Stereotypes of Native Americans
Stereotypes of Native Americans
Due: Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Native Americans were the first inhabitants of North American; however, American history has been unpleasant to these indigenous people. From sports mascots to unrealistic portrayals, there is a picture painted of Native American with feathers, tepees and buffalo for food. Associating these images with all Native Americans is stereotyping.
We have read a glimpse of the different cultural regions of Native Americans. Your are somewhat of an expert. Choose one of the choices below and discuss the inaccurate portrayal versus the accurate portrayal of all Native Americans.
Choice 1
Read the poem, Indian Blood by Mary Tall-Mountain. Write a description of your visualization while you read the poem. Then sketch your visualization. Next, write a paragraph describing the inaccurate region/ environment of the character in the poem and the possible accurate region/ environment of the character.
Choice 2: A movie clip on the internet showed a Native American with feathers in a mohawk running out of a tepee. Write a letter to the Director explaining the inaccurate depiction. Use evidence of cultural regions of Native Americans.
Choice 3 (challenging)
Watch the PBS video, Breaking Stereotypes of Native American Artist. Answer the following questions by writing paragraph(s).
Before the video:
- Describe what you view as Native American Art.
- Can an artifact be different from art?
After the video:
- How have your thoughts about Native American Art changed after the video?
- What advice would you give to a contemporary Native American Artist?
- Be sure to use your knowledge of Native American environments and cultural regions including information about food, climate, housing, traditions and artifacts.
Poem, Blood Indian
Indian Blood
By Mary Tall-Mountain (June 19, 1918 – September 2, 1994)
On the stage I stumbled,
My fur boot caught
On a slivered board.
Rustle of stealthy giggles.
Beendaaga’ made of velvet
Crusted with crystal beads
Hung form brilliant tassels of wool,
Wet with my sweat.
Children’s faces stared.
I felt their flowing force.
Did I crouch like goh
Children’s faces stared.
I felt their flowing force.
Did I crouch like goh
in the curious quiet?
They butted to the stage,
darting questions; pointing.
Do you live in an igloo?
Hah! You eat blubber!
Hemmed in by ringlets of brass,
grass-pale eyes,
the fur of daghooda-aak
trembled.
Late in the night
I bit my hand …
with moons of dark
Indian blood.
Translations:
beendaaga' = mittens goh= rabbit daghooda-aak= caribou parka
Cultural regions
- Northwest Coast- cedar trees, rainy, salmon
- Great Plains- large grasslands, camas
- Plateau- Rocky mountains, large rivers
- California-Intermountain- Pacific coast, desert area, little rainfall
- Eastern Woodlands- Michigan, great lakes, four seasons, wigwams
- Southwest-hot summers, freezing winters,
- Southeast- near Atlantic coast but humid, alligators
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