For decades, films and television shows almost always portrayed American Indians as stereotypes. The stories were written and produced by white Americans. In 1977, Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT) was founded to bring audiences native stories and accurate portrayals of the culture.
许多年来，电影和电视几乎总是以刻板的形象呈现美洲印第安人。那些故事都是美国白人写的。1977年，美洲土著人公共通讯组织成立，其宗旨是让观众可以看到印第安人自己写的故事，看到对印第安文化的准确真实的描述。
Taking control
Shirley Sneve heads the organization. She is a Lakota, a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, who grew up in Flandreau, South Dakota. One of her earliest and most lasting influences was her mother, who has written and published more than 20 children’s books about Native Americans.
谢丽·斯内夫是北美印第安人苏族的拉科他人，从小在南达科他州弗兰德鲁长大。她的母亲撰写并出版了20多本有关北美印第安人的儿童读物。
"When I was growing up my mother was always telling stories and she wrote all the time," says Sneve. "It was something that was always important to our family to understand our history, where we came from, and how we relate as natives in today’s world.”
她说：“我小时候，母亲总是在讲故事，写书。我们家很注重这种事情，就是了解我们自己的历史。”
Sneve studied journalism, and became a storyteller herself. "Unlike my mother, who created stories out of her head, I liked to tell stories about other people."
斯内夫学习了新闻学，后来她自己也成为一个说故事的人。她说：“我母亲是凭想象创造故事。我不一样，我喜欢讲别人的故事。”
But these days, Sneve mostly helps other people tell stories as executive director of NAPT, one of five groups created to increase the diversity of voices on American public television.
但是，斯内夫如今大部分时间是帮助其他人讲故事。她是美洲土著人公共通讯组织的执行主任。这是专门成立来增加美国公共电视的多样性的五个组织之一。
"It can’t just be about Indians, it needs to be by Indians, Native Americans," says Sneve, who believes the authentic voice is important. "There has been so much garbage out there over the years by non-Indians that have perpetuated the stereotypes. You know the westerns and the stoic Indians, even more contemporary projects. They don’t do us any favors. We can tell our own stories better than anybody else. That is why we are so forceful about involving Native Americans in the creation of these documentaries."
她说，让人们听到真实的声音是重要的，因为“多年来，非印第安人制造了很多的垃圾，制造了刻板的印第安人形象。大家都知道西部片，还有那些逆来顺受的印第安人。这些对我们毫无益处。我们可以比任何人更好地讲述我们自己的故事。这就是为什么我们如此力主让印第安人参与制作这些纪录片。”
Shedding light
Recent films that have received funding from NAPT have examined the impact of politics and economics on tribal fishing, explored what it is like to be a young Native American in the 21st century, profiled three young Lakota women who reconnected with their incarcerated father. Another revealed the little-known history of the original code talkers, members of the Choctaw tribe who transmitted secret tactical messages in their native language during World War l.
最近得到美洲土著人公共通讯组织资助的电影探讨了政治和经济对印第安人部落渔业的影响，探索了21世纪年轻印第安人的生活，详细介绍了跟在监狱中的父亲重新建立了联系的三位拉科他年轻女子，介绍了很少人知道的从事暗语通讯的巧克陶部落印第安人的历史。
Sneve says many of NAPT’s documentaries have been broadcast by other U.S. television stations, and some have been shown in other countries. They are also for sale on the organization’s website.
Some films, like the multi-part historical series, "We Shall Remain," include sections in native languages. Sneve would like to see more films done that way.
斯内夫说，美洲土著人公共通讯组织资助的一些纪录片是多集历史片。影片《我们将不会消失》中一些片断的对白是印第安人的语言。斯内夫希望有更多的影片这样做。
"It is through our languages that we speak to the creator and our ceremonies are still conducted in the native languages, and it brings meaning to culture for us to be mindful of our language. And I don’t think it limits our audiences. We do have to put English subtitles on there, but it shows that Native people and their cultures are still alive and vibrant and that the languages are used in our everyday lives."
她说：“我们通过自己的语言跟造物主说话，我们的各种仪式如今还是用印第安人的各种方言进行的。我们关注自己的语言，就使我们的文化有了意义。我不认为是用印第安人语言拍片，会限制我们的观众。我们当然要配英语字幕，但电影中用印第安人的语言可以显示印第安人和他们的文化依然活着，依然兴旺，这些语言依然在我们的日常生活中使用。”
Spreading the word
In addition to film, Native American Public Telecommunications has funded radio programming, but in this changing media world, Sneve says she would like to be able to support some interactive programs on the web.
除了电影之外，美洲土著人公共通讯组织还资助广播节目。但是，斯内夫表示，在这不断变化的媒体世界中，她希望能够资助支持互联网上的一些互动节目。
"The hour-long documentary is not the best way to go sometimes to communicate your message. People are busy. There are so many entertainment options right now."
她说：“一小时长的纪录片有时候不是传达信息的最佳方式。人们现在都忙，而且有这么多的娱乐方式。”
That makes it harder to get an audience, she says, especially with young people, who are more likely to get their information and entertainment from computers and mobile devices. But for now, Sneve is thankful to be able to bring Native voices and stories to television.
她表示，这就使争取听众比过去更不容易，尤其是争取年轻人。年轻人更有可能从电脑或手机上获取信息和娱乐。不过谢丽·斯内夫还是对能够通过电视传送印第安人的声音和故事心存感激。 |