American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL)

Kat, I wish Warren would use her status to say th...

2012-05-21T10:39:40.574-05:00

Kat,

I wish Warren would use her status to say this:

"I was raised to believe that I was part Cherokee, and based on that belief, I claimed Cherokee at various times in order to meet people like me. I know, now, that:

1) there is a Cherokee Nation that has policies in place that determine who its citizens are, and I am not a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

2) there are people who believe they have Cherokee ancestors, and that there are ways of verifying that ancestry with the Cherokee Nation. I have not done that.

3) the pride in my claim of Cherokee ancestry and my understanding of that ancestry is, sadly, based on an educational system that fails to teach Americans that in addition to state and federal governments, there are tribal governments that are recognized by the federal government as sovereign nations with the inherent power of any nation to determine who its citizens are.

4) I am therefore, going to make this information one of my talking points. It is an opportunity to educate a lot of people."

It would be outstanding if she did that, but given the way politics works, I doubt she would do it.

Many thanks for the posts related to the Common Co...

2012-05-20T21:16:39.097-05:00

Many thanks for the posts related to the Common Core. Thay are greatly appreciated.

@ Debbie: I already said on racialicious how absol...

2012-05-19T20:37:21.683-05:00

@ Debbie: I already said on racialicious how absolutely ridiculous Ms Elwin Gillum is, but I was wondering what your views/reactions are to the 'twist' regarding Elizabeth Warren and her ancestry. I'm confused now. It seems as if Warren has no Cherokee ancestry now whatsoever, but instead an ancestor who as militia member rounded up Cherokees for deportation.

@ Azizi Powell: I find your entire post condescending, actually. Latoya is not Native, so if a Nambe Pueblo and a Blackfeet try to educate Latoya on indigenous politics, that is as little condescending as it would be if you were to educate Debbie on Black issues. (Hint: Not at all)

That is a very interesting question about the perc...

2012-05-19T13:51:43.801-05:00

That is a very interesting question about the perception of the Aleuts. I am thinking not so much of our perception of the Aleuts, but Juana Maria/ Karana's. I wonder if you would feel differently about a group of people who slaughtered your entire family if you knew that they were in turn enslaved by someone else, or if you would only care that they slaughtered your entire family.

On the subject of Prezi.. I've had serious iss...

2012-05-17T15:09:15.158-05:00

On the subject of Prezi.. I've had serious issues with it. Every time I try to access presentations it freezes my Macbook. No matter what I do, whether it's the website or the downloadable app. It's been literally impossible for me to use it!

No, Wendy, I'm not saying that at all. My obse...

2012-05-17T06:06:51.228-05:00

No, Wendy, I'm not saying that at all. My observation is that overall, American Indians appear more frequently in historical fiction than in fiction. And in that historical fiction, they are (more often than not) depicted inaccurately or in biased ways by people who mean well... By people who seem to be mourning an existence that went the way of that "end of the trail" notion, when in fact, that imagined existence being mourned never-was-as-imagined.

There's some historical fiction I absolutely love. Erdrich's BIRCHBARK HOUSE... Sterling's MY NAME IS SEEPEETZA...

Congratulations, Matt! I look forward to reading y...

2012-05-16T21:31:39.147-05:00

Congratulations, Matt! I look forward to reading your new book! Thanks for posting about it, Debbie.

Debbie, I find that frankly bizarre. Are you sayin...

2012-05-16T20:36:43.469-05:00

Debbie, I find that frankly bizarre. Are you saying that you are against the whole concept of historical fiction? That writers should not be encouraged to write good historical fiction or honored for doing so? That writing contemporary novels or non-fiction is somehow a more honorable or important accomplishment?

Yes, I know about the O'Dell award. One way ...

2012-05-16T17:03:55.895-05:00

Yes, I know about the O'Dell award.

One way to read something like his books and the award is that it deflects attention from the racism, anti-Indian attitudes, homophobia, etc. of the present. Far easier to talk about things from a long time ago than the present...

It is vitally important we know the past so, the saying goes, we don't repeat our errors. One of those errors, however, is a blind embrace of nostalgia for things that never were.

I think I see what you're getting at with the ...

2012-05-16T16:53:53.573-05:00

I think I see what you're getting at with the use of Karana vs. Juana Maria in the teacher's guide, but I don't think that's clear in the presentation (just my opinion, of course).

You might be interested to know (if you didn't already) that Scott O'Dell created an award to honor the best historical fiction set in the Americas, because he thought it was important that American children know the history of the place they inhabit--surely a worthy cause, even if the way we think about this has changed over the years, and even though we no longer have a real dearth of American historical fiction (well, OK, of United States historical fiction, except for books about Latino, Asian American, and well-depicted American Indian children...). While I'm definitely not an O'Dell apologist, I want to note that his books seemed to be some of the few in my childhood (1980s) that depicted strong women of color. My Name is Not Angelica was the first book I read about slavery that made it seem real (and cruel). That doesn't mean I don't think we should read his books critically--I do; I think it's even more important to read well-written and well-known books critically--but it's interesting to examine where he was coming from. (Which was a different place later in his career than it was when he wrote Island of the Blue Dolphins, which he didn't originally intend for a children's book.)

One of the things I will ruminate on is that in ch...

2012-05-16T16:09:13.257-05:00

One of the things I will ruminate on is that in choosing to write about her, or historical stories in general, O'Dell chose to ignore the struggles of Native people all around him. It would be interesting to know why he made that choice. Course, he wasn't really interested in Juana Maria.... from what I read, his major concern had to do with slaughter of animals. As such, she was a convenient device for him to write about how people destroy resources, and to contrast that with the Indian who, in stereotype-land, didn't destroy any resources at all.

Yes, both names are fictions. I'll revisit wha...

2012-05-16T15:55:33.458-05:00

Yes, both names are fictions. I'll revisit what I said about the use of Juana Maria. I didn't think it is insulting to use Karana instead of Juana Maria.

In a way, it is kind of like what happened when Scholastic first published the Dear America diaries. They were fictions, written by authors, but the packaging suggested that the character was a real person. In those cases, it was all fiction. In this one, there was a real person, and her name wasn't Karana. She was called Juana Maria. Using Karana instead of Juana Maria (in my view) takes readers down a slippery path in terms of knowing who Juana Maria was... Does that make sense?

Very interesting, Debbie, and a lovely presentatio...

2012-05-16T15:17:04.801-05:00

Very interesting, Debbie, and a lovely presentation. A couple of thoughts: isn't "Juana Maria" almost as fictional a name as "Karana"? Most teacher's guides seem to use a similar title when discussing the true story of a fictionalized character; I don't think this can be construed as an insult. And on the subject of what might make better reading material: fiction is a great way for kids (and adults) to learn and connect with historical material. How about some fictional alternatives, suitable for 4th-5th grade? (I think this book is really meant for slightly older children, but that the book is often used in those grade levels.)

I think I did understand as a child, at least on some level, that the Aleuts were at least working under the thumb of the Russians. How it would have changed the story if I'd thought of them as "enslaved" is an interesting question.

I look forward to your more detailed writing on this book. Is this the first time you've read it?

What I am wondering about is what happens to these...

2012-05-16T06:17:09.003-05:00

What I am wondering about is what happens to these children after they graduate? How do they transition to functioning in an often chaotic world? Does the school train to that end? Thanks for the share!

Thanks for sharing this with your readers! I wrote...

2012-05-15T08:21:20.278-05:00

Thanks for sharing this with your readers! I wrote a little more about the cover photo on my original blog post.

It's sad how uninformed most people are about ...

2012-05-14T12:10:12.885-05:00

It's sad how uninformed most people are about the history of Indigenous people. Queen Chief Warhorse? I mean, come on! Ridiculous.

HOW TYPICAL OF YOU... The book uses a justice syst...

2012-05-09T15:54:11.549-05:00

HOW TYPICAL OF YOU...
The book uses a justice system which has been around for hundreds of years like the existing cultures and people of the Athebascan. Authentication and research of the facts concerning the peoples of which Mikaelsen writes exist today. How hard or unorthodox would it be to tell the facts, or, by some miracle, have the respect to ask if you can lie about them? The word culture is used too loosely, and respect of a culture is used very little. Those who accept to teach fallacies are oblivious to knowing or having a culture to be proud of and BELIEVE IN.

MaryAnn, They weren't "politically incor...

2012-05-08T13:06:41.195-05:00

MaryAnn,

They weren't "politically incorrect." These things were wrong then, too, but some people didn't see them as wrong.

You're a writer and publisher? Cool. Have you published any Native writers?

Of course these books were politically incorrect, ...

2012-05-08T12:59:49.099-05:00

Of course these books were politically incorrect, it was the 50s! Everything in the 50s was politically incorrect! Women were portrayed as housewives only (which most were), boys as strong and girls as weak, and so on and on and on. Things have changed with Golden Books now, and more correctly so. But I just have to say, that as a child, I adored those books and never took what I read there to cause me to stereotype native Americans or to believe this was the truth. The books were fantasy, just like kittens didn't really spill paint all over the town and there was no puppy who was poky and the trains didn't talk. None the less, of course I understand that these books show Native Americans incorrectly. Point taken, but also, these books inspired me to be a voracious reader as I grew up, and to eventually become a writer and publisher.

Thinking over the Sunday update - If I put mysel...

2012-05-06T18:40:48.205-05:00

Thinking over the Sunday update -

If I put myself (white, European descent)in Ms. Gillum's shoes with what she has said in interviews:

Something like this - "My people came over on entrepreneur ships, we eventually mingled with others who were not from my homeland, the real indigenous peoples look like me - white.

I am from a long royal line. I am gathering my people together once again. This land, including this region of Louisiana is ours. Usurpers have mimicked us, stolen our ways, returned to Oklahoma, and are ripping off the federal government. We are legit, they are not."

If I did this, I'd be making Nation status about race, which it isn't. I'd be claiming that the color of my skin is proof of our legit status as first people.

If I claimed that federally recognized tribes were all frauds and ripping off the feds - it would be obvious that I'd be delusional. And/or up to something. I'd be anti-sovereignty. Denying history. Bashing quite a few people and nations. I'd be lying.

Why would I do that? Maybe to make my group seem very special, I could draw people to me and keep them close because I could tell them who the "other" is, who the enemy is.

Why would I want a census #, why would I seek grants & the attentions of the federal government - all while claiming that federally recognized tribes are frauds? For recognition, tight group cohesion, and money.

Why would any federal agency have anything to do with me? Shouldn't they catch on to what I'm doing pretty quick?

But why should any of this matter? Because truth matters. In this scenario I'd be running a scam. A con game dangerous to not only the people I gather round me, but potentially to the integrity of nation to nation relations. If I as a con artist can convince the federal government that I am legit and all others are frauds - what happens?

And why would any federal agency fall for this? Would my fraud dovetail with what so many people already believe?

There is a great deal of misinformation in Ms. Gil...

2012-05-06T17:13:55.259-05:00

There is a great deal of misinformation in Ms. Gillum's videos. She wrongly claims that white people with one drop of Native blood are considered Native, and Native people with one drop of African blood are considered Black. I don't know why she thinks this, but it's not true. She either doesn't know the basics of how sovereign tribes determine their enrollment criteria, or if she does know she is misleading people for some reason.

Among many, many other problematic things, Ms. Gillum's group supports the Bering Strait theory - which has been used to try and deny tribes their sovereignty, their rights to their landbases and their basic identity as tribal peoples.

This video includes their take on the history of African, "Chinese" and Native people on this continent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTXpGn5bTlw&feature=relmfu

At about 0:45 in this video, the man sitting next to Ms. Gillum, who the moderator addresses as "Brother Roger" gives his take on Indigenous American history, which Ms. Gillum agrees with as he speaks.

I think he's saying they believe the Olmec people were actually West Africans who came to South America on ships, "thousands of years ago."

Brother Roger: "The Olmecs mixed with some of the Chinese invaders that were coming in through the Bering Strait. And we mixed together and we made what
is called the so-called Native American now which is the Red Man..."

Ms. Gillum: "That's right."

Roger: "...that's going around perpetrating on our property. ... We gave them parts of the land to civilize, I mean, not civilize but..."

Moderator: "Inhabit."

Roger: "...inhabit. And we mixed in with those people."
------------------------

So actual Indigenous people are "perpetrating" on land in the Americas that the West Africans gave them. I don't think I even need to go into how problematic, bizarre and incorrect this is. I think Ms. Gillum's group has an agenda that is not compatible with Native sovereignty.

IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the ...

2012-05-05T04:34:06.448-05:00

IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas:

Smithsonian Videos:
http://is.gd/9xDg2Y

National Museum of the American Indian Symposium - 11/13/09

From Symposium Description:

A part of the American story has long been invisible—the story of people who share African American and Native American ancestry. Over centuries, African American and Native people came together, creating shared histories, communities, and ways of life. Often divided by prejudice, laws, or twists of history, African-Native Americans were united by a double heritage that is truly indivisible.

I really appreciate Debbie Reese's clear and e...

2012-05-04T16:59:24.381-05:00

I really appreciate Debbie Reese's clear and encouraging style of educating.

I understand some folks may hear her blog post as somehow attacking - but I think that has more to do with where we the listeners are coming from than her actual words.

Public figures should be able to withstand public scrutiny, even welcome it, if they are legit.

Con artists, destructive group leaders, and hucksters do exist. More crop up every day. Research isn't an attack, it isn't malicious - it is a way for us to become educated and strengthen our b.s. detectors.

I appreciate hearing what you have to say about pe...

2012-05-04T09:50:49.503-05:00

I appreciate hearing what you have to say about perceptions of Native Americans in literature. When I was growing up in South Dakota in the 1950s and 1960s, I avidly read all the Little House books. Now, such passages in these and other works disturb me greatly.

On the subject of Common Core, I am skeptical of any system that does not take into account the differences in reading and cognitive abilities of individual children. As many of our students come from homes where English is a second language, we have had to adjust our school standards.

Thank you, Debbie, for the valuable service you provide all of us.

Anonymous, you wanted to hear more about not suppo...

2012-05-04T08:02:56.198-05:00

Anonymous, you wanted to hear more about not supporting the Common Core. I've been a teacher of young children and a teacher educator for a long time, and I'm ambivalent about the CCSS.
I have had the experience of paying close attention to the CC kindergarten language arts standards. What those standards require is what used to be expected of first graders, at the end of first grade. The standards are part of a trend of pushing curriculum downward while ignoring the developmental needs and capacities of the youngest children. You can go to the CCSS Web site and find statements that show that the framers (more on that later) started at the high-school level and worked their way downward in age with the result that I just described. To me, it looks like, "Oops, we had first graders doing XYZ, so I guess they'll all have to learn to read in kindergarten." Anyone who has paid attention to research on children and literacy knows that that isn't "academic rigor," it's a recipe for failure for many, many young children whose brains need to be doing other things. The web site refers over and over to basing the standards on "research" but just try to find what that research is!

Note that what drives the CCSS is high school-level outcomes -- college and career skills AND scores on international tests (another problematic measure)-- rather than understanding of and research into human development and learning. Note that there has been little transparency regarding who actually wrote the standards; there is an implication that the CCSS were written by committees that included educators. This appears to be only sort of true. Google "Who wrote" + common core standards and you will begin to get a picture of the problem. Also, supposedly this standards movement was generated by the states, but really, business pushed it. That's not inherently all bad, but one has to admit that the business perspective is likely to be different from that of people who have used their education to learn about teaching and learning and who have actually done it. Quote from the Web site of Achieve, Inc, which has been intensely involved in the common core standards movement:
"To this day, Achieve remains the only education reform organization led by a Board of Directors of governors and business leaders."
The board consisted of high-power folks. People who actually work in classrooms, especially those who work on the early childhood end of things, do not seem to have had much of a voice in the processes.
The CCSS framers are pleased that they have come up with fewer standards then many states had developed on their own. How is this possible? Well, it appears to me that in many cases, instead of parsing out components of a skill or skill set, they just combined a couple of skills into a single standard inthe interest of saying they have a more compact document (implication "easier to use.). Instead of "collect data" and "analyze data" having separate standards (because they are separate activities), in the CCSS they would be combined "Collect and analyze data etc." For the teacher who needs to assess both, and who has students who might be good at one and not so good at the other, that's not a very helpful construction. I could go on. I don't dislike all of the CCSS but its problems are several.