Karyn VanderPloeg

Professor Grace Chaillier

NAS 10pm
March 13, 2013

Finding Unexpected Love

When I watched this film Broken Arrow I wasnt expecting the Apache tribe to
speaking English. I am glad that they clarified in the beginning of the movie that they didnt
speak our language during the time period that this story took place. A couple of scenes stood out
the most for me because they showed compassion between the American and Apache. I like to
see people get along or become friends no matter what race you are or what others think of it.
That is what happened in this movie. The very first scene of the film I remember very well where
ex-soldier Tom Jeffords is riding his horse and sees vultures circling a hurt Apache boy. He
decides to bring the boy back to good health. The other scene that had the most impact on me is
when he met Sonseeahray by the river and realized he loved her and that this love transcended
the barriers of race.
When Tom helped the Apache boy the boy said that his mother was weeping for him.
This is when he realizes that Native Americans are loving caring people and not just savages. It
is an eye opener for people to see that we are all the same. We may have different cultures or
skin but in the overall picture we love and feel the same. It is irritating that even though Tom
helped the boy the Apache men still wanted to kill him because he was white. It is all because of
the stereotypes even back then that people dont know how to trust. This scene shows me that
you should do what is right no matter what society says. I could see this taking place in that time
so this movie was very believable. By doing this one act of kindness it started the plot of the

story of wanting to make peace between the Apache and Americans. This movie made me think
on how I see others and why we fight with each other in the first place.
The second scene that impressed me was when Sonseeahray and Tom talk for the second
time by the river where they confess their love for each other. They dont care what their people
may think just that they love each other. That is the way it is supposed to go I think. Later the
chief who is her father gives his blessing and they get married. This is a great reason to why he
wanted to make a peace treaty with the Apache people. Tom didnt want any of Apaches to get
hurt because he cared for them. It shows how people can change and not every stereotype is true.
I feel without this love connection the treaty of peace wouldnt have happened. I dont know how
believable it is but I guess this could happen. People may not be so understanding like they were
in the movie but something similar could happen.
I did enjoy this story line and content of the movie. It was great that Tom took the
initiative to learn more about the Apache culture and get a better understanding of their people.
All they wanted was to keep their land for themselves that is why they were creating a peace
treaty in the first place. The Americans were at war with the Apaches and Tom didnt want to be
part of it any more. He was the messenger between them and finally created an agreement of
peace. Of course not everyone saw eye to eye on both sides so it was more difficult. Things
worked out in the end though. I found this movie informative and entertaining. It had a great
story line and had correct information about the Apache people.

KarynVanderPloeg
Professor Grace Chaillier
NAS 10pm
March 13, 2013
Fangs and Wolves
The world is obsessed with this fiction story The Twilight Saga Eclipse, with vampires
and werewolves. One thing they dont realize is the way the wolves are presented. The Native
American wolf clan gets recognized within this film. Not everything about them is true putting
on the twist of turning into werewolves but it presents them well. Jacob mentions that he goes to
a reservation school instead of the public schools. Another part of the movie Bella attends a
gathering of the tribe where they talk of their tribes history and why they are the way they are.
Also in the movie it shows how protective of the land they are and keeping to the treaty.
At the gathering the Jacobs father who I believe is the chief of the tribe goes into their
history. The younger wolves are hearing this story for the first time so they understand the packs
magic. I think that some of the story was true but other parts are not. It shows how the tribal
spirits are out there and guide the way of the people. They are here to protect. I know the movie
is fiction and Indians cant transform into wolves but they didnt completely destroy the Native
Americans identity. At times in the movie they spoke in their native tongue.
At one part of the movie the Cullens are chasing after the vampire Victoria and so are the
wolves. The wolves stay on their own land because of the treaty they have but then Emmett
crosses onto their side and distracts them from their target. The next day the wolf clan informs
the Cullens to stick to the treaty. Land boundaries are a big part of the movie. The rules of who
may be where shows that the land is sacred to the pact and that they want to keep it that way.

The first time I watched this movie I didnt realized how the wolf pack was represented.
To tell the truth I didnt even notice how much they talked about the Indian ways. It wasnt until
I was looking for the ways of the people that I made the connection of how they stayed together
on a reservation. This movie may be fiction but there is a little bit of hidden truth in it. The fangs
and giant wolves of course are made up and couldnt possibly happen it just makes a good story.
Although it got me thinking that maybe that is what they saw of us. When we came and put them
on a reservation they saw us as stone cold white people ready to kill at will and it is their job to
stop it by the spirit of their clan the wolf. I never thought I would look at a fiction movie in this
light.

Karyn VanderPloeg
Professor Grace Chaillier
NAS 10pm
March 13, 2013
Indian on the Inside
I found the main character Frank Hopkins in the movie Hidalgo to be inspiring. He is
half European American on is fathers side and half Lakota Sioux on his mothers side. He looks
white on the outside but has the knowledge and sprit of his Native American tribe. He speaks
fluently in both English and Sioux. His name that was given to him means Blue Child or Far
Rider. Two scenes made a big impact on me in this film. Early on in the movie was where the
Wounded Knee Massacre of Lakota Sioux took place and the other one being Hopkins near
death song. This movie showed a lot of truth in the struggles the Indians had and how some like
Hopkins had to hide part of himself to say alive.
It was hard for me to catch everything they were saying because my movie wouldnt
allow subtitles. I was able to get the basic idea of the situations. The scene of the reservation was
the most depressing part of the movie. The Sioux people were chanting for a long time asking
their sprits for help and the Americans thought they were preparing an uprising. It was all a
misunderstanding and there was no reason for the solders to kill every last one of them. I felt bad
for Hopkins because by time he realizes what the solders are doing all his people are dead. You
can tell on his face that he feels responsible for this cold murder of these innocence people. This
is the scene that they reenact in the circus Hopkins is in which is a constant reminder that he
couldnt save his people.

By joining the Middle Eastern "Ocean of Fire" race Hopkins gets to ride for pride, honor,
survival, and for his identity. This race is 3,000-mile across the Najd desert region which is a
dangerous journey and many dont survive. The scene where Hidalgo, Hopkins mustang, is
severely injured is a heart reaching moment. Hopkins is dying of thirst and is having
hallucinations of his clan. He sings a prayer to Wakan Tanka as his death song. I think by doing
this it gave them both the strength from the spirits of the tribe to get them to keep going. After
Hopkins sang his song Hidalgo struggles up, and Hopkins rides bareback to win the race. I am
happy that by the end of the movie he wasnt scared to show his Sioux side.
I believe this was based on a true sorry which is depressing and happy at the same time. It
is amazing to me how easy it was for the Americans to kill everyone on the reservation without
any regret. They didnt even do anything that deserved death. I think the soldiers were just
scared of what they might be capable of and didnt want the Indians to attack first. I still think it
wasnt fair. Hopkins I feel had it the hardest out of everyone because he was stuck in the middle
of both worlds. It is hard to choose between the two. Even though he was a cowboy I think his
spirit was that of the Sioux. I wish there were more people like him in this world to see the good
on both sides.