by Molly Roe
A film about Chief Standing Bear, based on a book written by College of Journalism and Mass Communications Professor Joe Starita, is set to be filmed in Nebraska soon.
The screenplay is based on Starita’s book, “I Am a Man,” which was published in 2009.
Hollywood director and producer Andrew Troy wrote the screenplay and plans to lead the creation of the film. The movie is set to be filmed in Nebraska, specifically at Fort Omaha and the Crook House, General George Crook’s home. Crook was a key player in the legal battles surrounding Standing Bear and the Ponca Tribe.
The movie announcement comes right after a statue of Chief Standing Bear was recently unveiled in the U.S. Capitol in Washginton, D.C. Starita attended the unveiling.
Starita said he hopes the story educates Nebraskans on the story of Chief Standing Bear, as well as the legal battles faced by many Native Americans of the day.
“This is a powerful story that should go a long way in stripping Native Americans of the usual cinematic stereotypes – it’s not a John Wayne shoot-`em-up with wild-eyed warriors circling the wagon train,” Starita said, adding:
“This is the story of a dignified and courageous chief who defeated the U.S. government in a federal courtroom, paving the way for Native Americans to eventually become citizens on the lands they had lived on for thousands of years. It’s a story of perseverance, honor, courage, love of family and love of country – in other words a story that all Natives, all Nebraskans and all Americans can take a great deal of pride in.”
Filming of the Chief Standing Bear movie is expected to begin next year.
