Today is the second Monday of October -- also known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day -- and Native filmmakers are making their presence felt with a special screening Monday night at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.
The screening is being hosted by LA Skins Fest, a Native American arts organization. Ian Skorodin, an organizer with LA Skins, spoke about the importance of authentic representation in the media.
“Indigenous peoples’ day ... While important, there is a little bit of performance with that because it being on Columbus Day, [...] is not you know, something that we find positive in our community,” he said. “We would like to see things that are more genuine, changing when it comes to our community and listening to our voice.”
Tonight’s movie, “Frybread Face and Me,” created by Billy Luther, follows the story of two Navajo cousins who reunite in Arizona to explore their familial heritage. It was made by a cast and crew of Native American descent.
In addition to the screening, the LA Skins Festival will host a six-day event in November that provides a platform for the Native American film industry.
“We would like to make sure that the authentic voice of our community is the one that’s being listened to, showcased, and is the one that’s really at the forefront when it comes to listening to our community,” Skorodin said.
He added that he wants to expand the view of Native peoples in the public consciousness.
“We like to show a variety of films, because the more variety you have, the better,” he said. “You show the uniqueness of our community and our community’s voice. There’s a lot of humor involved in what we do. I know that there’s a lot of going off the noble savage stereotype. You know, it’s very dramatic and stoic, but that’s not really the case. Native people are actually very humorous.”
Kaitlin Becenti, a senior studying journalism, is an assistant director of the Native American Student Association, commonly known as NASA. Becenti believes that Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a holiday to commemorate, and that the switch from what was once known as “Columbus Day” started a watershed in American history in recognizing Native Americans.
“We’re finally getting recognized for not only the traumas and the genocide that we have been through, but also for the resilience that we have, that we have taken on, and the resilience we’ve taken on for trying to be wiped out of history,” Becenti said.
The LA Skins Festival happens in earnest November 19-24 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. In addition to films, there are panels for Native American writers, actors, and other events.