Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 7, Episode 20
Original Air Date: March 28, 1994
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| via Memory Alpha |
The Enterprise is ordered to relocate the settlers of Dorvan V, now on the wrong side of the border according to a new treaty with the Cardassians. The settlers are Native Americans who have been on the planet for twenty years after a 200-year-long search for a new home. The parallels with earlier North American history are lost on no one, yet the order stands. Meanwhile, Wesley is home from the Academy and he's being a royal jerk to everyone.
The series is limping to the finish line. There are only five more episodes to go now. "Journey's End" is pretty awful. The well-intended attempt at Native American representation falls into all the usual white liberal pitfalls: noble savages, enlightenment attained through ceremonial hallucination, the need to assuage white guilt for the sins of the past, etc. The Wesley story... they painted themselves into a corner with the character early on. By setting him up as a chosen one/wunderkind, there was no way a simple Starfleet career was ever going to cut it as his ultimate destiny. In this last TNG appearance, Wes runs off with the Time Lord... er... Traveler to join in trans-dimensional, universe-saving adventures, a story line without much payoff over the long term. It mostly serves to get rid of Wesley, then allow him to weave in and out of future stories whenever the producers are in the mood for a cameo.
This re-watch of "Journey's End" comes to me at an interesting time. I'm in the midst of a deep dive with North American Indigenous music at the moment, searching way beyond the Smithsonian Folkways-style recordings of traditional musicians. There are, in fact, numerous Indigenous musicians in various genres trying to make it in the biz right now. That's the part stories like "Journey's End" miss. Indigenous cultures are neither dead nor lost. Nor are they stuck in 19th-century period costume. While certainly marginalized by the dominant white culture, Indigenous nations live and breathe right now. An interesting discovery I've made in my exploration: most of the artists who've attained a certain level of success are Canadian, speaking to the greater visibility of such cultures north of the border.
I think Halluci Nation is my favorite find. See their song "Electric Pow Wow Drum" here.
Acting Notes
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| via Memory Alpha |
Tom Jackson played the role of Lakanta, a Dorvan colonist who turns out to be the Traveler in disguise. Jackson was born October 27, 1948 in One Arrow Reserve, Saskatchewan, Canada. He dropped out of high school at 15 and lived on the streets of Winnipeg for a few years. Eventually, he found his way into acting.
Most of Jackson's work has been in Canada (like I was just saying...). Television credits include Shining Time Station, North of 60 and Sullivan's Crossing. Films include Grizzly Falls, Skinwalkers and Cold Pursuit. In Canada, he's probably best-known as the creator and host of the long-running, touring charity holiday concert series, Huron Carole. He holds numerous national honors, including the Order of Canada.
I haven't seen this episode since it came out but, yeah, I agree with you. I remember it being a " let's feel bad about how we treated the Native Americans so we can feel better" a moralistic tale that goes too much on that direction. I like the throat singing that some indigenous women do. It's so interesting to watch and listen to. We have our Buffy St. Marie who is a Canadian icon.
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested, I have loads of artists to recommend. I suggest Joanne Shenandoah to start. If you're partial to Canadians, you might try Fawn Wood.
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