Human beings through a veil of romance and magic, the Native American in popular culture

Longmire is a recently canceled 3 season crime drama on A&E.  It is set in a fictional Wyoming county.  The lead character, Walt Longmire, has recently returned to work as the Sheriff of Absaroka County, after the mysterious death of his wife.  Henry Standing Bear, a Cheyenne and local bar owner, played by Lou Diamond Phillips is the close, life long friend of the sheriff.  There are several native characters in the cast, including residents of tribal lands, the Tribal Police (who are often pitted against the  Sheriff's office).  Henry is portrayed as a modern, reasonable man, not as closely tied to tribal affairs as other native characters, but an active member of the local community, friend to both native and non native.  Henry falls easily into the stereotype of the native buddy/sidekick and wise helper.  He performs dangerous, illegal or unsavory acts on behalf of his friend, in order to insulate the Sheriff from damaging his reputation.  Henry does good works and is generally portrayed favorably, but minds less about his perceived goodness, making serious and life altering sacrifices for others, in particular his white best friend.  He serves as Longmire's advisor, helper, and semi-expert on all things "Indian".  Henry is honest, hardworking, and respectful of others.  He dresses like a blue collar worker and wears his hair short.  He does not drink to excess, nor does he whoop and holler.  He speaks proper English, often foregoing contractions. He is more often in his pickup truck than on a horse.  He is rarely portrayed with the wind blowing through his hair, although he does display tribal artifacts as props in his bar. He is relatable by the prospective audience of the show.  While he is knowlegable about aspects of Cheyenne culture, he is portrayed as a bit of an outsider to the other local natives.  He takes part in local traditional celebrations and traditions.  In one episode he is arrested, while protesting water contamination on tribal lands from the pollution caused by a local business with other Cheyenne.  

While there are many representations of Native Americans in Longmire, some of them are negative; specific characters are corrupt or criminal.  -And nearly all fail to trust and/or respect outside law enforcement.  I feel that in many ways the show sucessfully portrays Native Americans as a diverse group, existing in the present, as real, complicated and (in some ways) struggling with their dual identities, as members of their own ethnic communities and the world in which those communities exist.  However, with so many native characters, and in the confines of a crime drama, there are many portrayals of vengeance, racism, and traditional beliefs that feel somewhat characatured.  The American public at large, and the world, is fascinated by a mystical and magical idea of the Native American that is closer to the unicorn than the human being.  Often Native Traditions and ceremonies are depicted in popular culture as being either deeply mystical or extraneous and self important.  The show Longmire walks a fine line in this respect.  And even with a major character who is a Native, it is always clear that the perspective is from the outside, and as related to some or another criminal act.  The show attempts to address wrongs commited against Native Americans in the recent past in a compassionate manner.  One problem I have with the show is that the main character, Walt Longmire, has appropriated many aspects of [what is portrayed on the show as] Cheyenne ritual and practices, into his own life, "becoming Indian" as it seems, many non-Native males deeply desire to do.

Lou Diamond Phillips is not a native actor, his mother is Filipino and his father is Scots-Irish [somewhere including some Cherokee ancestry].  Brown skinned Phillips often portrays Native/"Indian" characters and Mexicans.  Often, now as in the past, Native Americans are played by non-Natives, and often by actors who claim distant tribal affiliations.  He describes in interviews that he attempts to do so with authenticity and respect.  Other actors, I am sure with equally good intentions, have failed to do so. He seems to do a fairly good job of being a "real" person.  Compare these images, one photograph, and one illustration:

• The Clam Diggers c1894, photographic print, available from the Library of congress

• Sunset, beautiful native female

How can we see Native Americans as people of the 21st century when they are portrayed as lost in time, pigeon holed as storyline devices to serve white males in the historically inaccurate past that Hollywood/popular culture has reproduced for our viewing pleasure?

Does the political cartoon, rife with stereotypical representations, capture more of reality than film?

The political cartoon gives one "real world" present day perspective.  While it is important to preserve cultural and historical artifacts, it is also important that the viewing public is offered images of contemporary Native peoples, in real life contexts, not as one dimentional tools of a white male lead, but as individuals in modern society, with specific concerns and a unique point of view. The idea of the "Indian" as a conquered people who have faded from time, 

helps to justify the idea that white Americans of European descent are the only true and worthy Americans.  While the depictions of Native Americans in the television program Longmire is one given from the outside, it attempts to show it's Native American characters as contemporary human beings rather than magic ghosts of an extinct tribe.