The character of Chief from Wonder Woman was played by Eugene Brave Rock who is from the Kanaii reserve in Southern Alberta. He took the inspiration for his character from real life WWI hero Mike Mountain Horse who is also from southern AB.
In the film Chief greets Diana in Blackfoot. Shortly after they have a conversation about how his people’s land was taken away by Steve’s people.
This is how you have First Nations representation: cast First Nations actors, draw from historical First Nations heroes and if they are going to speak a First Nations language cast someone who is part of that Nation!
He also personally created his whole look. Instead of the costume designer doing what they think a native man would wear. He included things that would have personal significance to his character, not because it looks “Indian” *side-eyes the lone ranger*
Not only did Eugene Brave Rock create Chief’s whole look, he did it because they asked him to. It was a case of, “you know this, please help us do it right.” He showed up on screen and I saw that hat and my heart was immediately happy because that is not a hat you see on Native people in Hollywood, that is a hat you see on actual Native people. That was my first inkling that Chief’s character wouldn’t hurt me. And then he introduces himself to Diana. And Patty is a gift because she didn’t caption it. And it made that line a gift to Native (especially Blackfoot) viewers, because it said, this is for you. I have a lot of feelings about both Napi and Eugene Brave Rock and they are all full of heart eyes.
When there are enough women in your cast, not every woman has to represent all women and they can have individual flaws and strengths.
When there are enough women, some can fall apart and others can hold things together.
When there are enough women, you can literally name a character Cheedo The Fragile without making a statement about feminine fragility.
When there are enough women, you know the action movie doesn’t have to preserve the one woman in order to ensure you have one woman left in your cast at the end, so women might die, just like men, and the stakes are high and real and the plot is not predictable.
When there are enough women, you can cast women with different ages and looks and body types based on what makes sense for the story – beautiful women who were selected for beauty by a character who valued women’s bodies more than their whole selves, wiry muscular women of middle and older age, built to survive, mothers who were used for the things that come with their fertility and have the fat to show for it, old fragile women who took care of others while rarely stepping outside, disabled women affected by their environment and experiences.
When there are enough women, the world feels real.
I cannot fully express my appreciation for Fury Road. I think a lot of people are over it by now, but I’m not. I’ve never felt a piece of media in my blood like I did this movie – maybe the climactic moment of Jessica Jones – but Fury Road felt like a fire burning inside of me I’d had drenched in kerosene for years but couldn’t find a match for.
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