The American Indian Speaks

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This important film presents the American Indian speaking for himself ---discussing what he wants and how he feels. It features historically important Native Americans such as Chief Dan George and Lame Deer, and focuses on three American Indian tribes and how they are surviving. Reverend Cliff Hill describes how the Muskogee Creek are fighting to maintain their language, and the Ceremonial Stomp Dance is shown. Medicine Man Lame Deer (John Fire) addresses aspects of the Rosebud Sioux existence, the All-Indian Rodeo is shown, and the Wounded Knee massacre is discussed. Several members of Oregon's Nisqually tribe discuss the struggle to retain fishing rights, underscored by newsreel footage of tribe members fighting with federal authorities and being arrested. The film ends with shots of Native American steel workers building the Sears Tower, filmed by Tom Smith 86 stories high, accompanied by Caw Indian Jim Pepper's jazzy version of his composition "Witchi-Tai-To. The film was made in collaboration with Stan Steiner, author of "The New Indians."