Irene Bedard takes on Donald Trump 

 Home / Currents / Disney’s Pocahontas, Irene Bedard, Takes on Donald Trump for Pocahontas Name-Calling

HOLLYWOOD — Once U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D – Massachusetts) became a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s race to the White House, he incorporated a routine into his campaign stump speech where he berates her in a mockingly fashion calling her “that fake Indian” or then Pocahontas.

He feels she is vulnerable because she used American Indian heritage on some application forms when seeking employment in academia years ago.

As Trump gets going in his berating of Warren by calling her Pochantas during his speeches, it provides fodder for his faithful who love him spewing out racist statements. In turn, the crowd responds with “Indian war whoops.” Both the candidate and his supporters feel American Indians are fair game.

The constant barrage of calling Warren Pocahontas is causing ire in Indian Country for several reasons, including the tone of Trump’s voice when he says Pocahontas and for what Pocahontas represents. American Indian women are three times to be subjected to domestic and sexual violence than their counterparts.

One critic of Trump is Irene Bedard, whose voice was heard by millions when she gave voice to Pocahontas’ character in Disney’s 1995 blockbuster animated film, “Pocahontas.” Bedard is an award-winning actress, who is also known for her roles in “Into the West,” “Tree of Life” and “Smoke Signals.”

To Bedard, the fact Trump uses Warren’s claiming of American Indian heritage as a classic misdirect.

“I am not overly concerned about Warren claiming American Indian heritage. I think this should be about Trump using Pocahontas in his name-calling. Trump doesn’t have a great history with Native America. Back during his casino days, he went to Capitol Hill and stated once Native Americans are involved, so is organized crime and the Native Americans involved don’t look like Indians to me,’” says Bedard, who is now president of the Sleeping Lady Films, and spoke with Native News Online on Saturday.

“It’s not that I don’t care about Elizabeth Warren and what she did. I give to her that at least she respects Native American people and causes and women. It’s just that that isn’t the issue at hand. Believe me, appropriation is a whole other can of worms. But we are talking about the presidency.  And this is not the appropriate discourse the leader of the leader of the ‘free world.\'”

Irene Bedard has fought for human rights at the United Nations

“I thought we were making progress, slow as it is…I just don’t to want go 500 years back. The peace of Pocahontas is rolling over in her grave all the way over in Gravesend, England,” Bedard continued.

Bedard says Trump is perhaps the most appalling and insulting presidential candidate in history. According to Bedard, racism, xenophobia and misogyny are the markings of Trump’s leadership style.

“His name calling is sophomoric and only contributes to the frightening prospect of trickle down racism, xenophobia and misogyny. Does he really think it be complimentary in any way? Of course it isn’t. It is an insult.”

“It is truly perplexing to me that the American public does not see the dangers inherent in this type of rhetoric. A leader has to have the wisdom to not resort to name calling and get to the brass tacks of building bridges…not walls,” Bedard continued.

“If that is where this country is going, God help us.”

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Levi Rickert, a tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is the publisher and editor of Native News Online. Previously, he served as editor of the Native News Network. He is a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I do not care for this Donald Trump either, however, I feel he will force Native Americans to think for themselves in the coming years. He is challenging in any aspect one chooses to debate him. It isn’t my liking Trump that is the issue here. The critical issue is who would best lead this entire Country known as the United States of America. Master Internet with millions of its websites have been focusing on all the Presidential candidates down to the two Trump and Hillary. I had always supported Hillary Clinton until the Benghazi wherein her words haunt me, especially after seeing the film about Bengahzi. I give this example in the berating of Trump. Do your own research. As for Walt Disney, the originator of his cartoons that made us laugh, the laughter is on us. Why? The internet websites on the total dumb down of America is being partially blamed on him. So now I have to find a DVD on Pocahontas and see where the “dumb down” part is. All I can see is the flying in the air parts as we are not flying in the air as we are singing.

Lena, I watched much of her testimony on Bengahzi. The opposition has blown it way out proportion. Clinton is NOT the murderous monster the GOP has painted her to be…that is why nothing will ever come out of the Benghazi Congressional hearings.

Thank Levi, I was really thinking about the mother of one of the soldiers that died. I cannot seem to erase her heartbreaking tears as she addressed Hillary calling her out. We on our closed reservations have no idea what environment we are living in as we continue to battle with our own incompetent, greedy and non-caring leadership. So what can an elderly who is all washed up do, but sit in front of the Internet most of her day reeducating herself and can now travel to any country via Google earth–it’s beyond words and somewhat find out some truths. And thank you for your dynamic and incomparable reporting Mr. Rickert on this news media and now the illustrious Tribal Business Journal. You are quite a notable and striking person with your permission.

I disagree. I watched every minute with searing skepticism for repubs and demos; Hillary and Obama sacrificed American lives rather than have an embarrassing election issue. Too, Hillary told the families that “it was an internet video that caused their deaths” when two days earlier she emailed her daughter and other insiders that “it was a terrorist attack”. There are plenty of repubs who are dishonest, but using your news site to proselytize for left-wing radicals is worse.

American Indian elders say there are seven sides to every story…somewhere in between is the truth. I just don’t buy your opinion about the president of the United States and former secretary of state. Don’t buy the lies about them that have no merit.

The Disabled, Women, Hispanics, Mexicans, Indians, Muslims, War Vets, Blacks, LGBT’s. You name the minority. Donald Trump has disparaged, denigrated, castigated, and made “jokes” about all of them. We all know exactly where his heart is: in his mouth. There are only 2 things he truly loves- money & himself.

You have it mainly right but I think it is himself and them money, nothing could beat himself. The important thing in this name calling is to consider the source. Has anybody noticed how he keeps repeating himself? He will turn 74 at the end of his first term and who knows if that is his right birthday. I am sure of one thing and that is that Pocahontas, where ever she is could care less about that big month. Do not even dignify his big mouth with a reply.

Levi, you seem to be as thin-skinned as Trump; my post was excised because I didn’t not agree with your partisan bias. As for Hillary and Bengahzi: She and Obama stopped any rescue efforts citing a 3 hour response window – problem is…NO ONE knew how long the attack was going to last. As it turned out, the attack lasted over 8 hours…plenty of time for an armed response. The reason the ambassador was allowed to be murdered was straight forward: he was going to blow the whistle on Obama’s and Clinton’s guns-to-Syria operation…combined with Clinton’s inept handing of the Libya crisis, bad press for Obama at election time.

Your message was not posted because it contained a cuss word. You are right, I don’t agree with your political and foreign policy inaccuracies.

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