For generations thousands of North Americans have grown up watching old classic western films of the “Indian and cowboy”. Such films portray the wise elder from the film Little Big Man, the drunk in Tom Sawyer’s films, the breath taking Indian princess from Pocahontas, and who can’t forget about the loyal sidekick Tonto from the Lone Ranger. It is these iconic films that have shaped the public’s perspective of Aboriginals and has even affected the Aboriginals perspective of themselves. These films have reinforced the notion that Aboriginal only exist in the past forever chasing Buffalo or forever being chased and killed by the cavalry. These films have created false and romanticized stereotypes of the Aboriginals. Such stereotypes show Aboriginals
…show more content…
Let me ask you, when I say Aboriginal or First Nations what is your first thought? For some they think of the original people of North America who now live in the city and live just like everyone else, though I guarantee you someone will think of the Indian Princess, the noble savage, the drunk, lazy, substance abuser, uneducated people and more. These are some of the several stereotypes that people think of about the Aboriginals and they think are true. There are both the “good” and bad stereotypes of Aboriginals. Some “good” stereotypes include the Indian princess, the noble Savage, and the “Super-Indian”. The Indian princess stereotype is a romanticized image of the Aboriginal woman that portrays Aboriginal woman as beautiful objects of desire. The legend of Pocahontas is the best example of this stereotype that shows a beautiful woman that can talk to animals and whose beauty is beyond compare. The second “good” stereotype is that of the noble savage. Many think this is a great stereotype since it shows Aboriginals as protectors, muscular hunters who strides over the land. The comic book artist, Steve Keewatin Sanderson says “ This stereotype as much as it is appealing it is limiting that keeps us stuck in a …show more content…
Aboriginals have even denied who they are because of the stereotypes an example is Lou James who said “I denied to others and to myself that I was native. It was the only way that I could process the cognitive dissonance that arose when I contemplated my success as a native person and though that in order to be a real native, I had to be all those ugly things” ( I Admit: I Hold Raciest Views About Native People In Canada). This shows the tremendous impact in which the stereotypes have upon the Aboriginal. The Aboriginals end up rejecting their identity. This ends up also affecting the Aboriginal youth since the youth look at the stereotypes and see that society views them this way and think that they might as well be what society thinks of them. An example is the stereotype that Aboriginals are uneducated, the Aboriginal youth will see this and think well if we are all like this then I will end up being like this and as a result end up dropping out and not trying in school. This is a serious impact since this leads to an educational gap between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal students. An example of someone experiencing this serotypes is a Toronto lawyer Renee Pelletier. When she tells people she is an Aboriginal people have a strong reaction and say “wow” and are surprised by her being a lawyer. They think that this is a great achievement for her and think that she is uneducated and that her being a
Let me ask you, when I say Aboriginal or First Nations what is your first thought? For some they think of the original people of North America who now live in the city and live just like everyone else, though I guarantee you someone will think of the Indian Princess, the noble savage, the drunk, lazy, substance abuser, uneducated people and more. These are some of the several stereotypes that people think of about the Aboriginals and they think are true. There are both the “good” and bad stereotypes of Aboriginals. Some “good” stereotypes include the Indian princess, the noble Savage, and the “Super-Indian”. The Indian princess stereotype is a romanticized image of the Aboriginal woman that portrays Aboriginal woman as beautiful objects of desire. The legend of Pocahontas is the best example of this stereotype that shows a beautiful woman that can talk to animals and whose beauty is beyond compare. The second “good” stereotype is that of the noble savage. Many think this is a great stereotype since it shows Aboriginals as protectors, muscular hunters who strides over the land. The comic book artist, Steve Keewatin Sanderson says “ This stereotype as much as it is appealing it is limiting that keeps us stuck in a …show more content…
Aboriginals have even denied who they are because of the stereotypes an example is Lou James who said “I denied to others and to myself that I was native. It was the only way that I could process the cognitive dissonance that arose when I contemplated my success as a native person and though that in order to be a real native, I had to be all those ugly things” ( I Admit: I Hold Raciest Views About Native People In Canada). This shows the tremendous impact in which the stereotypes have upon the Aboriginal. The Aboriginals end up rejecting their identity. This ends up also affecting the Aboriginal youth since the youth look at the stereotypes and see that society views them this way and think that they might as well be what society thinks of them. An example is the stereotype that Aboriginals are uneducated, the Aboriginal youth will see this and think well if we are all like this then I will end up being like this and as a result end up dropping out and not trying in school. This is a serious impact since this leads to an educational gap between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal students. An example of someone experiencing this serotypes is a Toronto lawyer Renee Pelletier. When she tells people she is an Aboriginal people have a strong reaction and say “wow” and are surprised by her being a lawyer. They think that this is a great achievement for her and think that she is uneducated and that her being a