Actor/director Mel Gibson attended the 15th annual First Americans in the Arts awards show in April, Rob Schmidt reports on the NativeVue blog.
Gibson presented awards to Morris Birdyellowhead and Rudy Youngblood for their roles in "Apocalypto." Comanche Nation Chairman Wallace Coffey helped present the Outstanding Performance by an Actor award to Youngblood, whose Indian ancestry has been questioned.
For his work, Gibson received a Trustee Award from FAITA. Schmidt said he missed the speech but "thought of tripping [Gibson] to advance the cause of race relations."
Gibson has been criticized for his violent portrayal of Mayan culture in Apocalypto.
Get the Story:My Evening with the First Americans (NativeVue 5/6) Relevant Links:
Rudy Youngblood - http://www.rudyyoungblood.com
Bad Eagle - http://www.badeagle.com
Apocalypto - http://apocalypto.movies.go.com Related Stories:
Actor uged to document Comanche blood ties (04/12)
Bad Eagle questions Comanche ancestry of actor (3/28)
Doug George-Kanentiio: 'Apocalypto' offensive to Native history (12/19)
Review: 'Apocalypto' an action-packed experience (12/07)
Review: Gibson made up a big one with 'Apocalypto' (12/6)
Mel Gibson attends Cabazon Band powwow (11/28)
Mel Gibson upset over failed screening at IAIA (09/29)
Mel Gibson's new film depicts Mayan 'sacrifice' (9/26)
Mel Gibson to screen new film for Oklahoma Indians (9/19)
Yellow Bird: Why are Jewish people so hated? (08/14)
