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EXHIBIT | RECLAIMING THE GALAXY

On July 3, 2013 the 1977 movie Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope premiere dubbed in Navajo —the first time a major motion picture had ever been translated into a Native American language.

Ast’a ho nii yee holoodo

May the Force be with you

Since its debut, the themes, messages, and settings of Star Wars have resonated with many indigenous communities, especially those of the North American Southwest. As Anthony Thibodeau explains, the concept of balance between the light side and the dark side of the Force is reflected in the cultural teachings of many indigenous people. For the Diné and the Hopi, this sentiment relates to core teachings on the balance of good and evil, which strikingly parallels the Dark Side and the Force. [Source]

 

The cinematic world also reflects lives of many indigenous peoples, as the planet Tatooine physically reminds them of their lands and the rebellious undercurrent of the film is reminiscent of the plight of Indigenous peoples across the world. 

 

The Star Wars universe has inspired Native artists to create works that infuse their own cultures and ways of knowing into the narrative, and has been used as a tool to revitalize and reclaim Indigenous cultures and ​expressions within Pop Culture and media.

  GALLERY  

Click each work for its title, source, and description.

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