I'm not a poet, and I'm not creative - but I do have some creative friends. A native friend of mine (Comanche) wrote the following poem in response to the current HBO film "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee." Many non-natives don't understand the anger brought about by this film. I think my friend's poem explains it fairly well. It's an angry poem, so don't read it if it will cause you too much pain. But if you're up to it, he'd appreciate having his voice be heard.

"Bury My Heart In Hollywood"

Bury my heart in Hollywood
You had one last chance to make it good
It's a damn disgrace
The way you're still portraying the Indian race
Neglecting the truth to cash in your lies
Around the fort casting calls establishing alibis
It's the same old adage,
History held hostage
Cowboys and Indians again and again
Silver screen white wash to edit your sins

Way past time to tell the truth like you should
Bury my heart in Hollywood

Bury my heart in Hollywood
History, everyone knows
Means nothing as long as the green dollar grows
As long as the cash stream flows
Fear and fantasy keeps the story from being told
Damn this show is getting old
Hollywood, one last time you've sold
Our History short like I knew you would
Bury my heart in Hollywood

Somebody call up Sam; tell him they went with the old Plan
Apologies mean nothing when you lie to a man
Well welcome back Mr. John Ford
Still Searching for the right lies to win your next award?
This Script rewrite of History
Trying to finish the work of the 7th Cavalry
Cookie cutter cut out Indians
Playing along in high-definition westerns
Backdrops for your master plan
Manifest destiny on the Pan and Scan

Way past time to tell the truth like you could
Bury my heart in Hollywood

Bury my heart in Hollywood
History, everybody knows
Means nothing as long as the green dollar grows
As long as the cash stream flows
Fear and fantasy keeps the story from being told
Damn this show is getting old
Hollywood, one last time you've sold
My people out like I knew you would
Bury my heart in Hollywood

Well hell, Sheridan's back working the ropes
Killing off Indians on Cinemascope
Only History class you ever took
Was the one written in a Hollywood checkbook
Hi Definition Cable line reality
One more rope hanging our identity
Indians fighting more and more
To shut that Hollywood door
Crying out for historical authenticity
To finally kill your blockbuster atrocity

Way past time to tell the truth like you could
Bury my heart in Hollywood

Bury my heart in Hollywood
History, everybody knows
Means nothing as long as the green dollar grows
As long as the cash stream flows
Fear and fantasy keeps the story from being told
Damn this **** is getting old
Hollywood, one last time you've sold
Our lives out like I knew you would
Bury my heart in Hollywood

The final wrap, last curtain call
You have no more Indians at all
Make your last bet
We're not walking into your sunset

Bury my heart in Hollywood
Bury my heart
Bury me
Hollywood

End of our trail?
Nah, End of your trailer…

Spoken:
…PE was right…someone needs to set your *** on fire tonight.

Copyright © 2007 G. Dravin Tieyah and Contrary Indians Creations

You know this writer has nothing to say of any value for today and yesterday is past and gone.

Leonard Pelletier came from where I am now and he was no hero to anyone that I knew.

If you want to live your life in hate and grief for the past doings of the conquerers then you have to look at us in truthfullness and we were not heros either.

We have some good men coming up now and to keep up this line of negativity is not going to do us any good.

We were what we were abd it is up to us to be what we will be and there is a lot to learn from the past beyond what is being talked about here.

Hi Thelma

This was just his anger speaking - it's not his main focus in life. He lives in the present.

I don't really believe in "heroes" anyway - only people who occasionally do heroic acts, and that includes all of humanity. I do consider him a "warrior" in the true sense though. He's a good man - a good husband, father, and member of his community. He protects and provides for his people.

He had it hard growing up. He gets a lot of grief from non-natives for not living up to their stereotypical expectations of the noble warrior or mystic Indian. We all have a right to vent and be heard when angry. I think it keeps up balanced.

I won't make any judgments on Leonard - he never got a fair trial. However, IF it's true - maybe he should have picked up a pen instead of a gun.

I wonder if only those who have either experienced of empathized with bad things being done to good people can get this poem.

I get it.

I found a story on some news channel's web page about me and the privy pit, and it made it sound like I was making the whole pit thing up for a scam...

it was so upsetting to read.

And I'm only one person.

What was done to Native Americans was done to so MANY people...

Yes, I think the media can do a great deal of harm by perpetuating wrong thinking.

(((((((((((Kathy))))))))))
.

What a strong response.

It raises a question for me, though... about picking up a pen instead of a gun...

I used to really believe that the pen was mightier than the sword... but in my privy pit fight... boy, the media has certainly worked against me... first the newspaper, then the newspaper's view being picked up by the television station whose page I happened on...

It's very distressing to see a bulk of people misinformed and relying on the misinformation.

The War in Iraq, you could say that was a result of the pen... the media made it seem so important for our safety...

Should we distrust the pen, when wielded by those with inordinate power to persuade... by means of distribution...

?????????

Now I remember who you are from that statement. I always wondered just how it all turned out for you but haven't see it if you have posted it already. how are you doing now and good to know who you are.

regards Thelma

Thank you Thelma,

very much.

It's on going because I did a final $5,000 remediation after my condo had been sold in a foreclosure sale which no one told me about...

It is sooo stressful.

I'm working on the appeal now, but given that there were numerous due process violations/denials and the appeals court didn't mention them, I'm figuring the appeals court is going to find a way of saying what a great job the lower court did, and too bad to me.

I get just so sick, literally. I can't help but wish some times that I hadn't believed in the rights we are supposed to have. Then this wouldn't be so distressing. Because I wouldn't have believed in it anyway.

I spent years not going to movies and putting the money toward my mortgage, that was 17 years ago... how foolish, given how things have worked out. The Realtor got the benefits, and it had added up.

After I filed my appeal brief two weeks ago, my right leg kept buckling so I had to go to bed so I wouldn't fall... and then it got better, but the day before yesterday it did it again...

It's the stress.

so your inquiry is really nice... it sort of reduces the stress somehow...

I thank you for it.

very much.