Lakotas want Crazy
Horse
off silver screen
As a
Turner Network Television crew packed up its cameras after filming
Crazy Horse in Hot Springs, S.D., members of the Lakota tribe
picked up their pens to sign a petition against the latest TNT
movie focusing on Native American history. Descendants of Crazy
Horse and Lakota Sioux Chief Red Cloud say TNT/Von Zerneck-Sertner
Films’ depiction of the two men’s relationship as bitter and
jealous is inaccurate.
“It’s done for dramatic
purposes, but it is entirely speculation,” says Bob Gough, attorney
for the relatives of Crazy Horse. Both families are threatening
lawsuits and a Crazy Horse descendant is circulating a petition
that opposes any use of Crazy Horse – who never let himself be
photographed – for entertainment
purposes.
Controversy plagued the production from
the beginning. TNT showed up on location near the Pine Ridge
reservation without consulting the families about the script, says
Gough. Then, about 50 Lakota extras staged a walk-out during the
filming, protesting unequal pay, injuries on the job and disrespect
of elders. Finally, Indian actor Sonny Skyhawk forfeited his
supporting role in sympathy with the descendants. “I am a Lakota
first, and an actor second,” he says.
Turner
Network insists it is making a good film and has heeded advice by
hiring Indians as actors and in production. Producer Hanay
Geiogamah, a member of the Delaware and Kiowa tribes, says the
network provides opportunities for Indians to break into the film
industry. But the 300 Lakotas who signed the petition against the
film remain unconvinced. Says Gough: “We live here after the film
crew leaves.”
* Heather
Abel
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Lakotas want Crazy Horse off silver screen.
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