Why can't we critique our own people?

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If you read the last issue of Eagle Feather News, you'll see that Marjorie Beaucage criticized APTN (the Aboriginal People Television Network) for their poor programming and their perspective on the Prairies, by saying, "Is Saskatchewan just about dog races, graduations, weddings, and powwows, with a little Cree added in?"

If you read my column last month in Sage, you'll remember that I criticized the Women of the Dawn for not inviting me to their awards ceremony, even though I was a member of the media. The point I am trying to make is, Why can't we critique our own people without others saying we are placing a negative perspective on Aboriginal people in general?

I am a Native person who has opinions and when I see other Native people doing something positive that makes me feel good. But when I see them doing it all wrong, that makes me want to critique them. Since I'm a journalist, there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing that.

We stand right now as Aboriginal people who strive to support each other - and push each other to succeed - while others live and die to pull down their own people. Constructive criticism is something our people need to understand. It's a form of motivation and it teaches others how better to succeed. That's what I try to do and nobody can seem to figure that out.

For example, look at the way Native movies are made today. As film producer Rueben Martell said: "There's always one-dimensional characters. There's the drug dealer, the alcoholic, the politician who acts like the mobster boss, the prostitute, the racist cop, and the non-racist cop." There are no positive characters, except for the Elder, and the guy who plays sports, gets a scholarship, almost leaves the rez but gets shot in the end by his jealous peers.

Native movies, Native actors, Native music and Native events can all seem so stale and boring after you've seen them so many times. I mean, when's the last time you didn't see square dancers at a banquet? I have nothing against square dancers, but I wish I could hear a different song, instead of the same one they always dance to. And doesn't it seem like it's always the same Native actors playing the same part in the same movie every single time?

Like powwow music producer John Noon said: "Today you gotta be hip. If you're not hip, then you're not going to succeed."

And he's absolutely right. Our people don't see that. They are still caught in the early '90s. I mean John Noon still sells powwow tapes - hardly any CDs! That means many Native people have yet to buy CD players for their cars. And it's getting to where they hardly even sell tapes in record stores, anymore.

Okay, now I'm going to talk about APTN. I just wish they could get some better commercials. I love watching Nelson Bird's Indigenous Circle, but when they cut for a commercial, I hate hearing about the "Hits from the 70s." APTN should get into some real action, like Rez Accidents Caught on Tape. Or rez soap operas - "Larry, I'm pregnant, again!" Or Hockey Night in Nunavut, or WWF Wrestling: Indian politician style. AFN meets FSIN in a steel cage match.

What would be cool would be a game show: "Who Wants to be a Thousandaire?" Contestants would have to answer questions like, Who was the very first grand chief of the AFN?

Well, that's it for this month, or should I say that's it for this millennium. I'll see you in the next century or, if the world happens to crumble like a month-old piece of fry bread, I hope you enjoyed your stay on earth.

Just in case the world ends, I want these to be my last written words: We were the first people on this land, and we will be the last.

Peace out.