"Before the world tonight, I give praise to our ancestors who have built this country into what it is today along with the genocide of its native people," director Spike Lee said after receiving the Academy Award for BLACKkKLANSMAN on February 24, 2019. Spike Lee Oscars acceptance speech

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Native Sun News Today: Indigenous presence felt at Oscars ceremony

Monday, March 4, 2019

Native American genocide mentioned at Oscars

By Richie Richards 
Native Sun News Today Correspondent
nativesunnews.today

PIERRE – As is the case in many of the Oscars over the years, Native Americans and indigenous peoples get little mention for the contribution they have in American storytelling.

Oftentimes, Native Americans in film are viewed as untamed parts of the landscape during colonial conquests of love, adventure and danger. There was two notable occurrences featuring indigenous truth during the Academy Awards last Sunday; one of a beautiful young Oaxacan woman nominated in a major category and that of a mention by filmmaker, Spike Lee.

As the Oscars doled out their coveted trophies for filmmakers, performers and staff behind the scenes, a young Mexican-American woman made history for being the first indigenous woman nominated in the Best Actress category. Yalitza Aparicio had attended the Academy Awards with her mother as her date.

Actress Yalitza Aparicio, the first indigenous Mexican woman nominated for best actress, arrives at the #Oscars.

The "Roma" star spoke to @ABC News about representation in Hollywood, what the film means for domestic workers, and more: https://t.co/IzoxyYhK4S pic.twitter.com/6SOTuzKi3J
— ABC News (@ABC) February 24, 2019

Not to minimize Aparicio’s nomination, but the major mention of indigenous nations and community members came from Oscar-winner, Spike Lee The director was nominated in three categories which included, Best Adapted Screenplay (Winner), Best Picture, and Best Director for the film “BlacKKKansman”.

During Lee’s acceptance speech, he said, “Before the world tonight, I give praise to our ancestors who have built this country into what it is today along with the genocide of its native people. We all connect with our ancestors. We will have love and wisdom regained, we will regain our humanity. It will be a powerful moment. The 2020 presidential election is around the corner. Let’s all mobilize. Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing!”

This mention of “genocide of native people” was the only reference throughout the Academy Awards of the original inhabitants of this continent, but this part of his speech was felt all throughout Indian Country, as social media went abuzz with the truth of his words.

This call to unite in the voting cycle of 2020 was felt by all who watched Oscars, including President Trump who immediately expressed himself on Twitter the following morning in response to Lee’s acceptance speech dialogue.