Indian Comics Irregular #182

Sometimes it seems the parade of Indian mascots and stereotypes will never end.
Here are the latest examples in the news:

In April, the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe voted in favor of the University of North
Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" nickname. Apparently these Indians don't mind being
stereotyped as one-dimensional warriors.

An Inuit tourist noticed that New Zealanders eat marshmallow candies called
Eskimos. They're shaped like little people in parkas and advertised with igloo
illustrations.

On Tax Day, Fox News followers staged phony "tea parties" across the nation to
protest bailouts, deficits, or a black man as president--it's hard to tell
which. Some dressed up as stereotypical chiefs and other Indians, with slogans
such as "Paleface Taxes Too High" and "Let Little Brave Keep Wampum."

In March, a Burning Man crew advertised a "Go Native" dance in Oakland,
California. People were supposed to come in Native "costume" and party in
Native "theme rooms." Fortunately, AIM West managed to shut down the event.

A company is selling eyewear based on the Inuit snow goggles. Alas, it chose to
call them Slanties, an insult to Asian people.

At Carpinteria High School in central California, school board members voted to
keep their stereotypical "Warriors" name and Plains chief mascot. Supporters
trotted out the usual arguments about "honoring" Indians--even though Indians
don't consider mascots an honor.

In Italy, the government launched an anti-drinking program called Operation Red
Nose. Its emblem was--you guessed it--a stereotypical Indian chief with a big
red nose.

Australia's Tourist Board ran commercials in which an aboriginal man-child sends
stressed-out Anglos on "walkabout" vacations with pixie dust. This bolsters the
widespread notion that indigenous people have magical powers.

Chasco, Florida, continues to hold an annual festival in which people deck
themselves out in buckskins, feathers, and beads. Like New Orleans's Mardi Gras
"Indians," these wannabes are stereotypical.

Fashion designer Christian Audigier held a show supposedly based on Native
cultures. What that meant was a lot of fringe, feathers, jewelry, and exposed
skin.

Red Bull has run commercials in which Indian lovers in separate tipis send smoke
signals to each other. For about the millionth time, outdated Plains Indian
stereotypes serve to (mis)represent all Indians.

Movie News

Graham Greene and Tinsel Korey have joined the cast of "New Moon," the
"Twilight" sequel that features Quileute werewolves. The filmmakers also hired
several young Native actors to play the "Wolf Pack"--after people criticized
them for casting non-Native Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black.

The First Americans in the Arts had to cancel their annual ceremony because of
poor ticket sales. As you may recall, I attended the previous ceremonies and
reported on them.

I recently published articles in Indian Country Today on Southern California's
film festivals, the Creative Spirit script competition, "The Exiles," NBC's
"Crusoe," and non-Natives cast as Natives. Check them out at
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/pechanga.htm if you're interested.

The documentary series "We Shall Remain"--five takes on key moments in Native
history--is playing on PBS now. So far it looks good. Stay tuned for my
reviews in Newspaper Rock and here.

For more on Native-themed movies, go to
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/namovies.htm .

Rob Schmidt
Blue Corn Comics