`NATURALLY NATIVE' AN ACHIEVEMENT WITH LOTS ON ITS MIND.

Byline: Marla Matzer Staff Writer

The star/writer/producer and co-director of ``Naturally Native,'' Valerie Red-Horse, has a lot to say. In fact, she tries to pack it all into one movie, billed as the first film written, directed, produced and starring American Indian women.

``Naturally'' is a nice, modest film, offering a fresh perspective on modern American Indian life, but it sags a bit under the weight of its own sense of mission. Red-Horse takes on - among other things - the co-opting of American Indian religious ceremony by greedy New Age gurus, prejudice on the part of both whites and American Indians, and offensive stereotypes of American Indians in popular culture.

Red-Horse plays Vickie Lewis Bighawk, the oldest of three sisters who were born into poverty on a reservation. They were taken away from their father and placed with a white adoptive mother after their natural mother died of the effects of alcoholism.

The three know very little of their heritage. Vickie knows the most, having married young to a proud member of the Sioux tribe, Steve (Pato Hoffmann). The other two sisters are on different paths: middle sister Karen (Kimberly Norris) has just gotten her MBA, and is looking for a business opportunity. Tanya, the baby sister (Irene Bedard), lacks focus and can't appreciate what she already has in life; she thinks that maybe finding a man will make everything better.

Vickie suggests to her sisters that they start their own business, producing cosmetics based on ancient American Indian recipes. The one hitch: They need at least $25,000 in start-up money.

White men turn down the women's proposal twice. A government loan officer tells them they lack the needed proof that they are indeed of Indian blood. An executive at a private firm turns them down because of their tribe's affiliation with gambling. When he makes a racist remark to Karen, Vickie slugs him and spends a night in jail.

The sisters also encounter hostility from inside their community. A woman from their father's tribe says she thinks they just want to claim membership now that the tribe's casino is bringing in money. But in the end, the women finally find support - both emotional and financial - among the tribe.

The film is full of empowering messages, but it's a little too slow and slight to do justice to all of them. Even if the viewer doesn't exactly wish the movie didn't have to end, she may find it interesting, and hope that some of its fine actors would get more work in mainstream movies that don't require wearing feathers and buckskin.

THE FACTS

The film: ``Naturally Native'' (PG-13; brief violence and some sexuality).

The stars: Valerie Red-Horse, Irene Bedard, Kimberly Norris Guerrero, Pato Hoffmann, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Mary Kay Place.

Behind the scenes: Written, produced and co-directed by Valerie Red-Horse. Co-directed by Jennifer Wynne Farmer. Co-produced by Dawn Jackson and Yvonne Russo.

Running time: One hour, 49 minutes.

Playing: Landmark's Westside Pavilion Cinemas, West L.A., Laemmle's Encino Towncenter 5 and Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

Our rating: Two and one half stars.