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This web site is attempting to list, review and create some discussion about the best movies ever made about American Indians. The term best is a subjective one so I realize there will be disagreements on some of the moves and their order.
In considering which movies to include I have considered how big a role Indians had in the movie's plot, how well the movie showed the Native Americans lifestyle, how the Indians were portrayed and how good the movie was. The biggest factor for me was how good the movie was.
Some of the movies, such as in Ulzana's Raid, will have portrayals that some may consider to be negative. Others, like Dances with Wolves, will have a view that some may consider too idealistic. Hopefully, all the movies included in this list will have some redeeming values.
History is written by the winners but that doesn't mean that we have to go along with the traditional Hollywood view of Native Americans. There have been some strong portrayals of Indians in the movies. I think a case can be made for several movie representations of Native Americans, who can be viewed as patriots, fighting against an alien invading force. Magua in Last of the Mohicans (1992), Scar in The Searchers, Ulzana, Massai and Geronimo are just a few portrayals that can be considered positive when examined from a Native point of view.
It is only through a discussion of these topics that we can come to some kind of consensus about which of these movies are truly the "best".
Hopefully this will be a dynamic, ever changing list as more movies are examined and more good movies are made about Native Americans.
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