The Way We View Native Americans

Photo By: Daniella Zalcman

Many American citizens are unaware of modern Native American existence in society. They assume Native peoples still reside on reservations and dress in traditional tribal wear, never really seeing them as part of modern American society. American citizens think of natives in the past tense, not in the present. However, seventy percent of natives today live in urban areas and they are also civically engaged. When we do think of natives, we tend to focus on the negative aspects. We focus on things such as lack of resources and substance abuse amongst native men.We see what we want to see. We focus on the stereotypes and assume that said stereotypes are what make native peoples, native. We do not listen to their story, because we assume we already know it.

Many of the issues native peoples face are not publicized nor heard about. Police brutality is a big issue from native people, some may even say they have it worse than black people, and yet we do not hear anything about it. Native peoples have essentially been erased and forgotten, as if they are a distant memory. We do not fight for them the way we fight for other struggling minorities and the speaks volumes. It goes to show just how invisible they are in the eyes of some Americans.

Recently, Native Americans have begun challenging the stereotypes put forth against them. In the December issue of the National Geographic, Native American photographers captured images which depict Native Americans in a different light. The images taken are very impactful. They force the viewer to think outside the box and finally listen to the stories of Native peoples.

Zalcman, Daniella. “Native Americans Are Recasting Views of Indigenous Life.” National Geographic, National Geographic, 20 Nov. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/12/native-americans-recasting-views-indigenous-life/.

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