Archer Pechawis
Performance

Shoot The Indian
HIVE, Vancouver BC 2008

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"Shoot The Indian" is a performance geared specifically to a mixed (read "non-native") audience. First presented in 2008, "Shoot The Indian" is an audience participation piece, where attendees have the opportunity to shoot a real Indian (me) with a paintball gun for $5. Riffing on the circus freak, vaudeville and old "Wild West" shows, this piece is a commentary on violence against Native people.

A clown show, in other words.

Format of the performance

I stood in front of a 30-foot wide video projection wearing a beautiful Tsimshian mask (carved by Simon Reece) and a white painter suit. The mask served a dual purpose: a challenge to the audience (would they shoot such a powerful cultural symbol?) and protection for me, as I had reinforced the mask with fiberglass. The video footage came from old westerns edited down to the salient bits, namely Indians attacking whites. I included a few sections of cowboys and cavalry playing in reverse.

Twenty people took the opportunity to shoot an Indian during three 20-minute sets. The participants shot from about 30 feet away, and while I had taken precautions to protect myself, the experience was still quite painful, which seemed appropriate. A number of Indians at the show chose to shoot at the white guys onscreen, a welcome respite.

Credits

I would like to thank the following people:
Glenn Alteen, Curator
Simon Reece, Mask Carver
Murray Bush, Mask Repair
Brian Gotro, Barker
Marina Szijarto, Costume/Padding
Adrian Muir, Technician
Jeremy Johnson, Technician

Special thanks to:
T Crane, ballistics testing and good advice
Andy at Pacific Paintball