About this video
Apples and Indians is a whimsical and profound 5-minute ride that sees Lorne Olson speeding through decades in search of his true identity.
When Lorne Olson was a young boy, growing up on the Broken Head Reserve in Manitoba, a teacher told him that "Indians are like apples. They may be red on the outside but on the inside they are white, just like the rest of us."
Those misguided remarks cut pretty deep into Lorne, sending him on journey to find out just who exactly he is.
Over the years, paddling through all sorts of colonial prejudices, he tried to identify as Métis, half-breed, Oji-Cree, Indian, Native American, Aboriginal. But he never felt entirely comfortable with any of these names, which reflect the changing dialogue of the times.
In 2006 Lorne produced this 5-minute film about his journey, which he appropriately titled, Apples and Indians.
"My subtle message in the film is that we have to ultimately decide who we are. It's not in a book somewhere, it's not an agency, it's not the government. You have to come to terms with that at some point," says Lorne, who hopes to one day make a full-length documentary on the issue.
"Your identity should come from your own inner search and your own inner origins."
As for Lorne, he's not Indigenous, Native American, Aboriginal, First Nation, or Indian. He's Anishinabe.
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I think this film was well done and awesomely put together. I immediately sat my 11 year old down to review it and my child was able to comprehend the message! Thank you !!
It is through these short & to the point films that will be the assest in re-identifying the multitudes…Such a splendid job. I am proud of you for this !!
I wonder how can I get this film???
thanks
Vanessa Lozecznik
Might have some good news on the way. I’ve managed to get a hold of Lorne
I’ll see if I can get a copy online (I’ll ask him how to buy it too )
Horray, It’s back online!
[...] his short film Apples and Indians, Lorne Olson discovers [...]
[...] Apples and Indians – Apples and Indians is a whimsical and profound 5-minute ride that sees Lorne Olson speeding through decades in search of his true identity. [...]
Thanks for the comments! The film is readily available from the National Film Board in Montreal, Quebec Canada. Please show it to as many people as you like. Feedback of any kind is always helpful. I didn’t even know this was online!
LOVE it….please make a full lenght, or more short films, whatever, I’ll watch them…You are talented, and these are issues much needed in our society, and its so nice to hear it from someone who has lived it.
Awesomely done…..straight and to the point…..especially how one phrase can so dramatically affect a child to send him on years of searching.
Its a journey. and you displayed quite distinctly
impressive.
Hello Lorne
Its been a long time. Great work.
Great stuff, doing work throughout Canada with youth http://www.canadianroots.ca and this will be very useful, good message, clear intention, and what a good looking guy, nice to have everything, keep up the good work! See our first video at http://www.shieldedminds.ca and we just released our second, “Journey to Oz” will have a linked website shortly…