Plastic Warriors

Amy Tall Chief
26 minutes • 2004

Plastic Warriors is an eye-opening and much-needed examination of common harmful First Nations stereotypes. The Washington Redskins, the Cleveland Indians, Land-o-Lakes butter, Squaw Creek, Squaw Island—these are not benign images and terms for everyone. In this frank documentary, five Aboriginal people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds express their frustration over the widespread use of Native caricatures. Do these images make it difficult for real living First Nations people to be visible in contemporary society? Who should be held accountable for the perpetuation of these stereotypes? What can Native people do to deter these images and protect their children from being further harmed? Plastic Warriors raises an alarm and, with any luck, the next time its viewers encounter a Hollywood or Halloween Indian, it'll also raise a few eyebrows.

Subject(s): Indigenous people, Racism