Cowboys and Indians: The J.J. Harper Story

This is a less publicized but compelling story of the racism endured by the indigenous peoples.

After watching this film, I saw that it had a lot of facts in it that related to the wrongful murder of JJ Harper. I relate this film to another Canadian made film called "Justice Denied" in which Donald Marshall was wrongly convicted of murder. It's quite similar how the injustices that were committed against Donald Marshall were also committed against JJ Harper and his family! Well, the way it turned out, Robert Cross (the police officer who shot Harper) died many years later so no one will ever really know who shot Harper. According to the real story, Cross was in pursuit of 2 young men who were driving a stolen vehicle. Although Cross did apprehend the 2 suspects he somehow ran into and started harassing Harper for no apparent reason. That was when Cross pulled out his revolver to shoot Harper.

Well.............. anyways............. I really liked the drama in this film so that's why I gave it a 6 out of 10.

Cowboys and Indians is an excellent film. The writing, acting, directing could not have been better. This was a story that begged to be told, and this group of talented individuals and teams did a superb job of doing so. Stories like this one are not pleasant ones, but serve to remind people of the social injustices that exist all around the world. It is my hope that when this film is seen that attitudes and prejudices will be changed. A film that can do that is a rare a special thing. Andrew Berzins is an excellent writer, and his talents and expertise in this field came shining through in this film.

Thank you for telling this story!!!

Ruby

Amazing (and disheartening) how similar this case of a First Nations man's lethal shooting by police in 1988 Winnipeg is to any given police killing of a Black/POC victim in today's United States. (Or even to the murder of Trayvon Martin by a wannabe cop.) Not sure if Canada has made much progress toward justice in the intervening three decades, but apparently south of the border we have not.

The film itself is engaging and concise, albeit a bit melodramatic and unmistakably a TV movie of its time. (Remember fades to black for commercial breaks?) Worth watching for the subject matter and for its Indigenous representation.

I loved it. Follows a cover-up of the killing of a Indian young man. Well made and captivating.