Indian Imagery in American Indian Imagery in American Popular CulturePopular Culture

Worcester v. Georgia Worcester v. Georgia (1831)(1831)

Did these adventurers, by sailing along the coast, and Did these adventurers, by sailing along the coast, and occasionally landing on it, acquire for the several occasionally landing on it, acquire for the several governments to whom they belonged, or by whom governments to whom they belonged, or by whom they were commissioned, a rightful property in the they were commissioned, a rightful property in the soil, from the Atlantic to the Pacific; or rightful soil, from the Atlantic to the Pacific; or rightful dominion over the numerous people who occupied it? dominion over the numerous people who occupied it? Or has nature, or the great Creator of all things, Or has nature, or the great Creator of all things, conferred these rights over hunters and fishermen, on conferred these rights over hunters and fishermen, on agriculturists and manufacturers?agriculturists and manufacturers?

United States v. Joseph United States v. Joseph (1876)(1876)

In short, [the Pueblos] are a peaceable, In short, [the Pueblos] are a peaceable, industrious, intelligent, honest, and virtuous industrious, intelligent, honest, and virtuous people. They are Indians only in feature, people. They are Indians only in feature, complexion, and a few of their habits; in all complexion, and a few of their habits; in all other respects superior to all but a few of the other respects superior to all but a few of the civilized Indian tribes of the country, and the civilized Indian tribes of the country, and the equal of the most civilized thereof. equal of the most civilized thereof.

United States v. Sandoval United States v. Sandoval (1913)(1913)The people of the pueblos, although sedentary rather The people of the pueblos, although sedentary rather

than nomadic in their inclinations, and disposed to than nomadic in their inclinations, and disposed to peace and industry, are nevertheless Indians in race, peace and industry, are nevertheless Indians in race, customs, and domestic government. Always living in customs, and domestic government. Always living in separate and isolated communities, adhering to separate and isolated communities, adhering to primitive modes of life, largely influenced by primitive modes of life, largely influenced by superstition and fetichism, and chiefly governed superstition and fetichism, and chiefly governed according to the crude customs inherited from their according to the crude customs inherited from their ancestors, they are essentially a simple, uninformed, ancestors, they are essentially a simple, uninformed, and inferior people. and inferior people.

Tee-Hit-Ton Indians v. United States Tee-Hit-Ton Indians v. United States (1955)(1955)

No case in this Court has ever held that taking of Indian No case in this Court has ever held that taking of Indian title or use by Congress required compensation. The title or use by Congress required compensation. The American people have compassion for the American people have compassion for the descendants of those Indians who were deprived of descendants of those Indians who were deprived of their homes and hunting grounds by the drive of their homes and hunting grounds by the drive of civilization. They seek to have the Indians share the civilization. They seek to have the Indians share the benefits of our society as citizens of this Nation. benefits of our society as citizens of this Nation. Generous provision has been willingly made to Generous provision has been willingly made to allow tribes to recover for wrongs, as a matter of allow tribes to recover for wrongs, as a matter of grace, not because of legal liability. grace, not because of legal liability.

Tee-Hit-Ton Indians v. United States Tee-Hit-Ton Indians v. United States (1955)(1955)

Every American schoolboy knows that the Every American schoolboy knows that the savage tribes of this continent were deprived savage tribes of this continent were deprived of their ancestral ranges by force and that, of their ancestral ranges by force and that, even when the Indians ceded millions of acres even when the Indians ceded millions of acres by treaty in return for blankets, food and by treaty in return for blankets, food and trinkets, it was not a sale but the conquerors' trinkets, it was not a sale but the conquerors' will that deprived them of their land.will that deprived them of their land.