Yesterday at the doctor's office, flipping thru magazines on the table, I was surprised to see a full page Tylenol ad on the back page of an AARP magazine. The text said something like "when you have the grandkids for the weekend." It showed an elderly person holding the hand of a kid. In the kids other hand was an ice cream cone, and on his head was an Indian headdress with multi-colored feathers. The kid was not Native.
Parents use the "stop acting like a wild Indian" phrase when their kids are out of control, but I haven't seen it in an advertisement before. I have occasionally come across it in children's books.
AARP is a huge and powerful organization. There's a lot of people out there who get their magazines. I haven't heard any protest to the ad. Have you? Why not?
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Saturday, July 29, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Shirley Sterling's MY NAME IS SEEPEETZA
A reader told me about an article by Shirley Sterling, author of one of the boarding school books I wrote about yesterday. The article is a beautiful and moving piece of writing, and I want to share it with you:
"Seepeetza Revisited: An Introduction to Six Voices"
The article is from the on-line issue of Educational Insights, specifically from V. 3 No. 1, dated October 1995.
"Seepeetza Revisited: An Introduction to Six Voices"
The article is from the on-line issue of Educational Insights, specifically from V. 3 No. 1, dated October 1995.
Labels:
boarding school,
mY NAME IS SEEPEETZA,
recommended
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
American Indian Boarding Schools - continued
Native singer/songwriter Arigon Starr heard about the critique of Rinaldi's book and wrote a song about it. To listen to a clip, read the lyrics, and order the CD, go here:
http://www.arigonstarr.com/lyrics_all/wind-up/myheart.html
Native singer/songwriter Arigon Starr heard about the critique of Rinaldi's book and wrote a song about it. To listen to a clip, read the lyrics, and order the CD, go here:
http://www.arigonstarr.com/lyrics_all/wind-up/myheart.html
American Indian Boarding Schools
I think that when most people hear "boarding school," they think of elite private schools, and perhaps they think of Hogwarts (Harry Potter's school).
Many assume, incorrectly, that the boarding schools the US Government set up for American Indians were much like the elite private schools, but that was not the case. The goal of American Indian boarding schools was to "kill the Indian" and "save the man." In Canada, the schools were called "residential schools."
These schools are the subject of many children's books. Unfortunately, they generally provide a white-washed view of the schools. The best example of this is Ann Rinaldi's My Heart is on the Ground: The Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl. To see an extensive review of the book, go here: http://www.oyate.org/books-to-avoid/myHeart.html.
If you're interested in children's books on this topic, there are a few that I recommend:
Home to Medicine Mountain, by Chiori Santiago (picture book)
As Long as the Rivers Flow, by Larry Loyie (middle grades)
My Name is Seepeetza, by Shirley Sterling (middle grades)
No Parole Today, by Laura Tohe (poetry for high school)
You may also be interested in non-fiction titles more appropriate for adult readers:
Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Experiences, 1879-2000, by Margaret Archuleta, Brenda Child, and K. Tsianina Lomawaima. Also see Child's book Boarding School Seasons, and Lomawaima's They Called it Prairie Light.
Many assume, incorrectly, that the boarding schools the US Government set up for American Indians were much like the elite private schools, but that was not the case. The goal of American Indian boarding schools was to "kill the Indian" and "save the man." In Canada, the schools were called "residential schools."
These schools are the subject of many children's books. Unfortunately, they generally provide a white-washed view of the schools. The best example of this is Ann Rinaldi's My Heart is on the Ground: The Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl. To see an extensive review of the book, go here: http://www.oyate.org/books-to-avoid/myHeart.html.
If you're interested in children's books on this topic, there are a few that I recommend:
Home to Medicine Mountain, by Chiori Santiago (picture book)
As Long as the Rivers Flow, by Larry Loyie (middle grades)
My Name is Seepeetza, by Shirley Sterling (middle grades)
No Parole Today, by Laura Tohe (poetry for high school)
You may also be interested in non-fiction titles more appropriate for adult readers:
Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Experiences, 1879-2000, by Margaret Archuleta, Brenda Child, and K. Tsianina Lomawaima. Also see Child's book Boarding School Seasons, and Lomawaima's They Called it Prairie Light.
Labels:
boarding school
Monday, July 24, 2006
Writing BY American Indians that isn't ABOUT American Indians
In my work, I search for books and stories about American Indians that are written (or retold) by American Indians. I do this because it is critical that Americans know that we are part of today’s America ; that is, American Indians aren't dead and gone.
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Cynthia Leitich Smith
Sunday, July 23, 2006
More Board Books
There are four additional board books by Beverly Blacksheep! They are Baby Learns about Weather, Baby Learns about Time, Baby Learns about Senses, and Baby Learns about Seasons. Oyate carries all eight titles. To order, call 510-848-6700 or email: oyate@oyate.org.
You can see some of Beverly Blacksheep's art here: http://www.kiva-gallery.com/paintings/bblacksheep/bblacksheep.html.
You can see some of Beverly Blacksheep's art here: http://www.kiva-gallery.com/paintings/bblacksheep/bblacksheep.html.
Labels:
board book,
Tribal Nation: Dine (Navajo)
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