The Greatest Indian in the Whole World
"The Greatest Indian in the Whole World".It sounds like a Sherman Alexie short story, doesn't it? But it's a poll that is being held by the The Red Roots Educational Project and The Native Truth, both organizations that are involved in the dissemenation of correct information about Natives and the breaking of stereotypes.
And the list of great Native Americans submitted certainly isn't stereotypical. It's diverse and far-ranging and encouraging. Yeah, there's Pocahatas, but there's also Popé, John Echohawk and John Trudell. There are some wishful thinking long shots, like Elvis and Loretta Lynn, and some silly ones like Benjamin Bratt. (No offense Ben. I loved you on Law and Order. But The Greatest NDN? C'mon now.)
Go check out the list and see how many people you recognise. And don't forget to vote.
Image from Terri Jean website
posted by The Marigold Trail at 11:47 AM
7 Comments:
Hey, I love Benjamin Bratt! Did you ever watch "Blood In, Blood Out"? Greatest indian, no. Awesome actor, yes.
Interesting list; I learned quite a bit from it, thought I would have to agree that some of the entries were a bit silly, such as the nomination for Eagle of Delight--whose claim to fame seems to be that president Mc Kinley found her "young and remarkably handsome". So you get to be nominated for Greatest Native American Ever for being ...pretty? Did she do anything else to put her on par with say, Sequoyah? I think perhaps if the list were organized into categories, like Greatest in the arts, sciences, politics, military, activism, etc it might be easier to navigate, plus someone like Maria Martinez won't be outshined by someone really well-known like Pochahontas, whose fictionalized life is mostly well known thanks to a Disney cartoon.
Hi Yehecatl
lol..I never even knew Benjamin Bratt considered himself indigenous. Although he may well not. Some people are really trying to push the Native thing on people who have never claimed it.
And I like him, too, except for that
Julia episode. ;)
Hi Shepen
Thanks for commenting! I like your point, ie the different categories of "great". You should suggest it to the authors of the poll.
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I never even knew Benjamin Bratt considered himself indigenous. Although he may well not. Some people are really trying to push the Native thing on people who have never claimed it.
He's very open about his mother being Quechua, and I know his character has mentioned having a Peruvian mother...
He and his brother made this movie, "Follow Me Home," which I haven't seen, but I do think that Ben plays an indigenous character.
Follow Me Home
yeah hes native i read he use to go native protests with his mom as a kid
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