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Paul G

Elizabeth Schrum
PowWows.com Gathering - Forums for Native American Pow Wows - View Profile: JinglnCrazyLilBird

Elizabeth Schrum is running for PowWows.com Princess.

Please post any questions or comments you have for her in this thread.

Voting for the Princess Contest will begin January 1, 2010.

To read more about the contest, please visit:
2010 PowWows.com Princess Contest

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NorthofAda

Most, if not all of us, have run into situations where we faced stereotypes about Native Americans or incorrect information about Native American culture.

Please describe an experience you had that involved such a stereotype or misinformation and how you handled it.

kiyaanii mom

Good luck with the contest.

What kind of regalia do you wear when you particpate at powwows? And Why?

Paul G

Please answer the questions posted for you.

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JinglnCrazyLilBird

Let me begin by apologizing greatly for the delay in response to these questions. I will admit that Ada challenged me with her first question about stereotypes. I wanted to give the question the thought it deserved and the response that reflected such consideration. Unfortunately, I’ve been on the road and been hindered from replying promptly by the weather, the holidays, and limited sources of free wifi. I was, however, fortunate enough to spend some time with fellow natives. While briefly in Miami, I had the privilege of visiting the Miccosukee reservation and meeting possibly the nicest, most hospitable people in all of Miami. I was also glad to have a chance to rendezvous with my sister, who is living back in the southeast, and do some beadwork with her like old times. Even though I’ve been away from Powwows.com, I’ve never stopped thinking of it and forgetting it’s true function, the bringing together of natives from all over.

My struggle with Ada’s question about stereotypes was that, while experiencing them frequently, I have grown up disregarding them habitually. Whether an individual is of a certain race, class, or creed, they are likely to experience stereotypes. I have always followed the doctrine that actions speak louder and, thus, despite any predisposed misconception one may have about me or my native background, I continue to live according to the traditions I’ve been taught in a manner that best honors my tribe and ethnicity. I have found that this passive route to approaching stereotypes has been most effective as non-native peoples find their preconceptions disproved by observing otherwise through my behavior. Most stereotypes are derived from ignorance and merely that people just didn’t have the opportunity to be presented the correct information as so many are continually presented a clichéd “Indian” through the media (a.k.a “Hollywood” Indians). So I find that non-native people are willing to discard their stereotypes and learn the correct representation of what is native if only someone could properly identify it amongst all the incorrect views that are presented by contrived depictions.

As for specific examples of stereotypes faced, the most emphasized is, of course, always appearance. American culture is largely appearance based and so when someone says that they’re a member of a tribe, non-native people expect to see black hair, brown skin, braids, buckskin, and beads. I’ve had spectators at powwows approach me and ask me questions such as “Do you wear regalia like that everyday?” or “Do you live in a teepee?” I never take offense to any question as these people only ask questions because they are wanting to learn. A question is the perfect opportunity to eliminate a stereotype. I always try to answer every question in a respectful way, usually by using humor or analogy. I’ll explain, for example, that regalia is not worn everyday but rather is for a specific occasion such as a powwow, social gathering, or ceremony just as one wears special outfits for church, fancy clothes to a dance, or specific robes to a graduation.
Along with dress, people expect certain physical features. My sister and I of are the exact same parentage but my sister is quite obviously of native blood where as I look more Caucasian. Often my sister will be accepted as Native American where as I will not. She finds this very awkward as she, at times, looks to me for advice on traditions in that I’ve made great attempts to try to learn from our relatives and maintain them. But as stated before, I disregard how I am viewed because even if I tried to behave non-native so as to match my perceived appearance, I could not as it is not the way I was raised and it is not how I earnestly live. I reveal who I am through my actions and my work in the native community.

There are so many of examples of stereotypes I have encountered that I could write a dozen forum posts in response to this question yet I think what is most important about stereotypes for natives is to be open about your culture and never defensive. In addition, just be who you truly are and eventually others will see it.

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