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A stunning new western, “The English” is elevated with authentic Pawnee culture and history.
The six-part series, produced by the BBC and Amazon Prime, is set in the American West in the 1890s, shortly after the Pawnees evacuated Nebraska.
The story’s writer and director, Hugo Blick, is not Native, so he approached Crystal Echo Hawk, president and CEO of IllumiNative, who is a Pawnee, to ensure historical accuracy.
Echo Hawk has been involved in the production from the initial script reading, with Pawnee historian and museum curator Matt Reed advising on props, costumes and tribal history.
“This is a very special project because I’m Pawnee,” Echo Hawk told information and communication technology From New York City on November 11, the same day the series premieres on Amazon Prime in the US. “I think the last time we had reps was in Dances with Wolves.” We’ve been working with Amazon for three years. They approached us about this project in early fall of 2019. “
The show stars Emily Blunt as Cornelia Locke, a vengeful British woman who encounters the Fort Peck tribe, played by Chaske Spencer Eli Whipp, a former Pawnee cavalry scout.
“When I hear that not only is there a major Pawnee storyline, but Emily Blunt’s lover/co-star is going to be Pawnee and Scout, you can knock me down with a feather,” Echo Hawk said.
“My great-great-grandfather, from whom we got the name Hawk, was a Pawnee Boy Scout,” she said. “It’s very personal on so many levels. It’s just so exciting to help make sure this story is told in a really authentic way.”
Echo Hawk said that having the Pawnees ensure authenticity is also “about how we build the strength of Indigenous people to make sure we have a presence in every aspect of the storytelling process.”
The series features beautiful cinematography shot in Spain, giving it a more exotic western setting.
Veteran Aboriginal actor Gary Farmer (Cayuga) was pivotal in his Aboriginal role, using Spencer’s character to crush buffalo bones to make china plates. He and his wife (played by Colville’s Kimberly Guerrero) may or may not have noble intentions.
There’s a secret drive to the storyline that isn’t revealed until the finale that has never been more compelling in a western. (Sorry, we won’t reveal it here.)
“The tide is turning, and there would be no story about us without us,” Echo Hawk said. “When we got the call and met Writer-Director Hugo and his whole team for the first time, they were so lovely, warm and welcoming. Our team did an initial review of all the scripts and were able to really discuss it with them The way we look at the characters in the storyline, we think there might be some issues with it or some things that might not be accurate.”
Echo Hawk said the team was open to IllumiNative’s notes on detail and authenticity to make sure everything that was made into the movie felt comfortable to the tribe.
“We’re constantly dealing with production companies and writers or directors who don’t want script notes. They just want you to come in and rubber stamp the production,” she says.
“I think times are changing,” she continued. “It’s very important that through IllumiNative’s advocacy, research, and the work we do in the industry, we’re able to create the space in this production for our Pawnee people to have representation and partnerships with the writer-director and production team and Amazon .”
While Echo Hawk didn’t spend any time on set, she was reassured that her consultants would get the job done.
“Once we knew we had Pawnee and Cheyenne consultants set up with the production house, IllumiNative pulled out because that’s where the real frontline work happened,” she said. “Great to hear back from Hugo and everyone at Amazon how happy they are. That’s what IllumiNative’s job is about, just creating space for Native creatives, our tribal peoples and those cultural experts to come in Collaborate with production.”
Blick said in a statement that he did a lot of research on the script before handing it over to Echo Hawk.
“She then introduced me to representatives of the Pawnee and Cheyenne Nation, each of whom is an expert on the cultural and military history of their respective countries,” he said. “The journey with IllumiNative and the Pawnee and Cheyenne advisors has been long, detailed and rewarding.”
He said Westerns tell a different kind of story.
“At their best, Westerns free us from the reality of who we are and how we live today,” he said in a statement. “With regard to its vast landscapes, its mythical heroes and villains, the epic violence and love they pursue, all of which can directly touch our souls… Perhaps what is unusual about The Brit is that it chooses for its heroes who, a Native American man and an English woman, and the justice they both hope to restore.”
The series received rave reviews, and its premiere event in New York City drew plenty of Pawnee reps.
“There are many Pawnees here,” said Echohawk. “I know our tribe has been promoting it heavily on social media, and I think they’ll organize a local screening in Oklahoma.”
This story is republished with permission from Village India Today.To view the original story, please visit https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/western-series-the-english-thrills-with-pawnee-authenticity.
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