I tried bull-riding... I wasn't good at all: I don't think I ever got eight seconds anywhere. But then, after that, I discovered acting through community theater. Wes Studi More Quotes by Wes Studi More Quotes From Wes Studi We have a responsibility to Mother Earth to protect it as much as possible. Wes Studi possible responsibility earth mother I like to be able to raise people's consciousness, yes. And to remind that those of us involved in the receiving end of the oppression, we have a duty. Wes Studi end oppression duty people We were created to take care of, steward the land. That is mankind's purpose on earth, to steward and take care of the land as it feeds off of it. Wes Studi take-care care purpose earth I can be a teddy bear, but more people tend to see me as the other side of the coin, and that has to do with casting, more Iago than Hamlet. But I don't play villains; I play people doing the right thing for the circumstances and time. Wes Studi me i-can time people People talk about gangs as if they're something new. But it really isn't that way. The Democratic Party is a gang. The Republican Party is a gang. They're just not in the streets anymore. Wes Studi new gang people way An old-codger comedy - that's what I want to do. Wes Studi comedy want At times, you're welcome, depending on what's being cast. 'Dances with Wolves' - they wanted authentic-looking Indians in the film, and so they got it. The same was true with 'The Last of the Mohicans' and 'Geronimo.' Wes Studi wolves true you welcome I think that the idea of sharing is something that has been lost in our social conscience, and we need to re-think that. We need to learn a new way. Wes Studi new think lost way At times, I'm thinking negatively, thinking that we don't learn from our mistakes, but then I get more positive-minded. I do believe in the good of humanity. Wes Studi good humanity believe thinking I'm proud to have served there for 12 months with Alpha Company of the 39th Infantry. Wes Studi alpha company proud months As a veteran, I am always appreciative when filmmakers bring to the screen stories of those who have served. Wes Studi bring i-am who always We, as Indian tribes, should be able to prosecute non-Indians on tribal lands. But on Indian land, we have no ability to prosecute anyone but another Indian. American Indians having status as a foreign nation is good for us, but it's not good in some ways if we don't have the jurisdictional power that the federal government claims. Wes Studi nation good government power I feel very fortunate that I was able to be cast in roles that showed the humanity, if you will, of usually stereotypical Indian characters that made up a lot of film, like the Pawnee in 'Dances with Wolves.' Wes Studi will feel you humanity National sovereignty can only be achieved after self-sovereignty. Wes Studi achieved after only sovereignty I'm Cherokee, and there were times when social expansion was something that is needed by a cultural group or a national group. Wes Studi something group expansion social Irony is one of my favorite aspects of life. Wes Studi aspects favorite irony life In the '70s, with movies like 'Little Big Man,' westerns began to have a little different flavor, and I think casting people and filmmakers began to realize, 'Hey, maybe we can get a little more authentic in terms of who we cast here.' That kind of opened up the gates. Wes Studi movies think man people I came from a family that was pretty insularly Cherokee. We kept to ourselves - the white people were there, and we were here, and it was practically a segregated kind of thing. Wes Studi pretty family white people The western has always been, for me, the bread and butter. It's the easiest place for an identifiable Native American to be able to work. But I do yearn to be known as an actor rather than a 'Native American actor.' Wes Studi place me bread work I think that's every actor's dream, actually: to play lead parts. Wes Studi lead think dream play
