LEFT: The late Walter “Silent Wolf” Van Dunk, formerly Chief of the Ramapough Lunaape tribe, leading male dancers into the arena during Grand Entry at the Ramapough Pow-wow, circa 2002.
Lenape Nation in northern New Jersey. Initially Gov. Christie ques- tioned the American Indian authenticity of tribal members and wanted tribal councils to “prove” their members’ Native heritage. Fortunately, through united efforts by the three New Jersey state-recognized tribes the governor gave up those termination efforts. Unfortunately he was successful in taking back the Powhatan-Renape’s Rankokus Reserva- tion land base in Mt. Holly under eminent domain. Preserved wood- lands, wetlands and protected deer are now vulnerable. Water pollution is imminent as wetlands are now open for private development The series also features a sub-plot about toxic pollution from an
industrial plant’s contamination of land and water. The Ramapough Lenape Tribe has been fighting the Ford Motor Company for years over the dumping of toxic paint sludge and other wastes from Ford’s massive automobile plant in Mahwah, N.J. (The legal battle is also the subject of the 2010 HBO documentary, Mann v. Ford.) A welcome feature of the show is the number of American Indian
characters who are played by American Indian actors. The cast of ma- jor actors, recurring supporting actors, and those in background scenes run the gamut in age, generations and phenotype thanks in part to casting by Junie Lowry-Johnson (Lumbee). Says Scott, “With limited roles offered to Native actors, I am thrilled that the majority of the lead actors are tribal enrolled citizens.” Zahn McClarnon (Standing Rock Sioux and Irish), born in 1966 as Zahn Tokiya-ku McClarnon, plays Phillip Kopus’ criminal partner. (He also appeared in the A&E series, Longmire, as a tribal policeman.) Kiowa Jordan, raised on the Huala- pai reservation in Peach Springs, Ariz., is Kopus’ adopted half-brother. Tribal Council Chief Mack Van Der Veen is played by veteran American Indian actor Gary Farmer. Marie, his sister in the series and biological mother of Kopus, is
portrayed by Tamara Tunie, the well-known television actress who is part Native. Lisa Bonet, a veteran of The Cosby Show, takes the role of Sky Van Der Veen, the tribal lawyer/activist who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., but maintains ties with family mountain relatives. (Although she is non-Native, she is married to Jason Momoa.) Viewers unfamiliar with contemporary Native culture might be
surprised that these African-American actresses have prominent parts, but there are tribally enrolled Indians who resemble them, particularly on the East Coast. Their appearance in The Red Road is an authentic look at the diversity of the 21st
century’s Indian country. I do have one criticism – the sparse amount of joy in the lives of
Joe Mathis Jr., Ramapough youth dancer, at a recent Ramapough Powwow.
the Lenape characters. Indigenous people are still capable of laughing, rejoicing and embracing their culture despite racial prejudice, poverty, genocide and other types of social injustice. Their spirit still prevails, and they are successful in some of their endeavors for state and federal recognition, land claims, environmental issues and the like. Natives throughout the Americas are still here – our biggest accomplishment. I hope Season Two, airing in 2015, will show more balanced, multi- faceted coping strategies for the Lenape characters. Although I am not interested in a Hollywood happy ending, I do want to see some laugh- ter, some winning lawsuits and some loving marriages. X For further information:
sundancechannel.com/series/the-red-road
Dr. Phoebe Mills Farris (Powhatan-Renape/Pamunkey) is professor emerita at Perdue University.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 39
PHOTOS COURTESY AUTUMN WIND SCOTT
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