HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) –
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Naturally, FastHorse’s play satirizes the idea of white “allies” to Indigenous people trying to stage a woke Thanksgiving play; the four characters’ fictional production quickly, and comically, goes off the rails as they brainstorm an assortment of deranged ideas, such as acting out the brutal Pequot Massacre of 1637. There’s even a scene where the four stars kick a handful of severed, bloodied Native heads around like soccer balls, an unsubtle nod to the violence Indigenous people faced during colonization. “I love that there’s a lot of nervous laughter,” says FastHorse. “We shouldn’t fear the truth. When I talk to Indigenous folks, they’re like, ‘Thank you.’ There’s a relief and release in seeing [Thanksgiving] the way it actually happened, and not trying to make it softer or censor it.”
The playwright feels there’s power in using laughter as an educational tool; she wanted to make audience members think twice about celebrating Thanksgiving, but to have fun while doing it. “I don’t enjoy going to theater and being bashed over the head [with a message],” says FastHorse. “I go to theater to have a communal experience, and to learn and enjoy things. Comedy is a really easy way to to force your brain into thinking a different way.”
Take, for example, the interstitial videos projected throughout the production. They show young children singing blatantly racist Thanksgiving songs like “10 Little Indians”—a take on “Twelve Days of Christmas,” referencing just about every Indigenous stereotype in existence. As it turns out, these preposterous songs were all taken from real-life teachers’ Pinterest boards or chat rooms. “These are horrific things that we still have kids do at schools on Thanksgiving,” says FastHorse. “Someone said to me, ‘I don’t think they would do that today.’ And I’m like, have you seen the video of that math teacher in California? This stuff is happening all of the time!”
Photographed by Jingyu Lin
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Photography has been a lifelong passion that began with my dad teaching me the basics, including processing the film and making slides, to record our family vacations. In high school, I joined the yearbook team as a photographer, capturing the highlights of our school’s sporting events. Those early years provided a strong foundation and enduring interest in photography.
After vacationing and living in Colorado on and off since childhood, I made Gilpin County my home in 2016 with my wife and business partner Amy Skinner. As the Business Director of Peak to Peak Counseling I’ve put my three decades of work experience within the hospitality industry and customer service to use serving our local community. Since 2021, I have enjoyed taking photos for Amy’s monthly mental health column, sharing some of my favorite images from the Peak to Peak area, around Colorado, and across the globe.
Whether hiking, traveling, honing my skiing skills, enjoying a local concert or theater performance, I love capturing special moments on my camera to share with you.
