Kinoshiamia

I want to write movies and television, especially television.  Television is a powerful tool for change and education.  Native people continue to be the “invisible” minority.  Until Native people are seen in everyday events, doing ordinary things, much of the public will continue to confine us to reservations or the distant past. It is also important for Native people to see themselves in the media, especially when so many other minorities are becoming visible throughout television.  African- Americans even have BET, Black Entertainment Television, a network devoted to shows created and starring Black people.  Since BET is shown nationally, people of all colors can watch and immerse themselves in Black identity and culture.  I would like to see such a network for Native Americans. My first goal is to write for a well-known television show like CSI Miami or Criminal Minds.  I would like to become a staff writer and then a producer.  Then I would introduce a Native character to the show I was working on.  I think seeing a Native person simply being part of modern life would be good for Natives and educational for the public.   There are no Native characters on any major network television show.  Adam Beach was a regular on Law & Order, SVU for one year.  For that year, people saw a detective who happened to be Native.  Native people need more characters like this, ordinary people that happen to be Native, to improve their self-image and educate the public. Until Native people begin to speak about who we are and what we believe, others will continue to create fantasies and nightmares based only on their imaginations.  It is vital that Native people begin to determine how other people view us. The huge audiences that television reaches are perfect for reprogramming the image of Native people.  Reaching people and changing their ideas, without letting them know, is televisions’ power.  I want to put that power in Native hands.