A thoughtful look at the progress-or lack there of-that Hollywood has made in moving away from negative stereotypes of Indigenous populations on screen.

With a growing commitment from Hollywood to support Indigenous films and filmmakers, particularly writers, directors, and actors, it is important to assess just how far the industry has come. As the racist depictions seen in classic Westerns like The Last of the Mohicans and Dances with Wolves become less common, movies and shows like Reservation Dogs and Killers of the Flower Moon are receiving national attention on unprecedented levels. Lily Gladstone's nomination for an Academy Award is a further example of how Indigenous creatives are breaking through industry barriers to boost Native American representation.

In Native Narratives: Indigenous Representation on Screen from The Lone Ranger to Rez Ball, Michael Hilger traces the evolution of often negative images and stereotypes of earlier depictions of Indigenous peoples to the more positive and inclusive movies and shows of today. He not only illustrates the “good, the bad, and the ugly,” but also points to the growing trend of Indigenous filmmakers telling their own stories and highlights how representation varies across genres ranging from romances and action films to coming-of-age stories and comedies. The book further reflects on where Hollywood still has room for improvement and where Indigenous creatives have found the most success. This is an important and timely reference for film fans and scholars seeking to better understand the history of Indigenous representation on screen.