The Fund Serves as Consultants for Eddie Murphy movie

Oct 11, 2007 | Archives, Blog

The Fund was asked to serve as a cultural consultant for the filmmaker Eddie Murphy’s comedy, “Nowhereland,” which was filmed in Denver this week. As part of our duties, Fund staffers reviewed the script to ensure that the humor was not offensive to Natives, and made sure cultural references were accurate. In addition, three Fund staffers served as extras in the movie. They are Patti Archambault, Ruben Hernandez, and Ashley Sarracino. We also armed several Native extras with t-shirts emblazoned with tribal college logos to wear on the set.

I traveled down to the set on Tuesday and met with the producer, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura of Di Bonaventura Pictures. I was able to watch the filming take place, and was shepherded behind the cameras to see what the picture looked like on the monitors. I was then taken into the lobby of the Brown Palace Hotel, the site of much of the shooting, where I was interviewed on camera for the DVD. I discussed my heritage, the mission of the Fund, and our role with the film, as well as whether Hollywood is doing a better job portraying Natives in film.

Watch for the film to be released next year!

Recent Blog Posts

American Indian College Fund Publishes Eighth Volume of The Tribal College and University Research Journal:

American Indian College Fund Publishes Eighth Volume of The Tribal College and University Research Journal:

The American Indian College Fund, with generous funding from the Henry Luce Foundation, published volume 8 of the Tribal College and University Research Journal. This one-of-a-kind publication was first launched in 2016 and supports tribal college and university (TCU) faculty in disseminating their academic work to Indigenous communities and the wider research community.

Defy the Storm: American Indian College Fund’s New PSA Addresses Challenges Indigenous Students and Communities Face with Funding Cuts

Defy the Storm: American Indian College Fund’s New PSA Addresses Challenges Indigenous Students and Communities Face with Funding Cuts

A “storm” of activity is coming from Washington in the form of funding cuts and executive orders, upending the lives of Native American communities and students; jeopardizing access to the funding, education and opportunity that helped create progress for decades to ensure the success of tribal nations, communities, and people.

If You Want to Protect Children, You Cannot Defend Mascots

If You Want to Protect Children, You Cannot Defend Mascots

Numerous studies, including ones conducted by the federal government, illustrate the harm of racist mascots, especially on youth. Team names and logos should be chosen to instill pride without dehumanizing people, ensuring the safety and prosperity of our children and the future of our communities.