FROM THE ARCHIVE

Westerman launches Native studio

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2000

Floyd Red Crow Westerman on Thursday announced the creation of the first studio in Hollywood dedicated to producing Native film, television, multimedia, and educational curriculum.

The veteran activist, singer, and star of television and movies like "Dances with Wolves" and "Naturally Native," Westerman hopes his new company, the aptly named Red Crow Creations, will help educate others about Native American history through the mass media.

"The Indian point of view in America is so important today," said Westerman yesterday in Los Angeles. "We have agonized for several centuries now over why the Indian point of view is not mentioned."

If Westerman's own history in Hollywood is any indication, a difficult road lies ahead. The Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota actor's television roles include playing Cherokee in "Walker, Texas Ranger" and Alaska Native in "Northern Exposure."

He also starred in "The X-Files," playing a Navajo man.

In addition, Native-made films often face difficult obstacles. The producer of "Naturally Native," Cherokee actress and entrepreneur Valerie Red-Horse, has had to take the film across the country herself, unable to find a distributor almost two years after its creation.

Even the successful Sherman Alexie has spoken of the struggles Native Americans face in the industry. In June, he said he was withdrawing from the Hollywood industry altogether, vowing to take matters into his own hands.

On Thursday, Westerman also took the occasion to announce the near completion of part of the studio's first project. "Exterminate Them! America's War On Indian Nations" will include a segment on the history of Native Americans in California.

The release of "The California Story" will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the state. The Governor at the time called for the extermination of the state's Indian population.

Today, however, California's Native Americans are among the most vibrant in the nation. Not only does the state have the largest American Indian population, a new study says California Natives' spending power in 2001 will reach $5.6 billion, the largest of any state.

Relevant Links:
Floyd Red Crow Westerman Filmography, IMDB - us.imdb.com/Name?Westerman,+Floyd+%27Red+Crow%27
The Eyepaha Institute - www.eyapaha.net

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