"It is not getting any brighter..." Part 3

The mainstream press continues to be filled with racist cultural stereotypes about indigenous peoples in the discussion over Elizabeth Warren. I wonder, why is it OK to proliferate these sorts of deeply offensive remarks about indigenous peoples? The outcry that to me should be had is not about whether Elizabeth Warren is or is not indigenous, but why in this day and age anyone--including the press- thinks it is OK to engage in such racist and degrading commentary about indigenous peoples? As I have posted earlier, I find these remarks disturbing and revealing as to the true extent of racism and prejudice that American society harbours towards indigenous peoples.

A few more samplings:

Headline "Elizabeth Warren Won't Get Peace Pipe
"While U.S. Sen. Scott Brown nailed a difficult half-court shot at a Hyannis youth center, Elizabeth “Dances with Deception” Warren has been juggling a political football — and fumbling badly. "

Headline "Sacaja-Whiner: Elizabeth Warren and the Oppression Olympics"
"Elizabeth Warren is the Harvard law professor running for Senate in Massachusetts as a Democratic populist-progressive champion. But don't call her "Elizabeth Warren." Call her "Pinocchio-hontas," "Chief Full-of-Lies," "Running Joke" or "Sacaja-whiner.""

What the uproar about Elizabeth Warren has done is put into plain view the insidious racism that is not only part of, but apparently found to be humourous and acceptable, American society towards indigenous peoples.

Rejecting the Stereotype of Victimhood

Mainstream American media representations of indigenous peoples as helpless victims is contested by the people themselves—the children who were the subject of an ABC news network “Hidden America: Children of the Plains” have made a responsive video saying “We are more than that” rejecting what they felt was inaccurate and one dimensional stereotyping.

Their responsive video presents their own views about who they are, and rejects the idea of a hapless, hopeless, victimhood. This, I think, demonstrates the importance of indigenous voice in discussion of indigenous issues. Stereotypes are prevalent, and even well-meant mainstream media presentations perhaps unwittingly play into the triad of characterisation--"Savages, Victims and Saviors" that Makua Matua warned made up the international human rights regime.Mutua scathingly notes the three part metaphor is a part of the “biased and arrogant rhetoric and history of the human rights enterprise.”

The ABC clip does present a view of the indigenous community as desperately diminished from their proud warrior past, now the victims of life. It suggests that while having moved on from the “noble savage” of the past, the indigenous peoples are victims—with the implicit message that rescue is surely needed.

The Indian Country Today Media Network reports on the response that was made, and the reason for the response. The students felt that the ABC story did not present the entire picture of who they were, focussing solely on negative aspects and not providing any message that fell outside of the " savages, victims and saviors" metaphor described by Matua.

NPR carried a story on the students’ video response and their recent trip to Washington DC press the need for more funds for indigenous homelands schools. The NPR story makes the point that in rejecting the depiction as of the ABC report that there is far more to consider about indigenous peoples and their community than the report ever considered: “The point the students are trying to make, says English teacher Heather Hanson, is that they're not victims.”