Being Native
Native Americans can also be referred to as Indian.
I am sure we all know the history of Columbus. When he was sailing and landed in America, he thought he was India and called the Natives of that land "Indians". So, calling Native Americans "Indians" is incorrect!
Native Americans don't exist anymore.
Obviously, this is false.
Before Europeans arrived, Native Americans had no civilization.
False, pre-Columbus, Native Americans had built their own communities and were thriving!
Regalias are just costumes!
False! Regalias are what Native Americans wear while they dance during powwows.
Native Americans have straight, long black hair and brown skin.
False. Native Americans come in all shapes and sizes!
All Native Americans live on reservations.
While some tribes in the US have reservations, all Native American's don live on them.
Native Americans use to, and still do, live in teepees!
While many Natives did live in teepees, this isn't true anymore. In history, not all Natives lived in teepees, some lived in longhouses or other homes.
Powwows are Satanic rituals that worship fake gods.
False! Powwows are celebrations of the Native culture and a chance for us to commune together!
Native students go to college for free!
Well...not all Natives go for free, but there are many scholarships for Native students!
The federal government just gives money to all Natives for being Native.
False, while the federal government does give money to many federally recognized tribes, not all Natives receive it.
Native Americans were conquered by Europeans.
European settlers brought diseases and illnesses (to which Natives had no immunity) and committed violent, genocidal, and settler colonial acts against Natives.
There is a general Native culture.
Cultures and traditions of Natives vary from tribe to tribe. Things the Lumbees do may not be done by the Cree people.
Using the word "savage" is cool and unharmful to the Native American community.
In the US Constitution, Native Americans were referred to as "merciless Indian savages". The modernization and common use of the word continues to portray negative stereotypes about Natives.
All Natives have an “Indian name”.
Some Natives, but not all, have names given to them by their Tribal Nation, usually in their language, but the term “Indian name” is offensive.
Native Americans have a violent culture.
First, there is no universal culture among Natives. Natives have been stereotyped as savages and warriors for defending our lands and cultures from settlers. This is used to justify past and present actions against Native peoples.
Smudging is for everyone!
Smudging is sacred to many Native cultures and the colonization of this tradition lessens its value.
Natives were and are more susceptible to illnesses and diseases because of inferior genes.
Natives often have higher rates of some illnesses and diseases due to socioeconomic disparities, discrimination, and settler colonialism.
Native mascots actually honor Native Americans and their culture!
False, Native mascots perpetuate the idea that Native Americans aren't real or that we are just caricatures.
Natives sold the city of Manhattan to the Dutch for $24 worth of trinkets.
In reality, they traded the city with the Dutch for actual supplies and resources in great bulk!
Natives are experts on all Native histories, cultures, and languages.
Natives cannot possibly know everything about all of the Native peoples in this region. In the US alone, there are 574 federally recognized tribes and over 62 state-recognized tribes.