Bao Xiong and Julie Kreger

Native AmericanNative AmericanChildren’s Literature Children’s Literature

StudyStudy

Why Study N.A. Literature?• Fastest growing minority group in the country

“If a student encounters in his studies, material which is derogatory toward a

race of people, he will undoubtedly adopt these same attitudes, probably for

life."

• Once ingrained, opinions formed in children are hard to change as they become adults.

• Need to change the way Native Americans are portrayed in our classrooms even if there are no Native American students in our school.

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Ideas on Using N.A. Literature

• Research famous Native Americans – Present and past, contributions, freedom

• Mythology– Creation stories, tales, legends

• Poetry & prose• Compare information

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Resources for Selecting Fun & Accurate Literature

• Recognize racism/stereotypes• Book reviews• Bibliographies of unbiased books• Support American Indian authors

– under represented• Ask an American Indian author!

– Form relationships– Ask for input, suggestions

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Analyzing Children’s Books…

1. Check the Illustrations • Look for Stereotypes (naked savage, "primitive brave" and his "squaw”• Look for Tokenism (“tinted whites”)• Who's Doing What? (roles)2. Check the Story Line (standards for success, resolution of problems)3. Look at the Lifestyles (negative value judgments) 4. Weigh the Relationships Between People (power, leadership, and

important decisions) 5. Note the Heroes 6. Consider the Effect on a Child's Self-Image (is there one or more

persons with whom a minority child can readily identify to a positive and constructive end?)

7. Consider the Author's or Illustrator's Background 8. Check Out the Author's Perspective 9. Watch for Loaded Words (ie. loaded adjectives (usually racist) are

"savage," "primitive," "lazy," "superstitious," "treacherous," "wily," "crafty," "inscrutable," "docile," and "backward“)

10. Look at the Copyright Date

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Biased Books• Little House on the Prairie: says “The only good Indian is

a dead Indian,” 3x!• The Indian in the Cupboard: the little “Indian” is called

Iroquois but there is no attempt to have him look or behave appropriately

• Knots on a Counting Rope: provides conflicting clues about what Nation the characters belong to, the custom of a counting rope cannot be accounted for, and the behavior and language of the characters does not accurately portray the language and behavior of Native Americans

• Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: the author chose to adapt the famous speech of Chief Seattle to what she believed because nobody knows for sure what he said

• Visit: STAR – Students and Teachers Against Racism (http://www.racismagainstindians.org/) or Oyate (www.oyate.org)

Joseph Bruchac• Storyteller, writer, educator• Abeneki ancestry, lives in New York • His poems, stories and articles have appeared in

over 500 publications• He has written more than 70 books for adults and

children, including:– A Boy Called Slow– Pushing Up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for

Children– Many Nations: An Alphabet of Native Americans– The Great Ball Game: A Muskogee Story– How Chipmunk Got His Stripes (with James Bruchac)Interview with Joseph Bruchac: http://www.content.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=118

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Louise Erdrich• Novelist, poet, short story writer, essayist, critic• Member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa • Lives in Minnesota• Has authored many critically acclaimed novels for

adults• Owns Birchbark Books in Minneapolis• Her children’s books include:

– The Range Eternal– The Birchbark House– Grandmother’s Pigeon

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Cynthia Leitich Smith• Author of contemporary Native American

writing for children, contemporary short stories for middle grade and young adults, and fantasy.

• Member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation• Lives in Texas• Great website on children’s literature

http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com• Her children’s books include:

– Jingle Dancer– Indian Shoes

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Activity

• Pushing up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for Children by Joseph Bruchac

• Reader’s Theatre– Acting using your voice

Sources• Background Image:

http://siouxpoet.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/ic0001.jpg

• 1(http://www.kporterfield.com/aicttw/excerpts/antibiasbooks.html)• 2(http://www.racismagainstindians.org/AcademicPapers/WhatWorks.htm)• 3(http://www.birchlane.davis.ca.us/library/10quick.htm)• 4(http://www.josephbruchac.com)• 5(http://www.harpercollins.com/author/index.aspx?authorid=2905)• 6(http://www.ipl.org/div/natam/bin/browse.pl/A30)• 7(http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com)