Disney's Indian Princess

Disney movies are classic and timeless. We’ve all seen them and we’ve all grown to love them. These movies teaches children valuable life lessons, but they also them things like racial stereotypes. In the 1995 cartoon version of Pocahontas, a young, beautiful Indian princess with copper skin, long, black hair, and dark brown eyes encounters a brave and handsome “white man.” Everyone knows the rest of story: they fall into a forbidden love, their people fight each other, and the princess makes peace between the two sides at the very end.

The characters of Pocahontas is rooted in the "Indian princess" stereotype. In the film, English settlers were very attracted to Pocahontas, more so than the Native American men and since she was an “ Indian princess,” a term used by the men to legitimize Native American women, not many people opposed to the idea. She is strong and possesses an exotic sexuality that both emphasizes her "otherness," and yet serves as a forbidden fantasy for the dominating White male. The story of Pocahontas is mostly real. She wasn't a Princess in real life though. As a matter of fact, there were no Indian royalty and in turn there were no Indian Princesses. Yet these images and roles that is displayed on the screen continues to dominate the popular concept of who Pocahontas was. Another possibility as to why the "Princess Stereotype" emerged could be because she was exposed to the British Royalty after being captured by the English and everyone began thinking her as a Princess because her father was one of the head Native Americans of their tribe.

A possible theme in the movie appears to be good/bad Indian. Due to the portrayal of these stereotypes, children are being taught that “Indians” are bad people but some are exception to that rule, like Pocahontas. The movie also depicts Native Americans as aggressive while glorifying the image of the English settlers whom ultimately killed many Native Americans and deposed them of their land, something that was not shown in the Disney adaptation. Not only was the film incorrect in the portrayal of Pocahontas and the Native Americans, but they were also not fully correct when referring to Captain John Smith and his relationship with Pocahontas. However, it is very likely that Pocahontas and John Smith were never involved in a romantic relationship as Disney had portrayed in the animated film. Moreover, it appears that Pocahontas became an avenue between her people and the English settlers for negotiating goods and maintaining peace.

Even though these stereotypes were created many years ago, they still exist in modern films. They present a problem because many children are growing up thinking that all these false ideas about American Indian culture are true and viewers base their knowledge of Native Americans on these stereotypes. Also, Native Americans themselves may become confused about their own culture. These stereotypical representations are what shapes society’s views on one another. It justifies inequality. Native Americans being underrepresented in the media today. When they are being presented, they are stereotyped whether it is being wise elders, savages, mythical which gives the impression that they no longer exist.

Hollywood Entertainments Presents...

Smoke Signals (1998) is a movie that revolves around the lives of Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire. Throughout the movie, the audience follows both of these individuals around on a spiritual journey of self discovery and forgiveness. This journey was embarked by Victor and Thomas because of a series of events that happened on a Fourth of July, when Victor and Thomas were only a couple of months old. On this day, a house was engulfed in flames and both Victor and Thomas were caught inside. Victor's father saved both infants, but Thomas's parents died. As the movie progresses, we discover that Victor's father was an alcoholic and was abusive towards Victor and his mother. Years later, Victor's father leaves and dies in Phoenix. When Victor’s mother found out, she wanted her son to travel to Phoenix to retrieve his ashes. However, due to poverty, she couldn’t afford the travel. This is when Thomas offers to give him the money to travel with the condition that Victor agrees to let Thomas to tag along. This journey leads to Victor's struggle of finding forgiveness for his father’s abuse and abandonment.

Victor is presented to be a Coeur d'Alene Indian with long, flowing, thick, black hair. Throughout the movie, he continuously tells Thomas how a true Indian is suppose to dress, talk, and behave. He continuously voices that a true Indian grows out and lets his hair down. In addition, he tells Thomas that Indians do not wear suits, they wear beat up clothes. Lastly, he demonstrates that an Indian is not suppose to be smiling all the time. His justification was that an Indian is suppose to be stoic to invoke masculinity and toughness. Victor conforms to the stereotype that Native Americans are unable to feel anything positive, such as happiness, joy, compassion, and hopefulness. In the film, even when he seems to at his most vulnerable state, he is shown to deal with his feelings with anger and aggressiveness. He also conforms to the stereotype that most, if not all, Native Americans are savages who are too uncivilized to conform to social norms, such as being polite. For example, on their way to Phoenix, Victor expresses his annoyance with a passenger by expressing his anger of the mistreatment Native Americans had to face.

This character works to justify Native Americans’ social and economic marginalization because of the stereotypes that people associate with them. For example, it could be argued that Native Americans do not deserve to be included as part of America because of their “inability to become civilized to American culture”. In other words, why should they be considered American if they are refusing to abandon their culture and traditions to become American? As for the economic marginalization, it could be argued that Native Americans are “selfish” for attempting to keep Americans from expanding, so in their minds, these people feel they are finally get what they deserve, which is having their land taken.

The Americanization of Pocahontas

The 1995 Disney film titled Pocahontas follows a Native woman, circa 1607, who encounters a British settler by the name of John Smith. The two fall in love after a few moments of bonding in the wilderness. The main plot of the movie involves the dispute behind the Natives and the settlers who have come to this "New World" to seek a gold treasure that is only myth. Pocahontas's former fiancee Kocoum attacks John Smith after witnessing the two share a passionate kiss. Smith's fellow settler Thomas saves him by shooting and killing Kocoum. This event creates the central drama between the two groups of people. John Smith is then sent to face execution for his involvement in the death of Kocoum, as a war practically ensues between the two groups. A peaceful Pocahontas interferes in the execution and insists both groups stop pointlessly fighting. After a few heart-warming events, John Smith plans to return home insisting that he will one day be reunited with Pocahontas.

The character Pocahontas is depicted in this film as a beautiful dark-haired, dark-skinned Native woman who dons a tribal gown, necklace, and armband. Pocahontas is an incredibly free-spirited person who seems to differ greatly from the other tribal members. Interestingly enough, the movie more often depicts the other Natives to fit the role of a stereotyped Native as opposed to Pocahontas. Her tribal people are depicted as "savages" and are often called exactly that throughout the movie by the British settlers. Pocahontas actually resembles more of an American figure. For example, Pocahontas is a beautiful young woman whose most notable features include long, black hair and full, red lips. She also appears to be able to speak both English and her native tongue. The fact that the center conflict is resolved by the peaceful behaviors and attitudes of an American-like Native seems creates this (possibly intentional) illusion that Natives are simply savages that want to inflict harm upon peaceful British colonists, for these reasons I believe that the representations of Natives in the film Pocahontas seem to justify the economic and social marginalization of the racial group. The fact that the protagonist falls in love with a tall, White, blond "hunk" does not help the case either. Although the British settlers search for this imaginary treasure, the conflict truly begins when Pocahontas father, Chief Powhatan, declares all settlers dangerous. In some light, Pocahontas's own people seem to be the antagonists of the movie. The Natives are never quite given the chance for redemption other than the obvious ceasefire near the climax of the movie; this occurrence appears to be quite common in American depictions of conflicts between the two racial groups.

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.

Literally, Chief.

In the movie, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the character, “Chief,” plays a stereotypical Native American role in his supporting character role to Jack Nicholson’s main character. This movie entails a man, Jack Nicholson’s character, that is not clinically insane or with any real mental disability he is seen as “faking it” to be in the mental institution to avoid his jail sentence the in the beginning of the movie and then befriends an assortment of people in the institution with presumed actual mental problems. He inspires them all by believing in them and helping them think that they are “psychos” as they have been constantly been told prior. One of the men in the establishment is Chief, a giant Native American man with bold facial features and he is a brooding presence because of his size. He is thought to be deaf and blind because he is stoic and doesn't speak or acknowledge that he hears anything when people speak to him up until Jack Nicholson’s character treats him as an equal and gets him to speak to him in perfect English.

The character of Chief is a walking stereotype that reproduces the idea of the strong, long haired, wise, quiet, and seemingly uninterested in the white man Native American male. They are usually seen in movies as the only one of their kind and this move does not deviate. Throughout the movie, Chief does not say much, but when he does, it is indeed meaningful. The only thing missing from this traditional view of Native American men is that h
e was not wearing the feathers, headband, a braid, or other clothing typically seen in movies with American Indians. He is a caricature of presumed Native American culture right down to the name they give him, Chief.

This character works to justify the social and economic marginalization of Native Americas throughout history in that it makes him seem helpless in the movie until the white man, Jack Nicholson’s character, is able to break him of his desire to stay quiet and submissive to the nurses and other officials in the establishment. Also, it also ranks the people in the movie as it was seen at the time. The doctors were white males, the nurses were white women, the help/ security were black males, and the patients were predominantly white men. This justifies the social inequality that the only way a white male could be lower than women or blacks or equal to that of a Native American is if he is seen as severely mentally ill. Since the movie allows this notion to prevail, we see how the media not only plays a role in our social lives but also how it affects world views as a whole. It justifies this ideal because it makes it seem that everyone is content in their role in society and that is how it always has been. As a whole population, people resist change and fear the unknown, which is why inequality continues to exist. As Malcom X stated in his famous quote, “You don't stick a knife in a man's back nine inches and then pull it out six inches and say you're making progress... No matter how much respect, no matter how much recognition, whites show towards me, as far as I am concerned, as long as it is not shown to every one of our people in this country, it doesn't exist for me.”

Doobee Doobee Doo

The show "Parks and Recreation" is a mocumentary about the parks and recreation government department of a small town in Indiana called Pawnee. The town of Pawnee, according to the show, has a bloody history between the Native Americans that were the original owners of the land, the Womapoke tribe, with the white settlers. In the episode "Harvest Festival," the main character, Lesley Knope, who is a white middle class woman, hosts the annual Pawnee harvest festival on what the Native American Womapoke tribe chief informs her is the site of the massacre of his ancestors. The chief, Ken Hotate, asks her to change the location of the harvest festival but Lesley claims it is too late. In response to her refusal, Ken informs her that he is going to put a curse on the festival, however he later tells the camera that the curse isn't real but that "There are two things I know about white people: they love Matchbox 20, and they are terrified of curses." While he is telling the Parks department to change the location, he messes with the white government workers by playing on the dynamics that often exist between whites and PoC when whites do not want to come off as racist. Later on, the media finds out about the supposed curse and covers it heavily, which scares the Pawnee citizens, proving Ken Hotate right, that the white people of the town are terrified of curses. After Ken and Lesley come to an agreement, Ken agrees to "lift" the curse, but really only says "I am not saying anything. No one can understand me anyway. Doobee. Doobee. Doo" in his native tongue that none of the citizens of Pawnee can understand and believe that he has lifted the curse.

Generally, older Native American men are represented in media as the wise or magical medicine man, who exists solely to further the plot of the white male protagonist by either imparting them advice or using magic on or for them. Ken Hotate knows about these stereotypes and mocks and messes with the white population of Pawnee by pretending to place a curse on them. Ken willingly partakes in this stereotype for personal gain, which in the fictional world that he exists in would act to perpetuate that stereotype. As viewers, though, his actions contest the stereotype by showing that the white citizens of Pawnee are the butt of the joke for believing in curses that are cast by an older Native American man. This character shows us that the Native American community is aware of the misrepresentations of themselves in media, as well as that they are openly critical of them.

Ken Hotate, while not adhering to many of the stereotypes that are typically seen being represented by many other characters in media, does adhere to the stereotype of owning a casino. I am not sure, however, what the real world consequences of that stereotype being presented in media has. Possibly the fact that Ken Hotate owns a casino and is well off financially fails to show the economic subjugation that many Native Americans face during their whole lives. His interactions with the white people did properly show part of the social dynamics that exist between whites and Native American people. It is important to note, however, that I am not Native American and therefor have no say in what is fair representation and what is not.

The Reservation and Jacob

Before writing about the Native American stereotypes that the Twilight Saga’s Jacob Black embodies I would like to share one instance of Native American stereotypes that I witnessed. I was born and raised in a town that is ten minutes away from an Indian reservation. This reservation is primarily inhabited by Yokuts and Wukchumni. Due to the proximity of the reservation to my home, many of my schoolmates were Native Americans. I can clearly recall a peer’s surprised expression during my school’s scholarship night. This peer later expressed that he was surprised because many of the other classmates were given tribal scholarships. He did not know that those classmates were members of the TuleRiver Tribe because he expected Native Americans to dress and act like the Native Americans that the media portrays. Instead, he was surprised because our Native American classmates dressed and acted “normally.” This personal anecdote illustrates some of the Native American stereotypes that are perpetuated throughout the media.

An example of a big screen character that expresses Native American stereotypes is Jacob Black. Jacob Black is a werewolf who is a part of the Quileute Tribe in the Twilight Saga. Jacob is initially a savage sidekick who later develops into a wise warrior werewolf. This description of Jacob is the media portrayal of Native American individuals. The Twilight Saga further employs Native American stereotypes by having supporting characters who are also a part of the Quileute Tribe. These supporting characters are typically wise elders who are extremely spiritual or savage brutes who inflict pain on others. The portrayals of all of the Quileutes closely resemble the historical representations of Native American men. These historical representations portray men as being savage, sidekicks, wise elders, and doomed warriors.

The historical representations of Native Americans discussed in the previous paragraphs justify the economic and social marginalization of Native Americans. The historical representations, such as the ones discussed in my personal anecdote, allow companies to economically capitalize on “traditional” Native American apparel. These companies are allowed to create and reproduce images of powwow and traditional ceremony costumes and gain profit from this exploitation and misconception of “Native American wear.” The historical representations about the attitudes and actions of Native Americans, as shown with the Jacob Black example, are also still widely used in the media and do cause harm to Native Americans. These historical representations make others feel that Native Americans should be towards the bottom of the social hierarchy. This is because the media portrays Native Americans as savages that need to be contained, just like Jacob needed to be contained when his emotions fluctuated and when he would transform into a werewolf. The media should focus on eliminating Native American stereotypes instead of continually utilizing historical representations of Native Americans.

            The media, including movies and shows, have fostered Native American stereotypes through the use of historical representations of Native Americans. Jacob Black, a Native American character from the Twilight Saga, is a prime example of characters in the media that continue to enable stereotypes and oppress Native Americans. Native American oppression is caused by these representations because they preserve and spread the idea that Native Americans should be kept at a lower social class, but used for profit. ​