Hello, I'm hoping that anyone who is Native American or has knowledge of the Native American culture will reply to this soon.

In my school, for the homecoming floats, the theme is Americana, and one of the grades is constructing a teepee, and they are going to dress like Indians sticking feathers in their hair and dance around it. Is this a stereotype?

I want to know if this is offensive in any way to Native Americans - if there is anything at all wrong with it? It just seemed to be a little off, and if there really is a problem I will consider writing an editorial about it for my school newspaper. Thanks

ok i'm only part native american, but it doesn't show. My great great great grandmother was one. But i think it is kinda not so nice, becuase not all native americans are like that, most were like normal people, but a little different. this might be out of date, by 2 years but oh well.

aUsTiNkItTy

Native Americana

Ahh, America The Beautiful, a great nation founded in 1776 by our dear forefathers, its growth helped along by so many through the years. But what exactly defines the word America, or Americana? Who and what contributed to the nation that instills pride in so many of our hearts through tranquil times of peace, and impending times of turmoil?
When seeking the answer to that question, I looked to our school—pretty stupid right? Well no, because the Homecoming theme this year was Americana and each grade sought that answer themselves in their quests to build a float that represents something in the American tradition.
The seniors built a clever flag, the symbol of America. The juniors built Uncle Sam’s hat, ornately covered in stars and stripes. The sophomores built a car, (yes there are cars in America), and the freshman built a teepee, which I am guessing is meant to be representative of the first inhabitants of our land, the Native Americans. However, with this last symbol I became a bit perplexed. I know that the Native Americans contributed enormously to our nation, but is a teepee really an accurate portrayal of their culture?
Today there are over 500 Indian tribes in America, each with their own distinct and separate cultures. They are a people deeply rooted in religion. The majority believes that every living thing has a spirit, and they honor those spirits fervently. When they hunt, they do it not out of sport but only for nourishment, and when they do kill the animal, they pray for its spirit, and then try not to waste any part of it. The Native Americans take great pride in the fact that they are a peaceful people.
With today’s modern, sheltered youth, we learn a small margin of facts about the first people who inhabited the very land we live on today. They pop up mostly in history during war periods with them, or in other words, the “wars”, where they merely defended themselves from the American settlers kicking them off of their own land, out of their own homes. Oddly enough, as a whole, the sagacious Native Americans hold little resentment against the rest of the nation today. We could all learn a thing or two from them. Contrary, to popular opinion though, they are not a warring culture, and have lived tranquilly in our own country on reservations for the last century and a half.
Amber Vespoint, Co-Chair of the Political Committee who I was directed to contact through Travis Locklear, President of the Native American Student Organization, talked to me via e-mail about her Native American background and how her people like to be portrayed. “As a Native American I do find it offensive when people ask me if my grandfather lived in a teepee, just because he was a full blooded Indian”, she wrote, “Native American culture does not consist of how shelter was provided, and what types of clothing were worn, those are just the resources available…If Americans want to portray Native Americans they can start by showing respect for all races, and especially the land and animals around them.”
In regards to teepees portraying their culture, they view it as just a type of home, like a condo or an apartment, not an integral aspect of their beliefs. Darryl Hannah, the actress even lived in one, and not because she’s a Native American.
Nazune Menca, a Native American college student e-mailed me with her opinions on the topic saying, “As a Native of this land I would say that stereotypical portrayals of Natives are wrong…stereotypes all too often portray Natives as a "once upon a time" people who no longer exist”.
Modern Native Americans are traditional people, exulting in their rich heritage, and also a contemporary people. They combine cultures in a way that only transcribes a peaceful existence that too few know about.
So, is a teepee an accurate symbol of the Native American culture, past or present? “No”, says Amber, “There is not one symbol that can portray Native Americans, but it certainly is not a teepee…The one symbol that I think most captures what Native Americans are about is a scene with a clean forest and a bald eagle soaring freely above. It is a symbol of freedom for everyone, not just Native Americans.” And that right there, is what America is all about.

I know this is a little after the fact, but oh well...

I'm not Native American, but last year in my English class we did a unit on racism, and current Native American issues were included. I remember watching a video about a Native American woman at a college in the Midwest (it was a state school, I forget where exactly... Indiana, Iowa, Idaho... I don't remember, but it began with an "i"...). She was trying to get rid of her school's "Indian" mascot-- a white guy who dressed up in legitimate, traditional Native American costume, put paint on his face, and danced all over the place at rallies and basketball games. She was upset because the costume he wore (a fairly popular portrayal-- feather headress, etc) is a symbol of respect in her culture; it's only supposed to be worn by somebody important at religious ceremonies. She felt that her beliefs were being reduced to an entertainment spectacle for stadiums full of crazed sports fans, by people who didn't understand them (or care) in the first place.

I also remember seeing footage of a Native American protest at the Super Bowl, I think (I don't know anything about football teams, but one of the teams was called the Redskins or something similar). They were beaten up and kicked out when they tried to take their protest into the stadium. Their slogan was "Native Americans are people, not mascots."

I don't know, just some food for thought...

Well, I know peeps DO always say that's how Native Americans were. I think the feather idea is pretty used -- you don't always see pictures w/ feathers, but I do think that they did have lots of dances sometimes. Note : THAT'S MY OPINION. By the way, I have a friend that's part either Cheyenne or Cherokee. I might be able to see if any of her relatives have any idea how to help.
~God bless!~

I do think it is a bit of a stereotype, but there's not much you can do about. A lot of people are stuck on that image of Native Americans. Look at paintings and drawings from a time period you want to show and that's how you find out how they dressed and acted in reality.

Dear Heaven,
Your right! I'm Native American and from the Muskogee(Creek)Tribe of Oklahoma. I do believe that it is a common sterotype of Native Americans. I do believe tolerence is the best way to beat sterotyping people of different cultures. I wish I could give you words of encouragment but I would just like to say "Thanx! Thank you for stating your mind for the Native Americans."

At a high school in a town right near mine, they had a big debate about whether the fact that the High School's mascot a indian represented prejudice towards Native Americans, or disrespect. The school decided to replace the mascot. I think that pep rallies and the associated events when a school is almost making fun of a culture that was desimated is wrong but whether they are or not is definetely open to opinion. It is a issue that is not black/white, and is open to interpetation in a case by case basis.Ä

i'm not native American, and I don't know much about their currant culture, but i don't think that it is too much of a sterotype. I mean my school's homecoming theme is Grease and I know people are going in Togas for the float. Anytime you pick a theme you will probably end up with a few sterotypes, but it isn't like you are representing native americans or their culture for homecoming.