LOS ANGELES – The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Diversity Committee and Writers Guild of America, West American Indian Writers Committee co-presented the “American Indian 101” Panel Discussion Nov. 9, 2009 at the Television Academy’s Conference Centre in North Hollywood.

This joint event featured a panel discussion exploring contemporary American Indian life, opportunities and challenges for American Indian creative professionals in the entertainment industry, as well as current and future media representations.

Panelists included Nancy Miller, creator/showrunner, “Saving Grace”; Gregory Cruz, “Saving Grace’s” Bobby Stillwater, who portrays one of the few American Indian characters featured on a primetime TV show; Jason Gavin (Blackfeet), currently a staff writer on “Royal Pains” and formerly on the critically acclaimed series, “Friday Night Lights,” and a member of the WGAW AIWC; Angela Riley (Potawatomi), visiting professor of law at UCLA School of Law and newly appointed acting associate director of the UCLA American Indian Studies Center.

The evening was moderated by WGAW AIWC member Brian Wescott (Athabascan), co-writer (with Leslie Clark) of the documentary miniseries “American Century.” The audience included industry folks and Native writers, actors, producers and directors. “American Indian 101” was an attempt to encourage better representation of American Indians in film and television.

“The first thing we would like you to know is that American Indians are extremely diverse,” Wescott said. “There are over 500 American Indian tribes. Tonight, we invite you to open the door and see what kind of Native stories you can tell and what kind of Native talent you can use in your projects.”

“We really want to stress the need to create contemporary stories about American Indian life,” said Micah Wight (Muscogee Creek Nation), chair of the WGAW AIWC. The AIWC was created just over a year ago and the committee has worked to put on other events including the American Indian Filmmakers Screening of “Eagle Eye” (Travis Wright (Cherokee) – writer, WGAW AIWC member) at Paramount Studios and a Reading Series for the WGAW which feature scenes written by Native writers and performed by Native actors.

“In the last year, we have had regular attendance at the AIWC meetings,” Gavin said. “We’ve been able to get enough critical mass to create events like tonight’s panel discussion.”

The WGAW AIWC members articulated that their committee should be used as a resource for writers, directors, producers, actors and other creative professionals so they may learn more about American Indians pertinent to any project with American Indian characters and/or storylines.

Riley had the ultimate teaching moment to educate industry professionals about many issues related to Indian country including sovereignty, cultural and intellectual property rights and Indian law. She explained complex legal issues to the audience in a way everyone could understand.

“There is also a very large urban American Indian population due to the relocation programs in the 1950s. Los Angeles has one of the largest populations of urban Indians in the country. I think the Urban Indian Experience would make for some interesting stories for film and television.”

The WGAW is a labor union representing writers of motion pictures, television, radio and Internet programming, including news and documentaries. The WGAW AIWC represents the professional and creative interests of American Indian writers. It works to mentor, encourage, empower and increase the visibility and employment of writers of American Indian heritage, and serves as a cultural and educational resource for all guild member-writers seeking to portray American Indians in their work.

WGAW AIWC members include Gavin (Blackfeet), Michael January, Steve Judd (Kiowa/Choctaw), Wescott (Athabascan), M. Wright (Muscogee Creek Nation), T. Wright (Cherokee), Robert Davenport, Erica Diamond and Larissa FastHorse (Lakota).

“You have to get all the writers to think about using Native characters and casting directors as well,” Miller said. “It has to come from more than just the Native writers. Show writers and producers need to know that it is not a big deal to use a Native character. But most writers in the Writers’ Room don’t even think about it.”

Moderator Wescott issued a challenge to all the writers: “We want to invite you to create a Native character for your projects.”

WGAW AIWC member FastHorse also offered assistance. “The committee can help guide you if you need assistance in creating Native characters and storylines. We want to help you create more accurate portrayals of American Indians in film and television. That is one of the reasons the AIWC was created.”

For more information on the WGAW AIWC, visit the Web site.