Smoke Signals Paper

Native Americans are a group that has been heavily influenced by European colonialism. However, the generic story of natives post-European conquest is misunderstood and misrepresented. Native Americans have suffered from European colonialism. Yet, the story that is told about them after European conquests has been badly mistold. Many texts about Native Americans are biased towards European perspectives and portray Native Americans in a negative light. Native Americans are able to provide a different perspective, which makes them more valuable. In Chris Eyre’s Smoke Signals (1998), being a Native American modern-day is seen as embracing all shades of gray.

Thomas and Victor embark on a journey in order to recover the remains Victor’s dad, Arnold, after he abandoned him as a young boy. Thomas, a shy but energetic character, feels deeply connected with his heritage. Thomas and Victor can be compared to show both sides of “Indian culture” in the present day.

Thomas shares a passion and talent for telling complex and detailed stories orally, and he is fully immersed in this world. Thomas isn’t as concerned with accuracy in a tale than what it might mean. Thomas simply says “Both” when Arnold’s partner asks whether Thomas is interested in the truth or lies as she prepares to tell a tale. The emphasis on oral history also poses problems for Victor because he cannot tell the difference between real and fabricated stories, especially those about his father. Joel W. Martin raises the same issue when he claims that “textbooks” can suggest that Native Americans have disappeared from religious histories (151). Thomas’ tendency to tell stories is a symbol of the oral tradition, which is reflected in the film. Victor tries hard to determine the truth behind the history surrounding his father. Thomas is also a symbol of traditionalism because he gives Victor his savings in order to buy bus tickets, allowing him to embark on his quest to find the remains of his father. The journey resembles a Native American-style pilgrimage. Victor goes through a journey of emotional growth and ends it with a pilgrimage of his own. He runs for over 20 miles in order to reach a woman who is involved in an accident. Thomas is a Native American who represents both the oral tradition as well as the pilgrimage.

Victor represents European influences that the conquest of the Native Americans left on them. Victor’s mum is known as a famous native cook for her Fry Bread. Thomas tells the story of Victor’s mother being able feed twice as many people by cutting the Fry Bread in half. The story reminded me of Jesus feeding 5000 people in Matthew 14, where Jesus fed five hundred people with five loaves bread and only two fish. Victor is related to Thomas, but his connection shows how Europeans influenced Thomas’ family and home life. Victor’s portrayal of European conquest in this story, however, is best seen in a bus scene in which he teaches Thomas how to act like a modern-day Indian. Thomas is yelled at, “Stop smiling, be stoic!” Also, he stresses “getting the warrior face” as well as “using your own hair”. He says that if you do not follow his instructions, the whites will “walk over you”. These statements reveal an internalized stereotyping which many Native Americans of today have embraced, a stereotype that began with the Europeans who threatened the natives. Martin argues that “non Natives were taught to see America as an established nation with unproblematic control over its territory. Indians, on the other hand, are mythical figures who may be used as either romantic or demeaning images” (177). Given this, it makes sense that Victor would be defensive in his interactions with non-natives. Especially white people. Victor’s internalized racial stereotyping and Christian influence on oral tradition in particular are powerful arguments for European conquest.

Smoke Signals is a 1998 film directed by Chris Eyres. Thomas represents the Native American cultural influences of both traditional and more modern European cultures. Thomas tells Victor that they are both “children of flame and of ash” at the start of the movie. Victor, as a result, represents Native American life today. Thomas is a product of Native American tradition and is therefore a product of ash. These two things do coexist. I think this shows that Native American heritage isn’t dead.