Hollywood has been getting Native Americans wrong for over a century. From early silent films to streaming services, Indigenous people have been portrayed by non-Native actors, reduced to stereotypes, or erased entirely. It’s time for the industry to do better—and for Native creators to tell their own stories.
The Legacy of Misrepresentation
John Wayne playing a Mongol warrior with dark makeup. Iron Eyes Cody, an Italian American, becoming the face of Native environmentalism in the “Crying Indian” ad. Johnny Depp in a dead bird hat claiming Tonto as Cherokee-inspired. Yellowface and redface casting have been Hollywood staples, treating Indigenous identity as costume rather than reality.
These weren’t just bad casting choices—they were erasure. When non-Native actors play Native roles, actual Native actors lose work. When stories are told through white perspectives, Indigenous narratives get distorted. When stereotypes dominate, real Native people face the consequences of those stereotypes in daily life.
The Stereotype Playbook
The stoic warrior. The mystical shaman. The drunk Indian. The sexy Indian princess. The dying culture. The noble savage living in harmony with nature. The savage enemy blocking progress. These stereotypes have been recycled through countless films and TV shows, creating a distorted image of Native people that has little connection to reality.
Historical films place Native people exclusively in the past, as if they stopped existing after the frontier closed. Contemporary stories often ignore Native characters entirely or include them only as props. When Native characters appear in modern settings, they’re often dealing with alcoholism, poverty, or identity crises—important issues, but not the only Native stories worth telling.
The Breakthrough Moments
Some projects have broken through the stereotypes. “Smoke Signals” (1998), written by Sherman Alexie and directed by Chris Eyre, was the first feature film written, directed, and co-produced by Native Americans to receive national distribution. It showed contemporary Native life with humor, complexity, and authenticity.
“Reservation Dogs,” created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, depicts Indigenous youth in Oklahoma with honesty and heart. The show features an entirely Native writing room and predominantly Native cast and crew. It’s funny, painful, real—proof that Native stories can be commercially successful while staying true to community experiences.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” brought attention to the Osage murders but also sparked debates about whose perspective should frame stories of Indigenous trauma. Progress isn’t linear, and even well-intentioned projects can miss the mark.
Native Creators Taking Control
Indigenous filmmakers, writers, directors, and actors are creating their own content rather than waiting for Hollywood permission. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok have given Native creators direct access to audiences. Short films, web series, and social media content by Native artists are reaching people who never would have encountered Indigenous perspectives in mainstream media.
Organizations like IllumiNative and Sundance Institute’s Native Lab support Indigenous creators, providing resources and connections that help them bring projects to life. Native-led production companies are forming, giving Indigenous creators more control over how stories are told.
The Importance of Authenticity
Authentic representation means Native writers, directors, actors, and crew members. It means consulting with tribal communities when stories involve specific nations. It means hiring cultural advisors who can ensure accuracy. It means recognizing that Native people aren’t a monolith—each tribal nation has distinct cultures, languages, and histories.
It also means telling diverse stories. Not every Native story needs to be about historical trauma or contemporary struggle. Comedy, romance, sci-fi, horror, thrillers—Native creators should be able to work in any genre. Indigenous characters should be able to exist in stories without their Nativeness being the entire plot.
What’s Still Missing
Major studio films still rarely feature Native protagonists unless the story is specifically about Native issues. Native actors still get passed over for non-Native actors who can fake the accent. TV shows set in areas with significant Native populations often include zero Indigenous characters. Streaming services tout diversity but keep Indigenous representation at minimum levels.
Funding remains a challenge. Mainstream studios aren’t investing in Native-led projects at the level they should. Even independent funding sources often overlook Indigenous creators. Networks claim there’s no audience for Native content, despite evidence to the contrary when given proper promotion.
The Audience Exists
When authentic Native content is made accessible and promoted, audiences show up. “Reservation Dogs” was critically acclaimed and popular. Native TikTokers have massive followings. Native authors regularly hit bestseller lists. The idea that there’s no market for Indigenous content is fiction—the market hasn’t been properly served.
Young Native people are hungry for representation that reflects their real lives. Non-Native audiences are ready for stories beyond stereotypes. The demand is there. What’s lacking is industry commitment.
Moving Forward
Hollywood needs to hire Native actors for Native roles—period. Studios need to greenlight projects by Native creators. Networks need to include Indigenous writers in writers’ rooms. Casting directors need to actively seek out Native talent instead of claiming they can’t find any.
Non-Native creators working on projects involving Indigenous characters need to do the work—hire consultants, include Native voices at all levels, and be willing to be told no when something isn’t appropriate. Good intentions don’t excuse bad representation.
What You Can Do
Watch and support Native-created content. Follow Native actors, directors, and writers on social media. Call out problematic representation when you see it. Push streaming services and networks to invest in Indigenous storytelling.
Most importantly, recognize that representation matters. What audiences see on screen shapes how they view Native people in real life. Stereotypes and erasure have real-world consequences. Authentic, diverse, complex representation isn’t just entertainment—it’s justice.
Native people have stories to tell that are funny, heartbreaking, thrilling, romantic, and everything in between. Hollywood needs to get out of the way and let them tell those stories. The time for speaking over Indigenous voices is over. The time for listening is now.
If you’re struggling, you don’t have to carry it alone. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline any time (press 2 for Spanish), text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line, or, for LGBTQ+ young people, contact The Trevor Project. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911.
