Comedy group promotes cultural awareness in St. Ignatius

When it comes to breaking down stereotypes, humor can provide one of the most effective tools.

That was the case last week in St. Ignatius during Mission High School’s Cultural Awareness Day, which featured a presentation from members of the nationally known Native American sketch comedy group The 1491s.

Through their brand of self-effacing satire, Bobby Wilson and Migizi Pensoneau encouraged students to embrace who they are regardless of their surroundings.

“If you’re native, you’re native no matter where you go,” Pensoneau said. “You just be you.”

Just as they aim to do in their popular Internet videos, Pensoneau and Wilson said it’s important for younger generations to challenge the outdated beliefs concerning Native Americans.

Wilson said the image of an Indian used to be an “oiled-up buff guy with feathers everywhere.”

“When I look around I don’t see that,” he said, adding with humorous timing, “Probably because we’re in a school, but still.”

Through social media and other avenues of expression, Wilson said public perception is expanding to encompass the greater diversity of Native American culture.

“If you Googled Native American a few years ago it would have been a lot of stuff like starry nights with wolves howling at the moon and dreamcatcher poetry,” Pensoneau said. “Now you’re starting to see the wider swath of what Indian country can be.”

To continue this effort, the pair encouraged students to persevere despite encountering obstacles.

Pensoneau, a former Hollywood screenwriter who now lives in Missoula, said it took six years for him to finally achieve success.

“The way I got there was by hearing “no” for six years,” he said. “Then finally somebody said, ‘maybe.’”

After that initial break, Pensoneau said he found himself writing for the hit TV show “Alias” within a year.

Following the presentation, students participated in a variety of educational workshops culminating in a community powwow.

Event organizer and Mission High School Salish Teacher Rose Bear Don’t Walk said cultural awareness days provide students with valuable lessons concerning the communities they live in.

“We have a mix of native and non-native students,” she said. “It’s important to think about these things and come together.”