A long history of Indigenous film snubs
Miles Morrisseau
ICT
How important are Indigenous stories to Hollywood? Considering the popularity of cowboy-and-Indian tropes over the past century, it is reasonable to consider that Indigenous themes are seminal to the industry.
Still, the Indigenous voice has too often been ignored, and 2024 was no exception.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences bypassed the acclaimed Lily Gladstone, Siksikaitsitapii and Nimíipuu, in the Best Actress category, though Gladstone won awards from the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild for her work in the Martin Scorsese film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
The Academy Awards also skipped over Osage composer Scott George for Best Original Song for “Wahzhazhe” (A Song for My People); and musician Robbie Robertson, Mohawk, Six Nations of the Grand River, for Best Original Score.
In fact, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which told the story of the Reign of Terror against the Osage people in the early 1900s, didn’t win any of the other seven awards for which it was nominated either, including Best Picture.
Disappointing, but not surprising.
A string of snubs
Perhaps the most egregious example in modern cinema — before the 2024 Oscars — is the lack of any significant award nominations for the late Will Sampson, who starred as Chief Bromden in the 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which swept all of the major awards.
Despite his central role in the film, Sampson, Muscogee, did not receive a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film cleaned up with Oscars at the 1976 Academy Awards, winning for best picture, actor, director, actress and screenplay, a feat that had not been accomplished since the Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert rom-com “It Happened One Night” in 1934.
Right to left: Scott George (Osage) and wife Taveah make their way out of the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 10, 2024, following the 96th Academy Awards. Scott George's song “Wahzhazhe” (A Song for My People) was nominated for Best Original Song but did not win the award. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Graham Greene, Oneida from Six Nations of the Grand River, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Kicking Bird in Kevin Costner’s “Dances with Wolves. ”While the film took home the Best Picture of the Year in the 1991 Academy Awards, Greene lost out to Joe Pesci for his memorable role as Tommy in “GoodFellas,” another Scorsese film.
In 1971, the late Chief Dan George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Old Lodgeskins in the Dustin Hoffman epic, “Little Big Man.” George lost to John Mills for his role as Michael in the film “Ryan’s Daughter.” George was nominated for a Golden Globe and would take home both the New York Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics awards for his performance.
Once considered to be the first Native American to win an Academy Award, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous identity came under dispute last year. Sainte-Marie won the 1983 award for Best Original Song for “Up Where We Belong” from the film “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
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Wes Studi, Cherokee Nation, became the first Native American to receive an Academy Award when he was given an Academy honorary award in 2019. Studi has had a long and versatile career with leading roles in such films as “Geronimo, An American Legend,” and minor but scene-stealing roles, such as his performance as the “toughest Pawnee” in “Dances with Wolves.” He’s also performed in indie films and off-beat comedies like the superhero parody “Mystery Men” as the enigmatic Sphinx.
Hopes had been high, however, in Indian Country for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” after Scorsese worked closely with the Osage Nation to recast the story from an Indigenous perspective.
International recognition
A handful of Indigenous artists from outside the United States have received Oscar nominations, and a few who have taken home the golden statue.
In 1966, Jocelyne Lagarde, Tahitian, was nominated in the category of Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film “Hawaii.” It was her first and only performance.
Keisha Castle Hughes, Māori, received a best actress nomination for her performance in “Whale Rider” in 2003. Hughes lost out to Charlize Theron for her lead role in “Monster.” When she was nominated, Hughes became the youngest person at that time to receive a best actress nomination.
In the Best Picture category, Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley, who are both Māori, received nominations for their film “Jojo Rabbit.” Waititi directed the film and received a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for it in 2019. He had been nominated in 2004 in the category of Short Film, Live Action for his film “Two Cars, One Night.”
Director Taika Waititi poses for a portrait to promote the film, "Hunt for the Wilderpeople."
New Zealand's Oscar-winning filmmaker and actor Taika Waititi, Maori, poses for a portrait during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.(Photo: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
In the category of Best Foreign Film, Nils Gaup, Sami, was nominated for his film “Pathfinder,” which was shot in the Sami language. It is the first Indigenous film nominated in that category.
The blockbuster three-part series “Lord of the Rings” all were shot in New Zealand and received dozens of nominations over the length of the series and its sequels. Hammond Peek, a Māori sound engineer, was nominated three times for an Oscar for Best Sound and won once in 2003.
Peek would also be nominated for Best Sound and take home the statue for his work on 2005’s “King Kong.”
Ra Vincent, Māori, received two Oscar nominations for Production Design, one for his work on “Jojo Rabbit” and one for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”
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