A Critical Look at American Indians in Children’s Literature
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A Critical Look at American Indians in Children’s Literature By Deebie Reese
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A Critical Look at American Indians in Children’s Literature. By Deebie Reese. Think about children’s or young adult books you have read that are about American Indians. Locate, copy & paste the cover of a book you recall on the next slide. What is cultural appropriation?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of A Critical Look at American Indians in Children’s Literature
A Critical Look at American Indians in Children’s Literature
By Deebie Reese
Think about children’s or young adult books you have read that
are about American Indians.
Locate, copy & paste the cover of a book you recall on the next
slide.
What is cultural appropriation?
Taking elements of one culture, usually a minority culture, and incorporating them into
a majority culture. Often the elements are used inappropriately and incorrectly. Some
uses are disrespectful and promote stereotypes and untruths about the minority
culture.
Why is this particularly common with American Indian culture?
What problems should concern us regarding literature about
American Indians that is written for children & teens?
(Borrowed from Debbie Reese)
Problem:“They’re all gone.”
Confined to the past
Solution• Look for books set in the present day.• Look for books by Native authors.• Talk about author’s tribe and work.
Problem:
Misrepresentation of traditional values in “Native American
Folktales, Myths, and Legends”
“a Pueblo Indian tale”
Which Pueblo?
Remember, there are 19 in New Mexico, and they are not identical.
“You must prove yourself. You must pass through the four chambers of ceremony—the Kiva of Lions, the Kiva of Serpents, the Kiva of Bees, and the Kiva of Lightening.”
Solutions• Look for tribally specific traditional stories by
Native people• Look for well-made or model source notes
inside the book
Problem: Institutional racism in shelving leads to trivialization
Solution: Shelve Native stories with World Religions (290s) instead of Fairy and Folk tales (398s )
Problem:• Too much historical fiction• Bias in historical fiction
FACTS:
1804: Indian Territory created
1845: almost 100,000 Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminoles in Indian Territory
1868: Charles moves family to Indian Territory.
BIAS:
Not as “empty” as Wilder suggests.
Laura was 2 years old.
Quote: “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.”
Solution: Look for newer historical fiction
…and contemporary fiction by Native authors
Problem: Award status is not reliable indicator
Solution• Learn all you can about a single tribe• Check tribal websites• Use available resources
Tips for Choosing American Indian Literature
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
Coming Up
• Assignment 3 due next week• Assignment 4 due May 2nd
