Common Portrayals of Aboriginal People (M2-4)

The discussions related to Nanook of the North as well as many of our readings in this module had us analyzing how First Nations people are depicted in the media and online.  Within the module I kept on thinking the stereotypes the Western world has developed around the Native American persona.

One site that I found summarized these stereotypes in an honest and realistic manner is the Media Awareness Network’s Common Portrayals of Aboriginal People page.  The site digs deep into North American film and television to list numerous ways in which Aboriginal people have been misrepresented.  In their list they touch on some of the following misrepresentations:

• Romanticization
• The Indian Princess
• The Native Warrior
• The Noble Savage
• Historical Inaccuracies
• Simplistic Characterizations

Other sections of the site investigate some very relevant topics including:

• Aboriginal People in the News
• Native Names and Imagery in Sports
• The Impact of Stereotyping on Young People
• The Development of Aboriginal Broadcasting in Canada
• Aboriginal Voices in the Arts and Media
• The Importance of Media Education