cutcharislingbaldy.com
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Bio
  • Publications
  • Books
  • News
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Bio
  • Publications
  • Books
  • News
  • Media
  • Contact

Sometimes Writer-Blogger
​Cutcha Risling Baldy​

Z Nation was the first post-apocalyptic zombie tv show to feature Native Americans and it was bad… bad… really bad… I’m sure there was something redeeming… Eddie Spears is cute.

11/18/2015

 
Recently the SyFy channel announced that they would air an upcoming episode that featured Native American people living on their reservation post-apocalypse. And there was a resounding “INDIANS ON TV! POST-APOCALYPTIC INDIANS ON TV!” because we tend to get a little bit excited knowing that (1) somebody is trying to make an effort to show a representation of us as alive, futuristic people and (2) hey we actually survived an apocalypse in this fictional universe!

As I have said before, Natives aren’t really represented in post-apocalyptic shows and movies which I find very interesting because Native people have actually survived apocalypses/ the end of the world before… If you want to know more you should read my blog about The Walking Dead and Settler Colonialism. Or listen to this radio interview.

It seems to me that by the time the futuristic apocalypse rolls around Native people have already vanished (as per the “vanishing Indian” trope), so they aren’t a part of this “new world.” Either that, or Native people are just straight chillin’ someplace else, probably on their reservations, and they don’t need to get involved in all that junk where people go into hordes of zombies and thin
k it’s a good idea to try to lead them around (THAT WAS NEVER A GOOD IDEA RICK. NEVER.)

Z-Nation is a bit different because in this post-apocalypse there is a dude who is part zombie or something and they think he might be a cure? I don’t know I’ve only watched two episodes. And this episode was billed as a great thing because it featured many Native actors and a very Native specific storyline.

I watched it because I like seeing Indians on TV. I’ve written about this before in my blog where I explore the “Native Cameo.”“Native Cameos” are those 1-2 episode, sometimes intermittent appearances by Native characters on television shows. What I have found *spoiler alert* is that these Native Cameos resettle settler colonial claims to legitimacy, meaning, they justify, and normalize colonization and settler colonial occupation of Indigenous spaces and Indigenous histories. 

To better critically analyze (or what I like to call “engage in Indigenous media analytics”) I have provided the following cheat sheet of what I have noticed about these Native cameos. In the Native Cameo:
1.       Native Americans are spiritual peoples full of knowledge that is specifically aimed at addressing answers to questions and conundrums of main characters (Spiritual & Knowledgeable)
2.       Native American characters remind us that history is… complicated (History)
3.      Native American’s Own Casinos (Casinos)***
4.       Mascots are dumb (Booo Mascots!)
5.       Native Americans are Men (Men)
But ultimately what I was arguing was that
Understanding, discussing, and complicating the Native Cameo is important. We are more than just cameos to a world that tries to pretend like we don’t exist, or that we aren’t fully functioning nations of people who deserve equal footing in politics and culture. Our worlds are more than just other to the “real” or “normal” world that is often portrayed on television. When we are represented in places like Network television it can and should speak to our continued investment in our shared existence, in our shared experiences on Indigenous lands.
Now, while I think Z-Nation did complicate some of the usual Native Cameo points in their episode. (For instance there is a big attempt to have a “strong female Native” character here. She is the one who ends up in charge). There was still a lot of really problematic storylines that actually resulted in me and my friends GUFFAWING (yes, guffawing). And by the end of the episode the show had checked off every last one of my cameo requirements… (except mascots. Almost Z-Nation. Almost)

In the episode the main characters are running from a zombie-storm (z-storm) that is wide, moving fast and driving them toward the grand canyon. When they get there they meet up with a bunch of Indians living on the land, some in the sacred mountains of the tribe, others in the casino. There is the Chief (whose name is Danny) and the Mad Indian Guy (whose name is Gordon) and the Indian Princess Daughter (I didn’t catch her name) and the Medicine Woman plus several unspoken Indian parts. The Indians introduce themselves by saying “This is tribal land, no visitors allowed." And after they are told that there is a horde of zombies coming their way… they refuse to leave. And all heck breaks lose.
​
I offer you here my picture essay of this episode. Enjoy.

The Native Cameo in Z-Nation: A Picture Essay

Picture
They come upon some Indians. At a casino. The Indians aren't having it. The casino has a big bus, and a parking garage and lots of cool ass Indians.
Picture
Here comes mad Indian guy (Eddie Spears, yum) and he's mad. He's also really, really, really good looking. And mad. Stop making him so mad white people. That's right, he's mad because white people have zin-digo disease. (I couldn't decide if that's what they were saying.)
Picture
"You bring disease and destruction." Stop doing that white people.  And actually they are. They are running from a zombie-storm and have led that horde right to them. P.S. The kind of shout out to Jack Forbe's  Wetiko Psychosis made me feel pretty happy. If that was on purpose.)
Picture
Strong Native Woman takes them to the infirmary which is also a storage unit for all things Native American that they have found at the Native American souvenir stores from just around the way. Let's play spot the dream catcher, random baskets, pendleton blankets? 
Picture
Strong Indian Woman and Mad Indian Guy are fighting about how you shouldn't be mean to white people. Medicine Woman is thinking about how she just forgave random white guy for settler colonialism. See that look on her face it says "wait, did I just forgive that guy for all the genocide?"
Picture
The zombie comes to kill the two white guys and old white guy (who has been forgiven for all the settler colonialism) transmorphizes (jumps out of his body) and becomes this painted Native looking spirit thing and is able to kill the zombie even though he's still trapped in the net. You have to watch it if you don't understand. 
Picture
This is Chief Indian after he prayed with some sage and then decided to go out gambling. I guess staying in your big ass building while a zombie horde comes is a bit of a gamble anyway. 
Picture
The whole casino gets swallowed by the horde and destroyed. Goodbye gambling that was still working because there's always a generator at the casino. 
Picture
That's when the buffalo start glowing. And Peyote White Guy says "do you think that zombies are as stupid as buffalo?"
Picture
In the end zombies are as "stupid as buffalo" and they get herded off a cliff into the grand canyon. 
Picture
This lady starts yelling "yáʼátʼééh" over and over again, I guess hoping they are Navajo? Okay you got me, most of us probably speak a little Navajo. They are everywhere!
Picture
See how mad he is? He's so mad and angry. It's because... white people. And all the settler colonialism. Did I forget to mention that mad Indian guy was a Native American Studies Professor in his past life? That's why he's so mad. He thinks everybody is a settler. (Touche SyFy Channel)
Picture
 Hey stop being so mad, says the Native woman. I appreciate that she puts him in to his place. She also rescues the white guys from the Mad Indian dude and tells him to chill. My friend who was watching this with me said "Sorry Kocoum." (SO TRUE)
Picture
After the "medicine woman" fixes the old white guy up she gives him Peyote and they go out trippin' together. He makes bad jokes about the "long strange trip" this zombie-apocalypse has been and then she forgives him for settler colonialism and tells him it's not his fault. 
Picture
Mad Indian guy decides he's going to entrap the white guys and sacrifice them to the zombies because he's mad and he used to be a Native American Studies professor. It's true, we Native professors are mad because we know too much. It's why most of our classes are just us giving this look to students and going "SHUT UP WHITE STUDENTS."
Picture
In the mean time, Chief of the tribe who is at the casino is giving his daughter the side eye. There's a lot of side eye going on in this episode, all by Native people. We are really good at side eye. He decides that the Casino is sacred land and he's going down with the ship. Also he puts his daughter in charge (go Native women being leaders!)
Picture
Of course he wins the jackpot. Which I took to mean "see you're never going to win any money at an Indian casino until the world ends." That's okay, you should still come and play and hang out with us. Cause we all have casinos...
Picture
Mad Indian Guy is sad cause his Dad (the Chief) died.  So is his sister.  Mad Indian guy is going to be nice now cause he's Sad Indian Guy. He says "we need a plan" for the zombie-storm.
Picture
 Remember when the buffalo got slaughtered by white people in order to usher in Native genocide? Stupid Buffalo! If only the buffalo had guns, then maybe they wouldn't have been so weak and gotten all killed and stuff.
Picture
And I just whispered “sorry Havasupai. It’s raining zombies today.” (You all know there are Natives that live in the Grand Canyon right? We are EVERYWHERE.)
Picture
Now everybody's friends. 
Picture
See, Mad/Sad Indian Guy is like "we will record this in our history." Which I also kind of appreciate, because the idea that the western based book history is gone (end of the world and all) and these Native histories, always thought as "primitive" and "non-existent" are still here, and those are the ones being recorded... nice. (Also check out Medicine Woman, she's still thinking "wait. Did I really forgive old white dude for settler colonialism? Did that happen?" (IT HAPPENED)
Picture
Strong Indian Woman is still making googly side eye at the skinny white dude that she was googly-eyeing at earlier who she rescued from the death sentence that Mad Indian guy sentenced him to.  She says "come back and visit." And they googly eye some more. This story sounds awfully familiar. 
Picture
Mad/Sad Indian guy says thank you. No, thank you Eddie Spears, for being in this show and having the best hair. Also the best chin. And the best face. And the best lines. You're the best. #NativeAmericanStudiesProfessorsAreTheBest #EvenTheOnesThatAreJustFictionalAndOnTV 
Picture
Medicine Woman gives old White Dude some more Peyote probably hoping he'd forget that she forgave him for all the settler colonialism and genocide. That didn't happen. It didn't happen... she'll whisper in his Peyote dreams. (IT DID). 

Final conclusion: These Natives need their own zombie-apocalypse show. It would be awesome. There's some work to do... yes. Much actually. Many, many things. But if Eddie Spears ain't on the television each week what's the point of television anyway? Get on it Z-Nation. And then hire some really good Native writers. Lots of them actually. And Directors. This could be awesome. (This episode was not.)

Comments are closed.

    Subscribe

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Click to
    Email Me

    Sometimes Writer-Blogger Cutcha Risling Baldy

    Promote Your Page Too

    Author

    Cutcha Risling Baldy is an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Native American Studies at Humboldt State University. She received her PhD in Native American Studies from the University of California, Davis.  She is also a writer, mother, volunteer Executive Director for the Native Women's Collective and is currently re-watching My Name is Earl...


    (5) Top Posts

    On telling Native people to just "get over it" or why I teach about the Walking Dead in my Native Studies classes... *Spoiler Alert!*
    Hokay -- In which I lead a presentation on what happens when you Google "Native American Women" and critically analyze the images or "Hupas be like dang where'd you get that dentalium cape girl? Showing off all your money! PS: Suck it Victorias Secret"
    In which we establish that there was a genocide against Native Americans, yes there was, it was genocide, yes or this is why I teach Native Studies part 3 million
    5 Reasons I Wear "Indian" Jewelry or Hupas...we been bling-blingin' since Year 1
    Pope Francis decides to make Father Junipero Serra a saint or In Which I Tell Pope Francis he needs to take a Native Studies class like stat

    I need to read more Native blogs!

    A few that I read...
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2020
    December 2019
    September 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    December 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011


    RSS Feed

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Categories

    All
    1491s
    562 Project
    Act For The Government And Protection Of Indians
    Adam Beach
    Adrienne Keene
    American Indians In Children's Literature
    American Indian Stereotypes
    And Old Episodes Of Ally Mcbeal
    Armie Hammer
    Balas Chonas
    Beyonce
    Book Reviews
    Bundy Militia
    California Missions
    Catholic Church
    Columbus
    Cultural Appropriation
    Debbie Reese
    Deborah Miranda
    Disney
    Federal Indian Law
    Flower Dance
    Genocide
    Gold Rush
    Graduate Student Mantra
    Hobbits
    Hupa
    Indian Humor
    Indigenous Epistemology
    Ishi Last Of The Yahi
    Jack Forbes
    Jack Norton
    Jenna Maroney
    Jim Ruel
    JK Rowling
    Johnny Depp
    Jon Stewart
    Junipero Serra
    Kevin Bacon
    Klamath River
    Klamath Trinity Restoration Agreement
    Lone Ranger
    Magic In North America
    Matika Wilbur
    Mihesuah
    Natalie Diaz
    Native American Studies
    Native American Worldview
    Native Appropriations
    Native Cameo
    Native Representations
    NBC
    Network Television
    No Doubt
    Play
    Pope Francis
    Reflective Posting
    Representation
    Review
    Sacramento State
    Save Our River
    Scalia
    Settler Colonialism
    #SettlerNonsense
    Simon Moya-Smith
    Supreme Court
    Television
    That's Right CHRIS ROCK
    Theatre Dance And Performance
    The Daily Show
    Tiffany Midge
    Tina Fey
    Tonto
    Tonto Syndrome
    Uc Berkeley
    Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
    Vine Deloria Jr
    Winnemem Wintu
    Women
    Zambo Dende

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.