I wanted to like McGillivray Freeman’s “National Park Adventure.” I really did. The trailer looked mesmerizing and I was excited by the idea of having a closer look at some of the national parks I want to visit. But there was a part of me that also expected disappointment, based on the trailer alone.
The documentary follows an expert climber, his stepson, and a family friend who set out on an adventure to visit some of the most beautiful national parks in the U.S. The trio actually does have a compelling story about the role that being outdoors and visiting these parks has had on their lives over time, which I appreciate. I believe in – and have experienced firsthand – the healing and restorative effects of being connected to the land and feeling small and mighty all at the same time when faced with the magnificent beauty that is Mother Earth. What tires me about this narrative is that the protagonists are all white and the documentary actively erases Native / indigenous peoples.
I’m particularly critical of the casting of this documentary in light of how much the National Park Service has been in the news and mentioned in articles with regard to how they’re trying to address their “diversity problem.” Here’s a tip: how about the next time a documentary on the National Parks is created, make sure the people portrayed as park goers aren’t all white.
A particularly cringe-worthy and dumbfounding moment occurred when Robert Redford mentions the presence of Native peoples in what is now park land and how if you listen closely to the wind, you can still hear them. *cue record screeching* Wut? Native / indigenous peoples aren’t extinct. We’re still here. The project of colonization isn’t over and done with, it is not complete. Continuing to portray Native / indigenous peoples as the magical / mystical other who no longer exist is infuriating and hurtful. And to top it off, to hear the three white road trippers happily singing Woodie Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” and saying how “this land is made for you and me (white folks)” struck me as being incredibly tone-deaf. I think it’s safe to assume that the filmmakers and anyone else who envisioned / previewed / collaborated on the film were probably all white.
So there you have it. Yes, the views are breathtaking. Yes, it did make me want to pack my bags and hit the road. Yes, it did make me want to get into fighting shape to be able to climb and enjoy the most challenging areas to access. But if you’re woke, it also makes you want to throw up a little bit.
