The Native American actor, whose frequent guest roles on TV have had him on everything from “The X-Files” to “Dharma & Greg,” recently opened Red Crow Creations. The studio will produce films, documentaries, live music and children’s programming–all from an American Indian point-of-view.
“For generations, Native Americans have agonized over the misrepresentation of historical facts,” Westerman said. “The powers that be have justified the genocide against our people by saying we were merely savages. Our goal is to change that.”
For the 64-year-old, the studio fulfills a life-long vision. Born on a reservation in South Dakota, Westerman began his career on the country folk singing circuit. Gradually, he began speaking out as an advocate for indigenous people. In 1988, he founded the non-profit Eyapaha Institute in Los Angeles, a watchdog group on American Indian culture. Westerman’s work with there inspired him to launch Red Crow Creations.
He wants to use the studio to “rewrite history.” Their first project, an 82-minute documentary being shot in the HDTV format, is nearing completion. Entitled “Exterminate Them! American’s War on Indian Nations–The California Story,” the film explores some of the Golden State’s shadowy history. The title comes from California’s first governor, who declared that “a war of extermination be waged between the two races until the Indian race becomes extinct.” The studio plans to exhibit the film in 35mm at film festivals, as well as in a limited theatrical release in time to coincide with the 150th anniversary of California’s ratification as a state. Westerman hopes to tap into the wealth of other regional tribes to finance future sequels, including the “Midwest/Great Lakes Story,” and the “Northeast/ Massachusetts Story.”
In addition to the “Exterminate Them!” series, Red Crow Creations is producing an animated project called “Storytellers,” which will adapt traditional Indian stories for today’s young audience. The studio also has a one-hour concert documentary in the works on the American Indian rock bank XIT.
Hollywood has already taken notice of the nascent studio. Westerman has heard from Martin Sheen and Peter Coyote and has received floods of supportive emails. But he knows the task won’t be easy. “Unfortunately, the mass media have pretty much gone along with [Hollywood’s] one-sided, corrupted view of history,” he says. “We have so many stories to be told.” And a few, retold.
