Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 11, 2006 17:00:44 GMT -5
Dances with Wolves author speaks of American Indians plight by Mike
Tischio, Staff writer
www.standard-journal.com/articles/2006/10/02/news/news5.txt
<http://www.standard-journal.com/articles/2006/10/02/news/news5.txt>
LEWISBURG �" Michael Blake, author of “Dances with
Wolves,” the book Kevin Costner’s movie was based on,
spoke at a rally for Leonard Peltier held Saturday in the Elaine Langone
Center at Bucknell.
Peltier, a Native American, is serving consecutive life sentences for
the deaths of two FBI agents in 1975. Blake titillated the crowd
with a brief history of the book’s origins, relating how he first
proposed a screenplay for “Dances with Wolves” at a
spaghetti dinner at Costner’s house in Los Angeles. Looking at a
stack of screen plays several feet high, Costner said, “Mike,
don’t write a screenplay, write a book.” And so Blake did.
But in researching “Dances with Wolves,” Blake said he was
caught up with the spirit of American Indians and their alleged abuse at
the hands of the U.S. government. Last year, Blake decided to write a
non-fiction account of the problems faced by American Indians. The
result was “Indian Yell,” published in 2006 by Northland.
“The American people refuse to face or acknowledge the abuses of
the government, until it happens to one of them,” Blake said.
Blake didn’t blame the Bush administration, the Clinton
administration or any previous presidency for the problems with American
Indians, but instead said it was the fault of America’s
complacency.
In his book and the movie, “Dances with Wolves,” a Calvary
officer sacrifices his career to befriend a group of Sioux. Blake said
that U.S. citizens “don’t know much about our own
history.” He urged the crowd of about 75 to get involved,
research the issues and remember to vote responsibly.
Tischio, Staff writer
www.standard-journal.com/articles/2006/10/02/news/news5.txt
<http://www.standard-journal.com/articles/2006/10/02/news/news5.txt>
LEWISBURG �" Michael Blake, author of “Dances with
Wolves,” the book Kevin Costner’s movie was based on,
spoke at a rally for Leonard Peltier held Saturday in the Elaine Langone
Center at Bucknell.
Peltier, a Native American, is serving consecutive life sentences for
the deaths of two FBI agents in 1975. Blake titillated the crowd
with a brief history of the book’s origins, relating how he first
proposed a screenplay for “Dances with Wolves” at a
spaghetti dinner at Costner’s house in Los Angeles. Looking at a
stack of screen plays several feet high, Costner said, “Mike,
don’t write a screenplay, write a book.” And so Blake did.
But in researching “Dances with Wolves,” Blake said he was
caught up with the spirit of American Indians and their alleged abuse at
the hands of the U.S. government. Last year, Blake decided to write a
non-fiction account of the problems faced by American Indians. The
result was “Indian Yell,” published in 2006 by Northland.
“The American people refuse to face or acknowledge the abuses of
the government, until it happens to one of them,” Blake said.
Blake didn’t blame the Bush administration, the Clinton
administration or any previous presidency for the problems with American
Indians, but instead said it was the fault of America’s
complacency.
In his book and the movie, “Dances with Wolves,” a Calvary
officer sacrifices his career to befriend a group of Sioux. Blake said
that U.S. citizens “don’t know much about our own
history.” He urged the crowd of about 75 to get involved,
research the issues and remember to vote responsibly.