My father is an amazing man.

I had the feeling I was going to be successful, and I didn't want to be another disappointing Indian.

I think most Native American literature is unreadable by the vast majority of Native Americans. Generally speaking Indians don't read books. It's not a book culture. That's why I'm trying to make movies. Indians go to movies; Indians own video recorders.

He looked into the crowd for approval, saw his mother and father. He waved and they waved back. Smiles and Indian teeth. They were both drunk. Everything familiar and welcome. Everything beautiful.

I grew up in a storytelling culture, a tribal culture, but also in an American storytelling culture.

Only in rock music and the literary world you see so many ugly white guys with beautiful women. That says a lot about the women, their character. They're attracted to more than surface.

I recognize now that the conditions that Indians are living in are the conditions that poor people everywhere are living in.