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 opens tomorrow in movie theaters across the country. With Johnny Depp in a starring role, it's sure that the action flick will garner millions in its opening weekend.

To hear Depp tell it, his portrayal of Tonto is righting a historic wrong.

In advance of the release of the Depp has even gone so far as to be 

But not all Native Americans are so accepting of Depp's latest dramatic undertaking, so I launched a conversation on Facebook to find out more.

 gallery director Dyani White Hawk Polk told me that critics take issue with the fact that, yet again, a non-realistic depiction of their culture is making the big screen, portrayed by a non-Native American.

Particularly offensive for many Native Americans is Depp's makeup and headdress, which includes a stuffed dead bird. The look was 

inspired by a painting by a non-Native artist

And then there's the fact that Depp heads a band called "

For writer and actor R. Vincent Moniz, Jr., this latest insult feels like déjà vu all over again.

Moniz says he personally wouldn't want any Indigenous actor to play stereotyped versions of Native Americans, but adds if they didn't, what parts 

"It's almost as if pretending to be Native is eclipsing actually being Native," he said

Arts and Culture

State of the Arts Blog

Marianne Combs

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Disney’s reboot of “The Lone Ranger” opens tomorrow in movie theaters across the country. With Johnny Depp in a starring role, it’s sure that the action flick will garner millions in its opening weekend. To hear Depp tell it, his portrayal of Tonto is righting a historic wrong. “It was something I felt a pretty…

Johnny Depp’s Tonto raises ire of local Native Americans

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