Author Topic: Firewater and redskins  (Read 10372 times)

Offline Freija

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Firewater and redskins
« on: February 01, 2011, 02:47:08 pm »
Big international filmfestival in my hometown this week.
Thousands of visitors.
The program invites the public to the opening party:

"Firewater to all the redskins. Come to the Indian Camp!"

I am lost for words.....!
I am just heading over there to have a look myself, just got the message by SMS.

(But we will sure use it now when we are seeking sponsors for our planned Indigenous Peoples Filmfestival)

Offline Superdog

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2011, 02:57:28 pm »
Big international filmfestival in my hometown this week.
Thousands of visitors.
The program invites the public to the opening party:

"Firewater to all the redskins. Come to the Indian Camp!"

I am lost for words.....!
I am just heading over there to have a look myself, just got the message by SMS.

(But we will sure use it now when we are seeking sponsors for our planned Indigenous Peoples Filmfestival)

At the very least it's a text in very bad taste.  Hope the festival isn't using this to advertise. 

Offline Freija

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2011, 06:42:51 pm »
Okey, back again.
The opening party was some days ago and all people dressed up as "redskins" got free firewater!
We´re talking about a festival which is visited by about 200.000 people!
And it was advertised as an invitation in the program.
It´s a festival that promotes films from different cultures.
Guess they forgot to consider in what way they show respect for these cultures....

I haven´t been able to find any photos of this event though.

Meeting up with a filmfriend tomorrow, we´re going to take this further.
Apalling!

Offline piya

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2011, 08:43:18 pm »
Well done Annika
To Old To Die Young

Offline AlaskaGrl

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2011, 09:28:54 pm »
Okey

I haven´t been able to find any photos of this event though.

Meeting up with a filmfriend tomorrow, we´re going to take this further.
Apalling!

Freija,

What is the name of the film Festival... will see if I can dig any images up.

Linda.

Offline Freija

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2011, 09:50:06 pm »

Göteborg International Filmfestival
http://www.giff.se/

http://www.giff.se/nc/publik/artikel/post/praktfull-pow-wow-p-Trdgrn-588.html
MAGNIFICENT POWWOW
"We are picking up on a filmteam from the Festival - Red Western - and we´re letting the students of HDK change Trädgår´n (nightclub) to an indian camp and a communist westernsaloon. Dress up and we offer you firewater!"

The only photos I could find where these:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47670241@N04/5400660070/in/set-72157625811076767/

Can´t see a single "Ndn"....and it doesn´t look like an "Indian camp" either.
Maybe it´s not the same party OR people have enough sense not to do what the Filmfestival told them to do: Dress up as Indians.
(That would have been funny  ;D ;D )

Offline Ric_Richardson

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2011, 12:41:24 am »
Tansi;

Were the film fest. producers aware that the introduction of alcohol to Native people was done, not in any social manner?  The introduction of alcohol was done in manner in which Aboriginal people were encouraged to drink to excess, in order for the colonizers to disposses us of our women, lands, furs, Traditional knowledge and any other thing that they wanted, but did not want to trade fairly for.

As an Aboriginal alcoholic (albeit with 30 years of Sobriety), I know, only too well, the damage that the use of alcohol has done in cross-cultural context.

I hope that this way of advertising is looked at, seriously, since it is done to promote very negative stereotyping of our people!
Ekosi
Ric

Offline Freija

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2011, 09:12:17 am »
I know, Ric! This is not acceptable, not at all!!
I still cannot believe it.....
 >:(

Having a meeting today with a filmproducer who is here for the festival. We will decide on how to take this further!

Offline czech

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2011, 09:28:01 am »
Nice of you to take action, Freija. It would be interesting to know what they mean by "a communist westernsaloon"  ::)

Offline Freija

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2011, 09:58:27 am »
Got an apology from the Filmfestival, saying that they have been ignorant and hope that not too many have got hurt.
They will remove all the info about the party.
(It´s just that there are thousands of programs out there advertising it.)

A public apology would be the right thing to do!!

Offline czech

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2011, 10:34:41 am »
Good job, Freija! Hopefully they have learned their lesson...

Offline Freija

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2011, 11:17:02 am »
Good job, Freija! Hopefully they have learned their lesson...

Yes, I think they have. We´re still sending off a letter to the organisers - it is quite possible they are not aware of what´s going on further down in the organisation, so to say.....

I don´t think they will ever do it again, though.  ;)


Offline Ric_Richardson

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2011, 02:35:08 pm »
Tansi;

Sometimes, the best we can hope for is that people will learn more about our realities.  This may be a good opportunity for learning!
Ric

Offline nemesis

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Re: Firewater and redskins
« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2011, 05:19:12 pm »
Good for you for doing something Freija!

Nice result!  8)