Editing Chakotay (section)

===Themes===
Chakotay's inclusion in the main cast of ''Voyager'' was seen by critics as one of several who were used to highlight the diversity within the series. This was highlighted during the episode "[[Faces (Star Trek: Voyager)|Faces]]", in which one scene showed Janeway, Tuvok, Harry Kim, and Chakotay in a single [[camera pan]].<ref>[[#leonard1997|Leonard (1997)]]: p. 123</ref> Beltran's individual position was that he was "continually positioned as an exotic native other in relation to the white female Captain Janeway",<ref>[[#geraghty2009|Geraghty (2009)]]: p. 66</ref> and was used to "help the white protagonist and progress the internal narrative."<ref>[[#geraghty2009|Geraghty (2009)]]: p. 94</ref>

The placement of a character of [[indigenous peoples]] descent in science fiction was highlighted in the media. Drew Hayden Taylor said that Chakotay was "perhaps the most well-known".<ref name=aboriginalpresence>{{cite news|last=Drew|first=Hayden Taylor|title=Aboriginal presence in science fiction fleeting and few|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-200164128.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611063601/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-200164128.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2014|access-date=February 15, 2014|newspaper=Wind Speaker|date=May 1, 2009}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Of Chakotay's origin, he said: "They never actually say what nation he is, but I do believe it's some Central American tribe."<ref name=aboriginalpresence/> Hayden Taylor wrote in a later article in 2012 describing the rise of Native American characters in the ''[[Twilight (2008 film)|Twilight]]'' film series that Chakotay was still the sole popular example of a Native American character in science fiction.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hayden Taylor|first=Drew|title=I like my types in stereo|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-279893138.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611063558/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-279893138.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2014|access-date=February 15, 2014|newspaper=Wind Speaker|date=January 1, 2012}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Chakotay was also described as "the only First Nations role model around in a futuristic setting" in the 2005 book, ''"Indian" Stereotypes in TV Science Fiction: First Nations' Voices Speak Out'',<ref name=adare45>[[#adare2005|Adare (2005)]]: p. 45</ref> but was also referred to as the "quintessential [[Tonto]] in outer space".<ref name=adare95>[[#adare2005|Adare (2005)]]: p. 95</ref> A similar criticism was highlighted of the character in ''Medicine Bags and Dog Tags: American Indian Veterans from Colonial Times to the Second Iraq War'' (2008), which called Chakotay "a creature of white fantasies" and suggested that he was "far more stereotypical than Tonto" as "at least Tonto was heroic and saved the Lone Ranger once in a while".<ref name=caroll24>[[#caroll2008|Caroll (2008)]]: p. 24</ref>

Although religion was referenced during the ''Star Trek'' franchise, such as in the ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' episode "[[Who Mourns for Adonais?]]",<ref name=wagnar36>[[#wagnarlundeen1998|Wagnar & Lundeen (1998)]]: p. 36</ref> it did not take a more prominent role until later in the series, with ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' exploring the Bajorans' beliefs and ''Voyager'' concentrating on those of Chakotay.<ref name=wagnar37>[[#wagnarlundeen1998|Wagnar & Lundeen (1998)]]: p. 37</ref> These included [[vision quest]]s, and other interpretations of Native American culture which were described by critics as showing a "very Hollywood version of Plains-culture religion".<ref name=adare45/>

The appearance of a medicine wheel in the episode "Cathexis" was described by Sierra S. Adare as showing Chakotay as a "'good Indian' in the classic [[Pocahontas]] sense".<ref name=adare45/> Chakotay is seen attempting to introduce rituals and meditation techniques to other crew members, something they failed to understand.<ref>[[#relke2006|Relke (2006)]]: p. 105</ref> These were said to be contrary to the tribal history described in "Tattoo", which was said to say that Chakotay's tribe descended from a pre-[[Maya civilization|Mayan]] culture in Central America. Adare attributed this to Euro-American/European writers writing inaccurate information into scripts.<ref name=adare82>[[#adare2005|Adare (2005)]]: p. 82</ref> However, the appearance of the character was described as "groundbreaking".<ref name=adare90>[[#adare2005|Adare (2005)]]: p. 90</ref>