Images of Native Americans
What images come to mind when you think about Native American people? People all overthe world are influenced by what they see and hear about others. Some information isaccurate, and other information is not. Most likely, the images that you hold about NativeAmerican people come from what you have seen in the media: TV, movies, andnewspapers. Accurate or not, these images and information have had the opportunity toshape what you believe. What we are talking about is stereotypes.
According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, stereotypes are thoughts or beliefs
conforming to a fixed or general pattern, especially a standardized mental picture that is heldin common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudicedattitude, or uncritical judgment. To help undo the effects of stereotypes attributed to NativeAmerican people, Lucy A. Ganje has written a paper titled, Native American Stereotypes. Inher work she describes and challenges various images that the media has used to portrayNative Americans. For example, the Blood Thirsty Savage, The Noble Savage, AmericanIndians as Sports team mascots and symbols, and Native Americans as protestors. Ganjealso describes how the media perpetuate stereotypes by the use of imaging that placesNative people only in the past.
The following comes from Ganje, Lucy A., Native American Stereotypes. In, Lester, Paul M.,and Ross, Susan D., (Eds.) (2003). Images that injure: Pictorial Stereotypes in the Media.Second Edition. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger.
The Blood Thirsty Savage
“The media stereotype Native people in various ways – some more obvious than others.
Many stereotypes, such as those arising from old Western movies and books, are easy to recognize….The images are often those of murderous savages with painted faces, yellingwar whoops and descending upon the unsuspecting women and children of innocent whitesettlers. Portrayals such as these, often motivated by social and political factors, were usedto justify the inhumane treatment of Native people and the taking of their land" (p. 114).
The Noble Savage
“This image portrays America’s indigenous population as not only the friend of the white manbut also as part of a once great but now dying culture. This is a very subtle form of racismbecause it usually implies that indigenous people existed to serve Anglo society and werethankful to be civilized by the Anglo Saxons" (p. 114).
Native Americans as Sports team mascots and symbols
“Non-native schools and organizationsbrand their sport teams through the use ofthe Indian as both a noble and savagewarrior."(p. 15) Examples of such names are the Cleveland Indians, the WashingtonRedSkins, and the Atlanta Braves. These sport teams depend on the stereotype ofNative people as proud, warlike, and nobleto see their product and instil fear in thehearts of their opponents" (p. 115).
Native Americans as protestors
“Native people themselves are often portrayed in the media as trouble makers, outside in their homelands, as they continue their struggle of autonomy. Besides the obligatory once-a-year Pow-wow story, the most often-seen media images of native people are often confrontational. Native Americans are frequently seen opposing or politically challenging a generally accepted stereotype: carrying signs and banners."
Confrontation at Oka in the summer of 1990.
Imaging that places Native people only in the past
“A constant visual diet of native people in traditional regalia is problematic. When all the
media give us are images of native peoples and cultures taken during annual … Pow wows, it feeds the notion that native peoples do not exist in the present and are not part of a continuum. The denial of Native people as part of contemporary society is further fostered when we use them as symbols of the past"(p. 117).
Blackfoot War Bonnet 1926
Images of Native Americans
Assignment
Image 1: The Noble Savage
In this famous painting by Benjamin West, the depiction of this Native American has been considered an idealization in the tradition of the “Noble Savage.”
Comment on how you think that this image reinforces the stereotype of the Native American people as “Noble Savage.”
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Image 2: Native American’s as Protestors
Look at the image below. It is a famous photograph taken during the crisis at Kanesatake (Oka).
Comment on how this image perpetuates the stereotype of Native American’s as “Protestor.”
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Image 3: Imaging that places Native people only in the past
Look at the photo below. It is a photo of Sioux chief wearing a head-dress. Many people have seen pictures of Native American people wearing ceremonial ‘head-dresses’ or ‘war bonnets’ in old and in new photographs. Unfortunately, the media has perpetuated a stereotype that many groups of Native American people commonly wear ceremonial head-dresses all the time. Some cartoons and other media show women and children wearing dead-dress when in fact the head-dress is reserved for the leader known as the chief. In reality, this head-dress in the photo is worn only by the Sioux tribe of the Midwestern plains.
Comment on how erroneous depictions of Native American people wearing head-dresses perpetuate stereotypes in society today. Use or reference examples of inappropriate media images if you can.
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Image 4: Native Americans as sports team mascots
Look at the images below. It is a cartoon that was used in a newspaper to point out what the same character would look like if it were representing another culture/race.
Comment on how this cartoon makes you feel. Comment on how you think it makes Native Americans feel about their culture/race being used as the image of a mascot now that it has been put into perspective with the mockery of other cultures/races.
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Unit 1: Aboriginal Identity – Perceptions and Reality Activity 1
Images of Native Americans
Rubric
Unit 1: Aboriginal Identity – Perceptions and Reality Activity 1