New 'Pocahontas' dazzles fair-goers

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

Q'Orinka Kilcher shows off her eye-catching smile as she poses with "grandparents" John and Grace Help in Window Rock. [Courtesy Photo]

WINDOW ROCK — At age 15, Q'Orinka Kilcher has already made a movie with Jim Carrey ("How the Grinch Stole Christmas"), and soon will be starring in "Now World,"due to open Christmas Day, with Colin Farrell, Christian Bale and Christopher Plummer.

Kilcher her first name is pronounced "kory-unka" and her family have been visiting with her "grandparents," John and Grace Help. Though not really related through blood, the Kilcher family has grown up with the Helps for the past two decades, said mom Saskia Kilcher.

Her children, Q'Orinka, her brother Wilcamayo, 13, and brother Xlti, 5 have grown up as if they were part of the Helps' natural family. Not that the Helps needed any, uh, help, in keeping their house full. John and Grace Help managed nine children of their own.

Landing her new role, as Pocahontas, was destiny, Saskia said. She had auditioned for a small part in the recent TV miniseries "Into the West." The same casting company was also preparing for "New World," and asked Q'Orinka to try out.

"They called her the Native American Julia Roberts," Saskia said. But they felt she was too young. Only every time they asked her to audition, she wowed them, her mom said.

"This is exciting for the family," said proud stepfather Antonin Oulicky as he carried a video camera around. Navajos lined up as Q'Orinka autographed posters for them. She presented Navajo Nation Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan with a special "New World" calendar, which hasn't been officially released yet.

Born in Peru, Q'Orinka is a member of the Quechua people, which made up the royal class of Incan families. The Quechuan langauge is the most widely spoken Amerind language on the world, with more than 8 million people using it.

Her dazzling beauty and acting skills aren't her only attributes. Q'Orinka is also currently recording a CD in Los Angeles, where the family lives now.

And her brother, Wilcamayo, has a non-speaking role in "New World." But Friday he was more interested in shooting his BB gun and a colony of fire ants.

"He's still camera shy," Saskia said.

Xlti was content to roll a toy motorcycle around. Though he did say he is going to be in movies, too.

So what does a budding actress do in her spare time?

Q'Orinka loves nothing better than to hang out with her "grandfather," and watch the sheep.

"Whenever I feel that Hollywood is getting to her, I have her spend time with her grandfather," Saskia said.

"Oh, she loves to ride the horses," John Help said, with a warm smile. His eyes hold a sparkle as he talks of the entire Kilcher clan. "Her mom came to live with us when she was young; so they've all grown up with us."

Q'Orinka just loves being with her grandfather, said grandma Grace Help.

Though the family lives in California now, they still keep in contact, she said.

"She is so humble," Grace said of Q'Orinka. "She's still that little girl of ours."

Grace paused to dab at some moisture in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I get so emotional over this. She made it this far, and we're just so proud of her."

Grandpa John thinks the new version of Pocahontas will be a success. "Years ago, when they made movies about Native Americans they just made them wooden, now they make them people," John said. "That is good."And where might Q'Orinka go after Pocahontas?

Into the future.

"We were supposed to stay here until Wednesday," Saskia said. But her daughter has been called in to audition for a role in a science fiction movie and so they now have to leave Monday. "That's the life in Hollywood. Always on the run."

And hopefully, Q'Orinka will stop running long enough to realize that the rising star is an inspiration for Native peoples on two continents.

(John Christian Hopkins can be reached at 1-505-371-5443.)