‘Lone Ranger’ Premiere Raises New Questions About Old Stereotypes

AHAHEIM, Calif. — Celebrities, Native American emissaries, and throngs of fans headed to California this weekend for the world premiere of “The Lone Ranger.” Johnny Depp stars as Tonto, the Native American sidekick, and his portrayal — complete with broken English — has stirred controversy in Indian Country.

Listen here at the Fronteras Desk.

Tristan Ahtone

Tristan Ahtone is a member of the Kiowa Tribe and serves as associate editor for tribal affairs at High Country News. He has reported for PBS NewsHour, National Native News, Wyoming Public Radio, NPR, Al Jazeera America, Indian Country Today, and National Geographic, and more. Tristan’s stories have won multiple honors, including investigative awards from Public Radio News Directors Incorporated and the Gannett Foundation. He additionally was awarded a Nieman Fellowship to study at Harvard University in 2017. He is president of the Native American Journalists Association.

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