Hau Kola (Hello Friend- Lakota)

Stereotypes of Native Americans in films and on television...where do I begin? The biggest offender that comes to mind is the "Chief" in Disney's Peter Pan. I remember from a very young age how much I hated this character. Is it the red tint in his skin? Is it his annoying voice? Or is it the very word "Hau!" which means "hello" in Lakota? The "wild savages" are stereotypical caricatures of Native Americans with huge "pickle noses", drooping lips, tomahawks, and head bands with feathers. Because of these stereotypical images the dignity and humanity of the Native Americans were stripped away to almost goofy images- to young Native Americans how can one be proud? This is an effective way to create and enforce cultural genocide on the younger generation- be ashamed to be a "red man". To a young child who is not Native American and has no prior knowledge of Native Americans looking at these characters would entice the imagination with their war "whoops" and their "why is the red man red, humaya ya ya humaya ya ya" song. Coming off the Pine Ridge reservation I was met with these stereotypes- the whooping and the chanting that was picked up from any cartoon as well as the dreaded "Hau"- I really hated that word. Peter Pan displayed the "Injuns" as "savages" who were blood thirsty and were always on a "war path"; discounting the fact that it is far more brave to count coup (face your opponent with no blood shed) than to kill an enemy. These images would justify the need for Native Americans to be placed on reservations because they are hostile, sneaky (hiding in trees and shrubs), and they treat women as secondary citizens (i.e. Wendy having to get firewood). This also reinforces what a Native American should look like- red, stoic, menacing, war paint and feathers but also uneducated and incapable of carrying on a "decent conversation". This image discounts the traditional languages spoken and the vast knowledge that has always been marginalized and discounted through out history because it was better to "kill the Indian save the man". Unfortunately to this day there are those that see nothing wrong with these images and that they were part of childhood, a part of growing up. They fail to realize the hurt that Native Americans endured up until just recently as of the 1980's in boarding schools. Most of the public look at Native Americans as relics of the past, not a people of the 21st century and with images like the chief and his braves these stereotypes will perpetuate.