There are plenty of assertions that the popular series “American Primeval” — billed as historical fiction — accurately portrayed Native culture by using Native actors and cultural settings. But I believe the Netflix show missed the mark.
I’m a Ute elder who has written about the history of Utah’s American Indians, and I have noted positive comments from some Utes, Shoshone and Bannock tribal members who appreciated the effort. But, to me, using Native actors and sets does not make it worthy of the acclaim. By misrepresenting true history, the series only continues the Hollywood tradition of promoting romanticized versions of early Western life, misinformation and stereotypes. The series missed the opportunity to provide an accurate and true history of the Utah Territory.
It could have been possible to produce a series that included bloody fighting with equal amounts of intrigue and thrilling suspense, but also with keen attention to historical accuracy that truly educates and contributes to a better understanding of what really happened back then. When producers think they can substitute tribes and locate a massacre in an entirely different part of the state, that is going too far.
The true story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Bear River Massacre and Utah War need to be aired, but they need to be accurately portrayed.
First, Native involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre is both questionable and complex. The official Paiute version, as expressed by distinguished elders Yetta and Clifford Jake, is that they were not involved whatsoever. According to the Jakes, some of their men were hunting deer in the area and witnessed the slaughter. They immediately returned to their main camp and informed the leaders. They realized at that time that they, the Paiute, would be blamed for the massacre — and they were.
Scholar Will Bagley says small numbers of renegade Paiutes, some from nearby Nevada, were promised some of the loot if they joined a Mormon militia in this attack. According to Bagley, these few led the first frontal attack, but after some were shot, they pulled back and left.
According to Shoshone lore, some fighters, possibly from Shoshone Chief Pocatello’s band, were being pursued by the U.S. military for attacking wagon trains on the Oregon Trail but, due to work by historians like Andrew Gale Ontko, we now know that the Shoshone were not involved in the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
Furthermore, the Indians were not the instigators. The instigators were members of the Mormon militia, some dressed as Indians.
As for the battle scenes in “American Primeval,” the rapid-fire arrows being shot throughout the first battle are pure fantasy. If Indian tribes had that kind of weaponry, the westward movement would have surely been prolonged. It would have sent not only the Mormon militia, but also Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston’s army, fleeing for their lives.
The question of Brigham Young’s possible involvement is debated to this day. Bagley infers that he issued the orders for the attack. Many Latter-day Saints scholars say the evidence shows otherwise.
The heroic actions of the sweet, young and deaf Indian girl, who becomes an integral part of the “American Primeval” series, was heartwarming — but a bit too much. Her part in the story was well-acted, but it was fiction more fitting for a Disney production. And I thought the portrayal of the female Shoshone chief was well done. Few people know that many Indian tribes are matriarchal, and that women sometimes play a strong role in tribal decision making. Finally, I believe casting did a good job — particularly with the actor who played Brigham Young. Based on pictures, he is the spitting image of Young.
But overall, I am disappointed in “American Primeval.” I believe this series’ only purpose was to entertain — and to do so in the same vein of the blood-thirsty, fast-paced violence that has become the mainstream of American film these days.
Worst of all, “American Primeval” buried wrongheaded stereotypes even deeper into the public psyche and did little to bring understanding of the real American West. To those interested in gaining a better understanding of American Indians, Utah and the West, I would recommend the following books:
(Forrest Cuch) Forrest Cuch edited “A History of Utah’s American Indians.”
Forrest Cuch was born and raised on the Uintah and Ouray Ute Indian Reservation in northeastern Utah. He has served as education director for the Ute Indian Tribe, social studies department head and teacher for Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, and executive director of the Utah Division of Indian Affairs. He also edited “A History of Utah’s American Indians.”
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