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 What does an "Indian" look like? 
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I am interested in knowing your thoughts about this. Based on your experiences with the media, what does an "Indian" look like? What are some words that come to mind when you hear the words "Native American"? I'll help you out some. Some words that come to my mind are:

tee pee
savage
buffalo
peace pipe
Thanksgiving

How are these words harmful to a student's knowledge of Native Americans?

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Kourtney Huffman


Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:49 am
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You could also say bow and arrow, loin clothes, head dresses, PowWow's and so many others I cannot think of.

These associates can often be very harmful to a child's knowledge of Native Americans because they connote violence and savagery. They do not allow for the idea that the Native Americans had very complex societies, are very intelligent individuals, or any of the other good things about Native Americans. Sure they had their share of violence, but what group doesn't. I think that this "White Man's" view of Native Americans has seriously harmed children's knowledge of Native Americans.

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Brekke Bell


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Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:13 am
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I have hear many of the same words as Kourtney. I am sure many of you have heard the term Indian Giver. I have seen students that use that term loosely as well as to other students who are of Native American decent. I think that this can make these students feel inferior to those around them and may cause social problems later on in life.

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ANGELA OVERFIELD


Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:50 am
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I hear some of the same words that Courtney and Brekke hear. But I also think about watching Pochantas.

I think that it is horrible that I associate Pochantas with Native Americans. I'm sure that that is not the way it really happened, and the Native Americans are portrayed in negative ways sometimes in that movie (maybe even crazy since she talks to a tree). To students this can be deterimental to students because they can get a false since of what Native Americans are. The media doesn't show what someone truely is, knowing a person does. A student may automatically jump to conclusions about students who are Native Americans and believe the common steorotypes.

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Samantha Lawrence


Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:12 am
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The only other word that I could think of besides the one's mentioned above is brown or dark skinned. Not sure if this is a word that is always associated with just Native Americans, but also Indians in general. That is also something that is always misinterpreted. People use the term Indian when referring to Native Americans, when really Indians are also people from India. Not really an incredible thought, but it just came to mind. But I also see what you are saying Samantha about how you associate Pochantas with Native Americans. We were just talking about that the other day in another class of mine, and it is funny how that movie is so often used to give students a visual of Native Americans, when really it is really far from the true history of Native Americans.

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Marty Heise


Tue Mar 07, 2006 3:35 pm
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Ok, I am doing a project about Native American stereotypes, so I am going to list a couple of stereotypes I think we should all be aware of.

Sports Teams:


Washington Red Skins
Cleveland Indians
Atlanta Braves

Advertisements:

Land O Lakes Butter
Redman Tobacco
Chief Curry Powder
Coors Indian Beer
Indian Tabac Cigars

Movies/TV:

Peter Pan (Tiger Lilly)
Never Ending Story (Atreyu)
Lone Ranger (Tonto)
Dead Man
Dances with Wolves
Last of the Mohicans
Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman (Cloud Dancing)
Loony Toons (Injun Joe)
Squanto: A Warriors Tale
The Education of Little Tree

All of the above seem to stereotype Native Americans in one way or another.

There is a really great movie called Smoke Signals that deals with these stereotypes. It was written by a Native American and has a cast of real Native American peoples. It is a eye-opening movie about the hardships many Native Americans are still facing and how they deal with certain stereotypes. I encourage you to check it out sometime.

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Kourtney Huffman


Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:02 pm
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Kourteny,

Some more teams would be
Florida State
Washington State Warriors

And a very good movie would be
Pocahontas (this shows a lot of the stereotype)

It may also help to take a look at our state seal
It shows a stereotype of England and the Native Americans(or this could just be to far of a strech)

But a few words that come to my mind are
Scalping
Animal skin clothes
Primitive weapons
Camp fires
War party
Casinos

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Clint Davis


Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:42 am
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