Native American News – Front Page Headline

The careers of a handful of Native actors are being catapulted forward by the phenomenal success of the Twilight film series, based on the books by Stephanie Meyer. The initial film, Twilight, did $191 million in box office sales worldwide. On Nov 20, the second film in the saga, New Moon, hits the silver screen.

Among the Native American actors in New Moon are several young men representing members of the Quileute Pack, including Kiowa Gordon (Hualapai), Alex Meraz (Purepecha), Chaske Spencer (Lakota) and Bronson Pelletier (Cree/Métis), who secured their roles following auditions with hundreds of other actors. The 19-year-old Gordon, of Arizona, play Embry Call, who leads a double life as a member of a werewolf pack that protects his tribe from vampires that live in the area. The pack’s alpha male is the 34-year-old Spencer, of New York City, who plays Sam. Pelletier, 23, of British Colombia, plays Jared; while 24-year-old Merez, Arizona, plays Paul. Meraz is also an accomplished painter, martial artist and contemporary dancer (he’s a founding member of the troupe Dancing Earth, led by Rulan Tangen).


Source: Gibson, Daniel. “Actors Out of the Dark: New Moon Rising.” Native Peoples. November/December (2009): 12.

Native American Traditions

Folklore & Native Mythology – Nov. 20th (7pm) Friday

Healing Sand Paintings – Dec. 1st (7pm) Tuesday

The Mexican/Navajo Connection – Dec. 14th (7pm) Monday

Location of Meeting:

Eureka Veterinary Clinic
1415 West Fifth Street
Eureka, Mo. 63025

(314) 704-0295

Each session will commence with a guided teaching/lecture and questions are encouraged. The sessions are on a “pay as you go” basis and are 25 dollars at the door or 20 in advance.