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NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

ROBBINSDALE AREA SCHOOLS INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM

NOVEMBER 2015

As an educational
institution,
Robbinsdale Area
Schools has a
responsibility to
introduce positive,
accurate images of
Native peoples to
students.

RESPONSIBLE TEACHING: NATIVE PEOPLES

It is critical to focus on Native
issues in education. A blatant
bias exists and continues to thrive
throughout contemporary culture.
Even after derogatory images
regarding other races have largely
been removed from classrooms,
we continue to see blatant
stereotyping of American Indian
peoples deeply embedded in
school culture, curriculum and the
media.
Examples include dictionaries

that show degrading images of

Indians and Eskimos.
Completely misinformed stories of
Columbus, Thanksgiving, and
Manifest Destiny are still taught
to children. Books and materials
misrepresent Native Nations as if
they are one culture, and depict
Native peoples as primitive or
living only in the past. Mass
media bombards us with savage
images of wild Indians and
sports teams turn us into
caricatures and mascots.

If educators remain ignorant

about the role of Native peoples
in the entire history of our
country, how will non-Native
children gain any perspective on
the problems that remain to this
day? For the sake of all our
children, teachers and educators
must acknowledge and begin to
rectify these huge problems.
Source: Lessons from Turtle Island by
Guy W. Jones and Sally Moomaw

EVALUATING CURRICULUM & MATERIALS FOR APPROPRIATENESS

Avoid books that lump Native cultures into generic and stereotypical images

Examine the characters

Look for books that portray Native peoples today

Seek out materials that are historically accurate and include a Native perspective on historical events

Do not include books in your classroom that show children playing Indian or depict animals dressed as
Indians

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NATIVEIpsum
AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

A CHECKLIST OF
DOs & DONTs
The following checklist is based in part on
recommendations form the Council on Interracial Books
for Children:

Do not equate Indians with "things." For

example, if alphabet cards say, "A is for apple, B
is for ball, ... I is for Indian," pick a different word
so that Indian people are not presented as
objects.
Do not speak of Native Americans exclusively in
past tense. There are nearly one million Native
people in the U.S. today, yet many books and
videos still have titles such as How the Indians
Lived.
Do not perpetuate the myth that a few
Europeans defeated thousands of Indians in
battle. Historians say the number killed in battle
was relatively small; what really defeated Native
Americans were European diseases from which
they had no immunity.
Do not let children to imitate Indians with
stereotypes such as one-word sentences ("Ugh,"
"How"), Hollywood-style grammar ("Me heep big
hungry"), or gestures (e.g., war whoops and
tomahawk chops).

Do not use language that invokes stereotypes

(Youre acting like a bunch of wild Indians,
Please sit Indian-style, Youre behaving life an
Indian giver).

Do not divide Indians and non-Indians into "us"

and "them." Instead, explain that Indians were
the first Americans and that today Indians are
American citizens with the same rights as all
Americans.

Do highlight the Native American philosophy

of respect for every form of life and for living
in harmony with the land.

Do discuss a variety of Indian nations, such

as Hopi, Lakota, and Navajo, rather than
lumping all Native Americans together.
Explain that each nation has its own name,
language, and culture.

Do challenge TV and movie stereotypes of

Native Americans. Discuss the meaning of
stereotypes and help children understand
that Native Americans were no more savage
than others who fought to defend their
homes and community.

Do understand that Native American

children are not always aware of their
heritage. Native children sometimes know
more about "TV Indians" than about their own
heritage, and they should not be singled out
to provide a Native perspective or asked to
recount Native history.

Perhaps the single most important ingredient in

teaching is respect. Native Americans have been
stereotyped and treated disrespectfully for so many
centuries that it is sometimes hard to recognize
when they are being demeaned. For example, Indian
Princess and Indian Guide youth programs often
promote stereotypes without realizing it.
It is therefore critical to remember that Indians are
living people still carrying on past beliefs and
practices in today's world. Be aware that some of
your students may be of Indian ancestry, and seek to
learn as much as possible about Native American
issues so that your teaching is sensitive to the needs
of all students.

Source: Understanding Prejudice: Teachings About Native American Issues

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

THE RICH

AVOIDING AMERICAN INDIAN

STEREOTYPES

INDIAN
STEREOTYPE

Because of the recent

proliferation of casinos on
Tribal lands created by
the Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act (1988),
CHIEF

PRINCESS

NOBLE SAVAGE

Most American Indian

The Princess stereotype

A primitive man living

chiefs were never

was created to

in harmony with the

actually chiefs. It was a

legitimize female Native

natural world and

common name non-

Americans as potential

unspoiled by civilized

Natives gave to men they

mates for Whites.

vices.

wanted to negotiate with.

Americans are beginning

to view Natives as rich,
greedy, and corrupt.
Native Americans have
developed particular
financial industries after
decades of land loss and
poverty due to few
economic options.
Although a small handful
of Tribal Nations have
become wealthy, the truth
is that many Tribal
Nations are in debt,
cutting budgets, and have
few economic
opportunities. As of 2013,

RENEGADE

WARRIOR/BRAVE

SQUAW

American Indians
continue to have the

Renegades refuse to

Warriors/Braves are the

She is quiet and almost

highest poverty rate of

live on the reservation

adult males who have

invisible as she serves

any racial group (US

and are at war with

proven their courage in

her husband; preparing

Census).

non-Natives.

hunting or in battle.

hides, cooking, and

child rearing.
Source: red-face.us