Film series focuses on cultural lifestyles

The third annual Native Film Series will focus on contemporary Native American life.\nRebecca Riall, co-chair of the Native American Graduate Association, said the film series is meant to show students the history and contemporary lives of Native Americans through visual means.\n“Most of the movies depict the lives of Native Americans,” Lamenti said. “You’re just not going to find these kind of perspectives (anywhere else).”\nThe film series will kick off at 6:30 p.m. today in Morrison Hall 007 with a screening of “Unnatural and Accidental” and a question and answer session with actress Tantoo Cardinal. \n“I think (the movies) are very important for understanding Native American culture and something that people need to (know) more about,” said Mary Connors, program assistant for the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center.\nThe Native Film Series is sponsored by the Native American Graduate Students Association, American Indian Student Association, First Nations Educational & Cultural Center, the Office of Multicultural Initiatives, La Casa and the Office of the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, Riall said. A reception will be held before the film featuring traditional Native American food, she said.\n“I am looking forward to (today’s) movie because it’s an interesting portrayal of Canadian Indian women’s lives,” Riall said.\nThe Native Film Series will continue at 7 p.m. every Thursday in room 150 of the Student Building for four weeks, said Dennis Lamenti, co-chair of the Native American Graduate Association.\nThe second movie, which will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 28, is “Miss Navajo.” The movie shows how Native American beauty pageants differ from regular beauty pageants, Lamenti said. \nAdditional movies cover issues of blacks integrating with Native Americans and reservation life. The series will end with a documentary about a famous poet and activist, Lamenti said.\nBoth Riall and Lamenti said people should come watch the movies to break stereotypes that they might have about Native Americans.