Lesson 21 — Activity 2: Dances with Wolves
Completion requirements
Lesson 21 — Activity 2: Dances with Wolves
Unlike the Hollywood movies described in the videos from the last activity, the 1990 movie Dances with Wolves, provides a somewhat different view of First Nations people.
This movie is significant because it shows an American soldier named John Dunbar, who rather than wanting to change the ways of the First Nations people he meets, comes to see the value of their ways.
As Dunbar experiences First Nations' culture and learns about it, so too do the viewers. It was one of the first Hollywood feature films to be filmed almost entirely in a language other than English (in this case, the Lakota dialect of the Sioux language).
This movie is significant because it shows an American soldier named John Dunbar, who rather than wanting to change the ways of the First Nations people he meets, comes to see the value of their ways.
As Dunbar experiences First Nations' culture and learns about it, so too do the viewers. It was one of the first Hollywood feature films to be filmed almost entirely in a language other than English (in this case, the Lakota dialect of the Sioux language).
Talk to your teacher about how you can watch the movie; many schools have their own copies. You might need to rent it.
Choose a time and place to watch the movie. If you watch it at school, you will probably have to watch it over two days, so plan for this.
Before viewing the movie, review the questions in the box below. It is recommended that you stop the movie once in a while to make notes to answer each of the questions.
Choose a time and place to watch the movie. If you watch it at school, you will probably have to watch it over two days, so plan for this.
Before viewing the movie, review the questions in the box below. It is recommended that you stop the movie once in a while to make notes to answer each of the questions.
Questions:
1. John was given transport to any station that he wished to go to. Why did he choose the post he did?
2. What was the condition of the post at Fort Sedgewick when he arrived?
3. Why do the children steal John's horse?
4. Why does he go to the Indian village for the first time?
5. What did Dunbar do that helped gain the respect of the Natives?
6. Why is Dunbar given the name Dances With Wolves?
7. Why did he provide the Sioux with guns to protect their village?
8. What does Dunbar go back to Fort Sedgewick to get?
9. Why did Dunbar and Stands With A Fist leave the Sioux village?
10. What does the movie tell us happened to the Sioux people 13 years after this story?
It is quite a long film, so you will need to allow enough time to view the
entire movie. Make some popcorn and enjoy it!
As you watch, look for the way different groups are portrayed and think about if the movie relies on stereotypes or if it presents the characters as individuals.
As you watch, look for the way different groups are portrayed and think about if the movie relies on stereotypes or if it presents the characters as individuals.