In their quest for authenticity, the Disney studios hired mostly Native American actors to do the voices. They also employed Native American consultants and had a session with a real shaman. Despite these efforts, prominent Native American activists issued an open letter condemning the film for its historical inaccuracies and stereotyping of the Indian people. However actor and Native American activist Russell Means (who performs the speaking role of Powhatan) has referred to the film, in particular the opening, as being the “single best representation of American Indians that Hollywood has ever done”.