My Reflections on Native American Imagery

 I thought I knew at least something about Native Americans or Indians as I came to know them in my early education years.    As with many other things in life I have now come to know that what I learned previously is more a culmination of other people's ideas and information provided only from their perspective and not necessarily totally factual or accurate.       We all know that there are two sides to every story and the truth is somewhere in the middle.    When you go looking into history whether personal or as I am doing while reading the information provided in the First Peoples of North America study at Empire State College you come to learn things that can provide some personal satisfaction, pique further interest or even bring disappointment.   My readings so far have definitely developed further interest and also created some disappointment.  The socially accepted perspective of disdain for the Native American way of life portraying Indians as aggressive savages so different from the white settlers has been documented in various media including paintings and advertising media.  While there are documented photographs and images that artists have created that depict the Native Americans in a more friendly manner there are many more that depict them otherwise and that I found to be so terribly wrong.    The Bancroft/Berkeley art exhibits Images of Native Americans    contained marketing media that I found so derogatory to the Native Americans.    And these marketing posters would be offensive no matter what ethnic or cultural group they depicted.  One media type included in the gallery was a cartoon, created by Gilbert Shelton, that told a story of "The Indian that Came to Dinner".  The crux of the story was that a white couple invited an Indian man to their home for dinner.   The Indian killed the family dog and served it as dinner.  This cartoon shows that the inequity between the white and Native American culture was just as strong in 1968 as it was 200 years earlier.  Gilbert Shelton Feds 'N' Heads cartoon 1968

 

Through my First Peoples study I have found that fortunately there are those in the world who are attempting to provide documented balance to the stories of the Native Americans.   The American Philosophical Society has promoted the study of indigenous peoples, their cultures and their languages for over two hundred years.   Their website American Philosophical Society Native American Images Project provides information and historical documentation of the Native Americans stereotypical and prejudice suffering journey through American history and at the time the displayed photographs and portraits were created.  Fortunately the work done through this Native American Images Project is helping to support and revitalize many Native American communities in collaboration with the community members.     In looking through all the material on this website I appreciated their sensitivity to the Native American culture while attempting to provide balanced historical references as an educational and enlightening experience for those visiting their website.

 

 

References:

American Philosophical Society, www.amphilsoc.org

University of California, Berkeley, www.Bancroft.Berkeley.edu