stereotypes on native americans

I found this on the internet with 24 different stereotypes on native americans. After some of them I added in my own comments that I noticed from this weeks reading on Native Americans. Enjoy!

From the book: American Indians: Stereotypes & Realities
by Devon A. Mihesuah

1. Stereotype:

Indians are all alike.

Reality:

In America alone, there are approximately 2.1 million Indians, belonging to 511 culturally distinct federally recognized tribes or an additional 200 or so unrecognized tribes. They live in a variety of environments, either on 286 U.S. reservations, or off reservation in rural areas or cities.

--> This was talked about a lot in the reading. The reading went into depth on how many different subcultures of Native Americans there are. Most movies place all Indians either into the group of Indians called the Mohawk or the Cherokee's. Which is completely not true.

2. Stereotype:

Indians were conquered because they were inferior.

Reality:

Indians were conquered because of their lack of immunity to European diseases.

3. Stereotype:

If Indians had united, they could have prevented the European invasion.

Reality:

Tribes were too different culturally and lived too far apart to fight together as a cohesive unit.

4. Stereotype:

Indians had no civilization until Europeans brought it to them.

Reality:

Indians were civilized. Their cultures were different from those of Europeans.

--> films portrayed Native Americans as savages in most movies and also as nomads just moving where ever they wanted but in reality the Native Americans had their own culture, language and values. They were just like us.

5. Stereotype:

Indians arrived in this hemisphere via the Siberian land bridge.

Reality:

Indians believe that they were created in this hemisphere.

6. Stereotype:

Indians were warlike and treacherous.

Reality:

Indians fought to defend their lands, sovereignty and way of life from invaders.

--> Europeans made Native Americans look like warriors but in reality if our land was trying to be conquered by a different group of people we would also fight back and become the "warriors". They were just defending their homes and family as we would.

7. Stereotype:

Indians had nothing to contribute to Europeans or the growth of America.

Reality:

The contributions of American Indians have changed and enriched the world.

8. Stereotype:

Indian tribes did not value or empower women.

Reality:

Indian women often wielded considerable power within their tribes.

9. Stereotype:

Indians have no religion.

Reality:

Indians are deeply religious. Each tribe has its own religion.

10. Stereotype:

Indians welcome outsiders to study and participate in their religious ceremonies.

Reality:

Indians often practice their religions secretly and want outsiders to respect their desire for privacy.

11. Stereotype:

Indians are a vanished race.

Reality:

There are 2.1 million United States Indians today.

12. Stereotype:

Indians are confined to reservations, live in tipis, wear braids, and ride horses.

Reality:

There is nothing that confines Indians to reservations. Few wear braids and rid horses. Fewer still own tipis.

--> Native Americans live just like Americans. There is no visible difference. Movies like Pocahontas make Indians look like out casts but in reality thats not how it was.

13. Stereotype:

Indians have no reason to be unpatriotic.

Reality:

Most American patriotism is the celebration of Euro-American history and interest. Euro-Americans' behavior and policies towards Indians have been brutal throughout American history.

14. Stereotype:

Indians get a free ride from the government.

Reality:

The benefits Indians receive from the government derive from treaty agreements, which purport to compensate them for the surrender of some or all of their invaluable lands.

15. Stereotype:

Indians' affairs are managed for them by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Reality:

Each tribe has its own govermental structure possessing a variety of self-governing powers.

16. Stereotype:

Indians are not capable of completing school.

Reality:

Hundreds of Indians graduate from universities every year.

--> I got a good laugh out of this stereotype. Do people really believe that Indians do not complete school??!

17. Stereotype:

Indians cannot vote or hold office.

Reality:

Indians represent a powerful voting bloc in elections. Numerous Indians hold tribal, state and national offices.

18. Stereotype:

Indians have a tendency towards alcoholism.

Reality:

Indians are no more predisposed to alcoholism than members of any other ethnic group.

19. Stereotype:

"My grandmother was an Indian"

Reality:

Thousands of Americans "wannabe" Indian, but they are not.

20. Stereotype:

Indians are all full bloods.

Reality:

The majority of Indians are of mixed heritage.

21. Stereotype:

All Indians have an "Indian name."

Reality:

Most Indians have only a Euro-American name. A minority of Indians also have "Indian names."

22. Stereotype:

Most Indians know the histories, languages and cultural aspect of their own tribe and of other tribes.

Reality:

Few Indians know all cultural aspects of their own tribe, much less those of other tribes.

23. Stereotype:

Indians are stoic and have no sense of humor.

Reality:

Indians are as endowed with as rich a sense of humor as anyone else.

--> as from the reading. Indians were made to look mute in movies. Or illiterate they would always say sayings in movies like "ho" or "ugh"

24. Stereotype:

Indians like having their pictures taken.

Reality:

Indians find photographers intrusive.

http://stereotype.drumhop.com/Reality.html