Stereotypes undermine self-esteem

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I'm not surprised at the comic book rendition of "Going Native" as depicted in the No. 19 issue of Jughead's Double Digest, however, I am surprised that the term Native was used rather than Indian. If I remember correctly until just a few years ago Indian was the popular item. I think the editors made a mistake in reprinting this 10-year-old story, which they claim offended no one at that time.

There is no excuse for this type of defamation. As adults we can judge this rubbish and disregard the implications. However, the children who read these comic books digest this sort of misinformation and judge accordingly.

It's hardly fair to portray the members of a nation of people as a "sniveling, snarling animal! No hope! No pride! No sense of decency!" The young people have been exposed to this sort of portrayal for decades. Television, movies and children's books have not always been kind to the Native people and unfortunately the children are not being taught to respect other cultures and lifestyles.

The children can't be blamed for believing things they read. But the scary part is, they do unless they learn other wise. How does this affect the young Native children in the schools? So much of our knowledge is based on information we received as children, narrow-minded perceptions stay with us into adulthood.

A few months ago I was involved in judging a children's art contest that was sponsored by a Native organization in celebration of Native awareness. The theme of the contest was Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. The contest was open to children of all ethnic denominations ranging in age from kindergarten to grade six.

I was amazed and occasionally shocked at the pieces of art that were entered. Many of the popular stereotypes surfaced in the art. Young artists drew bottles of alcohol, Lysol bottles and cans of hairspray. Where do kids get this information? I

can't help feeling a little disgusted at the people who perpetuate these stereotypes.

It's difficult to grow up feeling proud of yourself and your heritage when it's believed by your peers that you are less acceptable because of your Native heritage.

Our children face many cruel obstacles in the social system and the judgments of their peers are based on unpleasant evaluations of the adults around them.

Building a positive self-image within ourselves requires constant positive input. Our children's egos are fragile entities that are very vulnerable to outside influence and when they are exposed to the negative opinions many people have of Natives, it makes positive reinforcement a difficult chore.

In Canada, Native people are selectively centered out and constantly bombarded with racist remarks and derogatory tales that brand them as undesirables. We are all judged against them.

Here's a perfect example of one incident that could lead to a negative assumption. I read in the paper the other day that a prominent white business man was convicted formolesting a small child. Does this mean that all white men molest children?