Stereotypes of Native American Culture

The first few chapters of Devon A. Mihesuah’s book American Indians: Stereotypes and Realities showed me an important image: the Caucasian featured dolls, painted brown and in stereotypical buckskin, fringed attire. This hit home with me, because I was a child who had many of these dolls. Now that I am old enough to realize that a stereotypical image was being thrust upon me, it is slightly sickening, although it was probably part of the fondness I have always had for the Native American culture. Now I find greater joy in exposing the “myths” I grew up with, and obtaining the real story.

This book has also brought me to thinking not only about stereotypes of Native Americans, but also the interpretation of what their culture actually is. For example, the American southwest is covered with the image of Kokopelli (the flute-player). I have found several stories of what this figure actually represents (dance, music, harvest, fertility), many of which are overlapping in their explanations but all seem to be significantly different as well. Some documents have gone so far as to call him a “rapist,” impregnating young girls in the night. I have found that although I have looked at several sources, it has been difficult to pinpoint the “real” interpretation, or even the actual source and association with a specific culture of this spirit. I hope one day I can personally speak to an elder, or someone who is very familiar with their culture and get their point of view, This is an example of how images that are sacred or important to a culture can be taken way out of context and become a “tourist’s model” of the area and people.

Whatever the subject, it is important to keep in mind that the source of information may not be as reliable as it proposes itself to be. Many different points of view must be taken into account, in order to develop a broad understanding of how different things are viewed.