In the film Smoke Signals the characters are heavily influenced by Native American history and Native American Stereotypes. One way that they are shaped by this is by struggling with the stereotypes and history of their people, but they also are able to find power and meaning in their history and traditions.
Victor and Thomas were affected by Indian stereotypes created by white people. They used these stereotypes to shape themselves into the Indians America wanted to see. In an attempt to look tough like Victor thought an Indian should Thomas takes out his braids while off the reservation and also changes out of his suit. Victor told him he had to look tough or the white people will not respect him. He told Thomas to look as if he had just killed a buffalo, but the tribe they were from was made up of fisherman. Victor thought it would be more important to fit the American stereotype of an Indian rather than show the actual history of his tribe. These stereotypes helped shape who Victor and Thomas' cultural identity without even staying true to the history of their tribe.
The characters were able to find comfort in participating in Indian rituals. Victor and Arnold participated in the Indian ritual of cutting your hair while mourning. Victor cut his hair while mourning Arnold's death and eventually comes to terms with his relationship with Arnold. Arnold cut his hair after causing the fire that killed Thomas' parents, but many years later he still kept his hair short because he was never able to forgive himself for what he had done. Victor also took Arnold's ashes the river and spread them which demonstrated the Indians strong connection with nature. Through letting Thomas participate in the spreading of Arnold's ashes Victor gave Thomas a sense of pride and belonging to the tribe. Another way the Indians used their rituals was the communal feasts they had where Victor's mom would cook frye bread for the whole community. This was a way of preserving the Indian communal lifestyle that was destroyed by the whites. The rituals that the Indians struggled to preserve brought a sense of pride and peace to the Indian community in the movie.
The Indians in Smoke Signals were made in to what they are today through a combination of struggle and pride with their culture. They were able to find comfort and joy in the traditions of their community, but also have to struggle with the burden of stereotypes and the struggle of their people.
Wyatt Robinson
