had become efficient with guns and rifles. In the film the Sioux and Pawnee only use bow and arrow which was still used at this time but thats not all they had. People always associate Indians with bow and arrows and that only but they had guns too. Even though the film was accurate at times it was also very stereotypical which is why some people have problems with the film.

Picture from the film showing a Sioux Indian surprised by the pistol which he wouldn't have been during this time.

Picture from the film showing the Pawnee as savage and looking for blood.

Picture of Sioux Indian with a rifle which wasn't in the movie