Wabanaki Studies

Indian Stereotypes

Lessons and Resources for Middle School

The lessons below are original. Links to the best online resources are available in the Resources section of this page and in the Wabanaki Lessons - Resources listings (specific to teaching Wabanaki studies).  Teachers are encouraged to submit original lessons for posting here or inclusion in the Hands-On Stereotypes Box. Lessons are in two formats for downloading: Word .doc (will also open in AppleWorks 6) and Portable Document Format .pdf (will open on any computer with Adobe Acrobat reader). All of these lessons are contained in the Resources Notebook that accompanies the Hands-On Box. The lessons do not replace American History lessons, but should be used to complement and extend them.

top

The listing below is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list; it is a list of materials that I have found most helpful. Most of the resources will lead educators to other informative materials. Educators are urged to use the feedback form to add resources to this listing.

Recommended Online Resources - these provide both information and background for the Teacher

• "I" is Not for Indian - lengthy essay on Indian stereotyping, with book lists (good and bad) and a recommended 1-page summary called What To Look For.
• Native Books.com - purchase recommended fiction, cultural, historical, childrens's books and videos online
• Oyate - perhaps the best source to purchase books for Native studies in school - includes "Don't Buy" list
• American Indians in Children's Literature - a new (2006) blog by Debbie Reese, Nambe Pueblo - this site includes a Recommended Books list that covers K-8.
• Native American Voices - historical overview essays from Digital History
• Understanding Prejudice: Teaching About Native American Issues - a checklist of Dos and Don'ts (reprinted in the Resources Notebook)
• Understanding Prejudice: Test your Native IQ – a history self-test with discussion that might surprise you
• Teaching Materials: Stereotypes  from White Earth Tribal & Community College
• Common Portrayals of Aboriginal People - from the Media Awareness Network, 2005 - Reprinted in part in Resources Notebook.
• Blue Corn Comics
  • Indian Women as Sex Objects - richly illustrated essay
  • Stereotyping Indians by Omission
  • The Basic Indian Stereotypes - including Indian stereotypes of Anglos!
  • The Harm of Native Stereotyping - Facts and Evidence
  • Team Names and Mascots
• Why Educators Can't Ignore Indian Mascots, Dr. Cornel Pewewardy
• A Checklist for Evaluating Native American Children's Books – from George Whitewolf (reprinted in the Resources Notebook)
• Indians in the Curriculum – Lessons (printable, some of them included in the packet) and resources from Marquette University: - Kerry Dunne's 20 lessons (some of them reproduced in the Resources Notebook) are especially useful – also follow the Treaties links.
• Ten Little Indians [remix] - show students this "protest" video to encourage conversation about what they can do – requires high speed network

top

Media Resources

Hands-On Stereotypes Box – A traveling exhibit of children's books, realia, toys, decorative objects, lessons and resources available for loan to Maine schools from:

Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain
Box 248
Georgetown, ME 04548
betsy_sky-mcilvain@coconetme.org

An online calendar of available dates, an inventory, and a contact/request form are available at Hands-On Box.

Unlearning "Indian" Stereotypes – Originally a filmstrip (you will still hear the beeps) created by the Council on Interracial Books for Children, this 12 minute video follows young Native children as they learn about stereotyping – set in NYC – somewhat dated (1977), but a great introduction to the Hands-On Stereotypes Box. This film is sometimes available, used, from Amazon.com. It can be borrowed (with lesson) for $1.00 plus the cost of postage from the above address. The box contains an original lesson. Other excellent lessons are contained in the next resource:

Unlearning Indian Stereotypes – a teaching unit focused upon children's books – VHS (Unlearning "Indian" Stereotypes) and teaching guide aimed at elementary school and school Librarians. The introductory essay is an excellent summary. Available for purchase ($35): Honor Resource Center.

top

Recommended Print Resources

The Wabanakis of Maine & the Maritimes – The following lessons and readings are recommended for Middle School:
• Interviews: 5 (C-62), 32 (C-94)
• Excerpts from History Books – B-21
• Guiding Questions – B-16 – 17 – these can be used effectively with the Hands-on Stereotypes Box

Native Books.com - purchase recommended fiction, cultural, historical, childrens's books online

Oyate - perhaps the best source to purchase books for Native studies in school - includes "Don't Buy" list

Joseph Bruchac novels:  These novels are excellent "anti-stereotype" narratives: Dawnland, The Arrow Over the Door, The Winter People (all historical), The Heart of a Chief (contemporary)

1491 (Mann) – 2005 Knopf – "New revelations of the Americas before Columbus" – the chapter on the "real" 1st Thanksgiving is a must. It was reprinted in the November, 2005, Smithsonian.

A Broken Flute (Seale and Slapin) - 2005 Oyate and AltaMira Press – expanded/companion version of Through Indian Eyes (see below) – includes essays and book reviews focused on Indian Residential Schools

A Century of Dishonor (Helen Hunt Jackson) - 1887 - available as a reprint from Amazon - exposé of the government's mistreatment of the Western Native Americans

American Indian Stereotypes in the World of Children (Hirschfelder, Molin, Wakin) – 1999 Scarecrow Press – identifies specific, key areas for concern (including Sign of the Beaver), provides background, resources and information

American Indians; Stereotypes and Realities (Mihesuah) – 1996 Clarity Press – each chapter presents and dispels a common stereotype – many illustrations

Another America; Native American Maps and the History of Our Land (Warhus) - 1997 St. Martin's Griffin - maps interspersed with history and other images tell the story of Native American history from a non-Eurocentric perspective

Changes in the Land (Cronon) - 1983 Hill and Wang - eye-opening, readable study of changes in New England ecology post-Contact - includes quite a bit of detail about Native lifestyle and culture

Forest and Shore; Legends of the Pine Tree State (Ilsley) - 2006 Afterflight, edited by Cram-Drach and Cram - annotated reissue of an 1856 text - the Scout stories provide a great "read-aloud" for teacher's wishing to share Maine-made stereotyical material with students; good accompaniment to the Hands-on Box and the 1908 Cartoons lesson. Appendix 3 is a readable short summary of  Wabanaki history in Maine (some contradictions with The Wabanakis of Maine & the Maritimes).

In the Trail of the Wind; American Indian Poems and Ritual Observations (ed. by Bierhorst) – 1991 Dell – thematically organized texts, each attributed to a Nation – good introduction, appropriate for middle school, unlike several collections of stories

Iroquois Corn in a Culture-Based Curriculum (Cornelius) – 1999 State University of New York Press – although focused on the Iroquois, the text treats stereotyping as a topic, with many concrete teaching suggestions

Legends of Our Nations (North American Indian Travelling College) – retellings true to oral tradition

Lies My Teacher Told Me (Loewen) – 1995 Touchstone/Simon & Schuster – three chapters examine Native culture, history as recorded in US history texts

Native American Games and Stories (Bruchac) – 2000 Fulcrum – Interweaves stories with games (rules, description, illustrations), from many Indian Nations.

Playing Indian (Deloria) - 1998 Yale Historical Publications - history of non-Native use of Indian dress for political and other purposes

Pigs in Heaven (Kingsolver) - 1993 HarperPerennial - readable novel for grade 8 or higher - explores issues of Native identity, Child Protection Act - "Indian Territory" in Oklahoma

Shadows of the Indian (Stedman) – 1982 University of Oklahoma Press – numerous illustrations and a readable investigation of the origins and varieties of stereotype

Songs From This Earth on Turtle's Back; Contemporary American Indian Poetry (Bruchac, ed.)

Through Indian Eyes; The Native Experience in Books for Children (Slapin and Seale) – 1998 American Indian Studies Center – essays, poems, book reviews, bibliography and resources for locating materials

Unsettled Past, Unsettled Future; the Story of Maine Indians ( Rolde) - 2004 Tilbury House - unromantic history that is especially good in terms of 17th and 18th century treaties and land "claims" - also good for contemporary history - illustrated

The Wabanakis of Maine and the Maritimes – The following lessons and readings are recommended for Middle School:
• Interviews: 5 (C-62), 32 (C-94)
• Excerpts from History Books – B-21
• Guiding Questions – B-16 – 17 – these can be used effectively with the Hands-on Stereotypes Box (see below)

The White Man's Indian (Berkhofer) - 1978 Vintage - examination of history, philosophy and political interactions

copyright Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain
updated 8/4/06