Sandy Osawa is a local filmmaker and a member of the Makah Tribe. She and her husband, Yasu Osawa, have been creating documentaries for four decades. They have produced more than 65 videos, including five PBS documentaries. But for the Osawas, this is not a business. It's a battle. They use film to fight society's images of American Indian people. The image of American Indians in popular media did not represent the people Osawa knew in everyday life. Osawa grew up with people who were creative and smart, people who had a strong grounding in both the Native American and mainstream American cultures. "The picture that society has of the American Indian is one of a victim," explained Osawa. "That Indians are victims, and Indians are losers. You might get one story where Indians are the stereotypical wise elder on horseback looking into the sunset, and you might get a nod for spiritual wisdom," like Tonto in the "Lone Ranger." Osawa was determined to change the tide. She attended UCLA's film school, and since then she has dedicated her entire life to remaking the Native image. Osawa chooses Native American success stories for her films. "There is a strong resistance to each and every story that I've ever told," she said.Get the Story:
Makah Filmmaker Fights Stereotypes One Story At A Time (KUOW 9/20)
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