Stereotypes and the Portrayal of
First Nations
Think back to when
Why were
did you
think
this
Who
the
“good
“bad
you were a kid…did
way about villains?
each
guys”…the
heroes?
you ever play the
group?
game “Cowboys and
Indians”?
Stereotyping since First Contact
• Since first contact with Europeans, First Nations have
been described:
– simplistically and stereotypically
– as inferiors
– lazy, ignorant, savage
• This has resulted in enduring stereotypes and myths:
1. All First Nations are homogenous meaning they all share
the same history and have the same customs and beliefs
2. First Nations ancestors all wore feather headdresses,
carried tomahawks and lived in tipi’s
3. They are people of the past
Stereotypes and History
• There are numerous distortions of history, many
of which continue as stereotypes.
• There is an assumption that Indians lost
possession of their land because they were
inferior, when the reality is:
– Many of the indigenous peoples died from diseases to
which they had no immunity
– There were a number of advanced civilizations in the
Americas, but they did lack two important resources:
a pack animal large enough to carry a human; and the
ability to make steel for tools and weapons
Common Stereotypes
• Westerns and documentaries have tended to portray
First Nations in stereotypical terms:
–
–
–
–
–
the wise elder
the aggressive drunk
the Indian princess
the loyal sidekick
obese and impoverished
• These images have become known across North
America
• Stereotyped issues include simplistic
characterizations, romanticizing of Native culture and
stereotyping by omission—showing First Nations in a
historical rather than modern context
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwcJaUaVfR0
Stereotypes and Women
• Native American women are frequently sexually
objectified and are often stereotyped as being
promiscuous
• Such misconceptions lead to murder, rape and violence
of First Nations women and girls by non-First Nations
men
• In 2009, 13% of all Aboriginal women aged 15 and
older living in Canada stated that they had been
violently victimized, almost three times the rate for
non-Aboriginal women
• It has been found in September 2013, that
approximately 1,017 Aboriginal women have been
murdered, which is 16% of all homicides in Canada
Stereotypes and Women
• Although the origin is unclear, the term "squaw" is now
universally offensive due to its use for hundreds of
years in a derogatory context towards First Nations
women
• There are more than a thousand locations in the U.S.
that incorporate the term in its name
• An effort is being made to change the names of these
locations
• Example: In 2003, Squaw Peak in Phoenix, Arizona, was
renamed Piestewa Peak to honor the Iraq War casualty
Pfc. Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to
die in combat for the US.
Stereotypes and Women
• Indian Princess and the Squaw are binaries of
indigenous women's physical appearance
• The Indian princess is often compared to Disney's
Pocahontas, appears to look more American, with
lighter skin, she has a small waist, small feet, long hair
and big almond shaped eyes
• She is youthful, energetic, innocent and usually a
martyr willing to sacrifice herself for others
• The squaw is looked upon negatively and more dark
• She is usually the ugly sister to the Indian princess and
is anything but innocent, she is probably promiscuous
and has many children.
Stereotypes and Substance Abuse
• Because of the high frequency
of alcoholism among some First Nations and
reservations, a stereotype has been applied to
all First Nations
• As with most groups, the incidence of
substance abuse is related to issues of poverty
and mental distress, both of which may be, in
part, the result of racial stereotyping and
discrimination
Other Common Stereotypes
• There is the stereotype that First Nations live on reservations
when in fact only about 25% do, and a slight majority now live
in urban areas
• There is an assumption that Indians somehow have an
intuitive knowledge of their culture and history, when the
degree of such knowledge varies greatly depending upon the
family and community connections of each individual
• Today, First Nations are perceived as becoming rich because of
gaming revenues
Stereotypes in the Media
In the News
• First Nations were almost always anonymous when
represented in the media being; left nameless in
newspapers, pictures, and magazines
• However, if the story was crime related – all details were
provided (name, crime committed, etc)
In Literature
• Many novels/books were published with stereotypical
plots
• All had stereotypical titles and images
Examples: Cowboys and Indians, The Wild West
Stereotypes in the Media
• On TV, in movies, comics, books, and even video games,
First Nations have been stereotyped as nature lovers or
devoted environmentalists who believe that all people
must respect it
An example of this is Nightwolf from Mortal Kombat
• Hollywood's portrayal of the American West essentially
used Native tribes as a malignant presence to be wiped out
or reined in, or depicted as a form of local “wildlife”
• Portrayals of Native characters as primitive, criminal,
violent, rapists, deceptive, lower intellect, or as passive and
full of childlike obedience, extended to TV, movies, novels,
radio talk shows and comics.
Other Media
Disney’s Pocohontas
Do you detect any stereotypes?
Marketing the Stereotype for Money
• Over time the “Indian” stereotype became more and more
popularized in movies, novels, plays, etc.
• More than 3,000 “Cowboy and Indian” movies were created in
Hollywood, making millions in revenue
• What people learned from this was the exact opposite of what
actually happened
• These movies brainwashed society
• They told an unfair and untrue history of North America
Example: that FNs were barbaric, brutal ‘white killers’
How Hollywood Stereotyped First Nations
Is this offensive?
Is it now?
Brainstorm
• Think of professional sports in North America
(Hockey, Football, Basketball, Baseball)
• How many team names have something to do
with Aboriginals or First Nations?
Atlanta Braves
Major League Baseball
The Braves nickname has been used since 1912
Atlanta Fans
“The Tomahawk Chop”
Washington Redskins
National Football League
The team has been known as the Redskins since 1933
Chicago Blackhawks
National Hockey League
Owner Frederic McLaughlin’s
Wife designed the logo
Chicago’s Hockey Team has been known as the
Blackhawks since 1926
Edmonton Eskimos
Canadian Football League
In 1897 the name Esquimaux was adopted.
In 1910 the club was officially named the Edmonton Eskimos
CLeveland Indians
Major League Baseball
Chief Wahoo
(Mascot Name)
Cleveland’s Baseball club has been named the Indians
Since 1914. Their nickname is “The Tribe”
Warpaint
The Chiefs Mascot
Although Retired, the Chiefs are considering bringing back ol’ Warpaint
University of Illinois Mascot
Chief Illiniwek,
Recently Retired after 81 years of service..
Marketing the Stereotype Cont’d…
Corporations, Sports teams and products all have
used “Indian” images and symbols to help market
their merchandise
Anti Discriminatory Act, 2009 Youtube
Powerpoint link
NCAA Bans use of “indian” sports logos
Moral Suasion: persuasion as opposed to force. Appealing to a persons
moral sense
Brainstorm
• What would be the main arguments
supporting the use of First Nations as team
names and mascots?
• What would be the main arguments against
the use of First Nations
As team names and mascots?
“Indian”
• "Why is the term "Indian" offensive?" The
term "Indian" was given to indigenous people
on this continent by an explorer who was
looking for India, a man who was lost and who
subsequently exploited the indigenous
people.
Barbara Munson, a woman of the Oneida Nation
It’s an Honour..
• "We are honoring Indians; you should feel
honored." Native people are saying that they don't
feel honored by this symbolism. We experience it as
no less than a mockery of our cultures. We see
objects sacred to us - such as the drum, eagle
feathers, face painting and traditional dress - being
used, not in sacred ceremony, or in any cultural
setting, but in another culture's game.
Barbara Munson, a woman of the Oneida Nation
It’s a Tribute
• "We are paying tribute to Indians." Indian
people do not pay tribute to one another by
the use of logos, portraits or statues.
Political Correctness
Recently there has been vocal opposition to First Nations
Used as mascots.
Consequences of Stereotypes
• Stereotypes harm both the victims and those that
perpetuate them, with effects of the society at
large
• Victims suffer the emotional distress; anger,
frustration, insecurity, and feelings of
hopelessness
• Most of all, Indian children exposed at an early
age to these mainstream images internalize the
stereotypes paired with the images, resulting in
lower self-esteem, contributing to all of the other
problems faced by First Nations
• Stereotypes become discrimination when the
assumptions of being more prone to violence and
alcoholism limit job opportunities.
• This leads directly to First Nations being viewed
less stable economically, making it more difficult
for those that have succeeded to fully enjoy the
benefits in the same way that non-First Nations
do, such as obtaining credit
• For those that maintain them, stereotypes
prevent learning the truth about First Nations
and the true history of the Americas
Destroying the Stereotypes
-Today there are authentic aboriginal voices
 Aboriginal Artists, Novelists, film makers etc.
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network:
-in 1999 APTN was created
-first Canadian Aboriginal owned and operated
broadcasting company
-this gives Aboriginals control over what stories are aired
-suddenly non-native Canadians have a chance to hear
stories, documentaries, etc. through the eyes and
perspective of Aboriginal Canadians
Destroying the Stereotypes Cont’d…
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation:
-Aboriginal organization that encourages youth to be
proud of their culture
-Celebrates Aboriginal strengths and successes
-it gives scholarships and awards to deserving
Aboriginals
-it was designed to build self-esteem and pride for
Aboriginal communities