It took Twilight to do what Hollywood's
major studios have struggled with for more than a century -- treat First Nations teenagers like normal kids.
No leather loincloths, no hair feathers, no dancing around campfires, no tales of woe on reservations.
Sure, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is pure fantasy with its tale of romance among vampires and the werewolves who sometimes stalk them, but for the actors of the "Wolf Pack," their roles seem very real.
When they aren't battling vampires with their razor-like claws and sharp teeth, the werewolves take the human form of Native Americans from the Quileute tribe.
Chaske Spencer, who plays the leader of the pack, said working in the Twilight movies has been exciting because it portrays First Nations in a new and positive light and is aimed at a young audience.
Members of the Wolf Pack dress like kids at the mall, in denim jeans and shirts -- when they are wearing shirts -- and they possess quick wit and generous spirit.
"There's a lot of stereotypes that have been squashed," Spencer said. "We're part of this pop-culture phenomenon, and we're put in a different light. And the kids see that, and they're digging on it. They love that vibe."
The Native American said that many times actors like him are forced into "leathered and feathered" roles, meaning parts that require them to portray historical Indians of the Old West.
Going back to Hollywood's roots in the early 20th century, native American roles seem mostly confined to cowboy and Indian movies. Even in modern times, many of the characters were dealing with life on a reservation.
Two native American actors, Julia Jones and Alex Meraz, are members of the Wolf Pack, and they said Twilight films have allowed them to showcase their wide-ranging talents.
Meraz said Twilight borrows from Quileute creation stories, and that has been good for the tribe because fans are learning more about the tribe's culture.
"They want to learn where this germinated from," he said.
Subject: Twilight's Wolf Pack eclipses Native American stereotypes 
Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:36 am