Searching for Winnetou: film and talk with Drew Hayden Taylor

Waterloo Centre for German Studies invites you to a screening of the documentary film, Searching for Winnetou, and a conversation with Ojibway author and humourist Drew Hayden Taylor about his quest to understand the roots of the German obsession with Native North Americans.

There is a peculiar relationship between Germany (and other European countries) and the First Nations people of North America. It all goes back to the writings of Karl May, a 19th century author who created one of the most popular characters in German literature, Winnetou. During Mr. Taylor's 16 lectures in Germany, he was confronted by the legacy of these real and imaginary people. And as a First Nation man, it made an impression on him. On his 17th trip, he took a film crew and documented this phenomenon. This is the result.

An Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario, Drew Hayden Taylor has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada’s premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. He has been an award-winning playwright (with over 70 productions of his work), a journalist/columnist (appearing regularly in several Canadian newspapers and magazines), short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and has worked on over 17 documentaries exploring the Native experience.