“Generations of North American children have grown up
watching "cowboys and Indians" films and TV shows and reading books
such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
and Little House on the Prairie.
Popular films and novels reinforced the notion that Aboriginal people existed
only in the past—forever chasing buffalo or being chased by the cavalry. These
images showed them as destined to remain on the margins of "real"
society. Such impressions and childhood beliefs, set at an early age, are often
the hardest to shake. Problematic
portrayals remain an issue today, not just in movies and on TV but in a medium
particularly popular among Aboriginal youth, video games.”- MediaSmarts, The Impact of Stereotyping on Young People
The youth of Canada are not yet free from the negative images of First Nations that dominated the media for centuries. From images European painted of first contact in North America to the latest teen crazy, the Twilight Saga, First
Nations are not always depicted as who they truly are. Even images from a recently released music video from the band No Doubt for their song Looking Hot or the annual Victoria Secret December fashion show leave viewers with an unrealistic and outdated image of First Nations people.
The youth of Canada are not yet free from the negative images of First Nations that dominated the media for centuries. From images European painted of first contact in North America to the latest teen crazy, the Twilight Saga, First
Nations are not always depicted as who they truly are. Even images from a recently released music video from the band No Doubt for their song Looking Hot or the annual Victoria Secret December fashion show leave viewers with an unrealistic and outdated image of First Nations people.
It may seem like a losing battle, to change or reverse stereotypes that
have been engrained for generations, but there are some steps we can take to
contribute to change.
Think!
The first step to starting to break down these stereotypes is to approach them with a critical eye. Question what you see on the screen. Learn what the First Nations peoples of Canada are really like. Critical thinking is a skill that is required by the Alberta Program of Studies: Social Studies Kindergarten to Grade 12 to be developed in social studies. It is a skill and mindset that will help students tackle the complex issues of our world. Developing lessons, activities, assignments, or projects that challenge students to look at the way First Nations are depicted in images or during crucial events in Canada’s history provides Canada’s youth the chance to start understanding the negative stereotyping First Nations face.
Start a Group!
Groups and clubs that provide support for First Nations students are much less frequent in the lower stages of education: high school, junior high, and elementary. But this does not have to be the norm. A young lady in Vancouver started her own support system within her school, a First Nations Culture Club entitled Four Directions. The roughly twenty students involved in Four Directions gather together each week to “share stories about their culture and learn about each other's bands” (Ravindran, 2012). Four Directions also strives to build a foundation for all students to start learning about First Nations, mainly accomplished through presentations at school assemblies (Ravinderran, 2012).
Four Directions is a great success story, demonstrating that positive support groups can be established no matter how old a person is. A professor at the University of Calgary, Dr. Darren Lund, helped his students start their own student group when he was teaching high school. Their group’s focus works well with the theme of this website; Students and Teachers Opposing Prejudice, challenged racism and discrimination of all forms. On the University of Calgary’s website there is a ”Getting Started” guide written by Dr. Lund that is useful for any person, student or teacher, looking to start up a club or group in their school.
Take a Trip!
Field trips are a great opportunity not matter what age you are. Within Alberta there are many museums and cultural centres that focus on educating people about the First Nations culture found in our province, and preserving it for future generations. Alberta is full with great locations for teachers to take students to enhance their in-class learning. One of the closest locations to Calgary is Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park. Built at the actual location of the signing of Treaty Seven, Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park provides it’s visitors with an authentic look into the Blackfoot culture. The original purpose of the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park was for Blackfoot elders and youth to reconnect with their culture (KSPS, 2011). Now the site is a world-class facility for all people to discover and learn about Blackfoot culture (KSPS, 2011).
Think!
The first step to starting to break down these stereotypes is to approach them with a critical eye. Question what you see on the screen. Learn what the First Nations peoples of Canada are really like. Critical thinking is a skill that is required by the Alberta Program of Studies: Social Studies Kindergarten to Grade 12 to be developed in social studies. It is a skill and mindset that will help students tackle the complex issues of our world. Developing lessons, activities, assignments, or projects that challenge students to look at the way First Nations are depicted in images or during crucial events in Canada’s history provides Canada’s youth the chance to start understanding the negative stereotyping First Nations face.
Start a Group!
Groups and clubs that provide support for First Nations students are much less frequent in the lower stages of education: high school, junior high, and elementary. But this does not have to be the norm. A young lady in Vancouver started her own support system within her school, a First Nations Culture Club entitled Four Directions. The roughly twenty students involved in Four Directions gather together each week to “share stories about their culture and learn about each other's bands” (Ravindran, 2012). Four Directions also strives to build a foundation for all students to start learning about First Nations, mainly accomplished through presentations at school assemblies (Ravinderran, 2012).
Four Directions is a great success story, demonstrating that positive support groups can be established no matter how old a person is. A professor at the University of Calgary, Dr. Darren Lund, helped his students start their own student group when he was teaching high school. Their group’s focus works well with the theme of this website; Students and Teachers Opposing Prejudice, challenged racism and discrimination of all forms. On the University of Calgary’s website there is a ”Getting Started” guide written by Dr. Lund that is useful for any person, student or teacher, looking to start up a club or group in their school.
Take a Trip!
Field trips are a great opportunity not matter what age you are. Within Alberta there are many museums and cultural centres that focus on educating people about the First Nations culture found in our province, and preserving it for future generations. Alberta is full with great locations for teachers to take students to enhance their in-class learning. One of the closest locations to Calgary is Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park. Built at the actual location of the signing of Treaty Seven, Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park provides it’s visitors with an authentic look into the Blackfoot culture. The original purpose of the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park was for Blackfoot elders and youth to reconnect with their culture (KSPS, 2011). Now the site is a world-class facility for all people to discover and learn about Blackfoot culture (KSPS, 2011).
Other great field trip locations:
Glenbow Museum- Niitsitapiisini: Our Way of Life
Head-Smashed- In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park
If you are looking for something more than just a field trip there is a great program called Canadian Roots Exchange. Canadian Roots Exchange aims to “bridge the gap” between First Nations and non- First Nations youth across Canada. Together, youth “travel to cities, towns, and traditional territories across Canada in an effort to break down stereotypes, open a dialogue, and build honest relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living on this land” (Canadian Root Exchange, 2012). Through exchanges ranging from five days to three weeks, youth build understanding, start a dialogue between unique groups of people, and grow their leadership skills.
Glenbow Museum- Niitsitapiisini: Our Way of Life
Head-Smashed- In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park
If you are looking for something more than just a field trip there is a great program called Canadian Roots Exchange. Canadian Roots Exchange aims to “bridge the gap” between First Nations and non- First Nations youth across Canada. Together, youth “travel to cities, towns, and traditional territories across Canada in an effort to break down stereotypes, open a dialogue, and build honest relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living on this land” (Canadian Root Exchange, 2012). Through exchanges ranging from five days to three weeks, youth build understanding, start a dialogue between unique groups of people, and grow their leadership skills.