Noble Savage Saga

PBS Pablum?

Is the PBS series on Native Americans, We Shall Remain, yet another noble savage saga, instilling sympathy in whites and hopelessness in contemporary Indians? Is Steven Newcomb of the Indigenous Law Institute correct when he observes that what PBS has done is to present the history of ethnic cleansing in America without adequately holding accountable the perpetrators? While the series oddly omits from culpability some American icons like George Washington, others like Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson do not escape exposure. In fairness, it appears that one can learn much about American history from the program, even though much more is left to be taught. Let us hope this is a new beginning, and not the final word.