Why not make Chakotay hispanic

[Trekboy1993]

Since Robert Beltran is only made sense...

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

But then they's miss out on the great opportunity to talk about spirit guides

Chakotay was just a dull character, had Trek not just had a Bajoran XO one onboard this ship as a former Maquis might've added a little more oomph to him.

 

[cosmic mouse]

Well, Beltran is both Hispanic and Native American, so at least they hit on half of his heritage.
If you want to see a shining example of the other half watch Eating Raoul

 

[2takesfrakes]

Chakotay was just a dull character ...

I disagree -- 100%!!!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Too right. Describing Chakotay as dull is an insult to dullness.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Well, Beltran is both Hispanic and Native American, so at least they hit on half of his heritage.
If you want to see a shining example of the other half watch Eating Raoul

Both his parents are Mexican. I don't think they do "Native American" there, as the majority of the population is Mestizo.

 

[Refuge]

I liked the spirituality aspect of the Chakotay character. I think about references to his (the character's) Native past and even his tattoo. I read somewhere the tattoo reflected a design from both Maori and Filipino. I kind of like that mixing of ethnic references, even if they were not specific to Chakotay.

By the way why should the ethnicity of an actor lock him or her into only playing a specific bloodline? If there are criticisms to be made of the character or actor his 'fit' to play this part shouldn't be one of them.

 

[Tenacity]

I don't think they do "Native American" there, as the majority of the population is Mestizo.

Mestizo are about 60%, indigenous (the term used instead of native American) are 30%. The rest are various.

By the way why should the ethnicity of an actor lock him or her into only playing a specific bloodline?

It's a extension of "white washing," a character should be played by a actor of the same race and ethnicity.

 

[Kor]

Also, there is a cultural divide as there are separate indigenous communities who still speak native languages and don't speak Spanish.

Kor

 

[Tenacity]

Personal opinion, Chakotay should have been from a real existing indigenous peoples, from a actual part of Earth.

Not that Chakotay had to be from Mexico, but in Mexico Nahuatls are currently two and a half million, Mayans are one and a half.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Chakotay was a direct result of the TNG "Journey's End" episode and the DS9 "The Maquis" two-parter, IMO. Making Chakotay Native was a way to tie him to all that and maybe give him a personal reason (via continuity porn) for fighting the Cardassians in the Demilitarized Zone.

 

[Tracy Trek]

Chakotay was a direct result of the TNG "Journey's End" episode and the DS9 "The Maquis" two-parter, IMO. Making Chakotay Native was a way to tie him to all that and maybe give him a personal reason (via continuity porn) for fighting the Cardassians in the Demilitarized Zone.

Wasn't he originally intended to be from the same planet from Journey's End (the native American colony)? But later it was changed for some reason?

 

[cosmic mouse]

Both his parents are Mexican. I don't think they do "Native American" there, as the majority of the population is Mestizo.

My bad... I don't really keep up on the celebs; thought I had read somewhere that he was part NA.

 

[Tenacity]

Wasn't he originally intended to be from the same planet from Journey's End (the native American colony)? But later it was changed for some reason?

If I'm remembering a article correctly, they changed Chakotay's world to give the writers more freedom with his back story.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

He IS Hispanic. His tribe is shown in "Tattoo" and "The Fight" as being from "South of the border," I think Central or South America. His heritage seems very mixed, as he also has a dream catcher (though that could just be a Native Pride thing). But even his office and quarters have a very Hispanic design to them. His fictitious "medicine wheel" is even designed with a somewhat Aztec/Mayan look. In fact, I'm pretty sure they said he was part Mayan at some point....

In any case, yes, he should have been from a specified real tribe. But since he ain't, a lot of fanfic writers just assume he's from some new age culture invented in the future.

 

[Brennyren]

What I always wondered was why they never acknowledged B'Elanna's probable Latino heritage. Heck, they didn't even give Papa Torres's side of the family Spanish first names. B'Elanna's dad was John, her uncle was Carl, and her cousins were Elizabeth, Dean, and Michael. I realize that 300 years down the line there's no reason people of Latino descent would have to have Spanish first names -- but on the other hand, there's no reason why they couldn't, either. And considering that B'Elanna was the first avowedly Latino main character in a Trek series, why whitewash her family and ignore her ethnic heritage?

 

[Guy Gardener]

According to the Voyager bible, Chakotay's tribe did not leave Earth till the 22nd century, because they thought the "United Earth" was shit, and finally had the technology available to leave.

It's not a stretch to call that sort of thinking racist and xenophobic, but it's probably more like those fake Pilgrims in that movie the Village, or the real Pilgrims who left England because it was overflowing with sex mad godless drunks.

https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwjXw8rw3Z_YAhUGlpQKHaVlDL0QFgg3MAE&url=http://leethomson.myzen.co.uk/Star_Trek/4_Voyager/Voyager_Bible.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0D2catCX5z0ZaPbHah0w0L

 

[Prax]

In 400 years, there won't be any known races. 100 years ago, the word race was more specific, like: "the German race," "the Irish race," "the Chinese race," "the slaavic races," "the Persian race."

50-70 years ago, us cities were still divided by race by Catholic parish, or anglican, etc. You'd have an Irish Catholic parish, Italian catholic parish, polish, etc. Immigrants stuck together.

Today, Americans say "I think I have some German or some polish on my moms side...not sure about my dad" and now there are just a few races: "Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious...."

In 100 - 200 years people will be like "I think my mom has some brown and white...not sure about my dad, maybe some black or white"

In 400 years, there will be all new races, ethnicities, and tribes to talk about that we can't even pronounce yet.

Not really related, but my best friend in junior high was native American. His name was Joey. People called him Navajoe, navaho Joe, or just Joe(y). Everyone had cool nicknames back then.

 

[Guy Gardener]

The Eugenics War will see every one hunted down and tested for purity in the late 80s and early 90s.

WWIII will make large areas of the planet unliveable, and the races that predominantly live there will die out.

Colonel Green will again test for purity, but he's only going to kill off those damaged by radioactive fallout, and maybe a few congenital problems that the species could do without.

After the Vulcans turn up, then they begin off world record keeping, which means that moving forward, no human history small or large will be lost.

Chakotay comes from planet native American Indian, but we have also seen Planet Ireland (twice) and Planet Scotland... Have we? Or do I just think that's where Montgomery Scott comes from for no reason.

He faked Redjack.

Totally Scotty, all the time.

 

[Prax]

Then, in order to save your 21st century race, you have to create a colony on another planet, hence planet Ireland, Scotland, and Native American.