The Imaginary Indian: Representations of Native

Peoples in Mass Media

The Noble Indian lives in harmony with Nature and is uncorrupted by the influences of civilization. This Indian thought to be physically healthy ,wise, generous, self sacrificing, courageous, innocent, and doomed to extinction.

The Ignoble Indian is viewed as a savage, bloodthirsty, untameable enemy of white society. As with the Noble Indian, the Ignoble Indian was viewed as uncivilized and doomed to extinction unless they could be civilized.

The notion of the Vanishing Indian stems from the idea that Native peoples were destined to disappear in the face of a more advanced civilization.

The image of the Environmental Indian is a representation of Indians as environmentalists or eco-warriors that are threatened by the forces of a consumer culture and will do anything to protect the land.

The Bureaucrat’s Indian is the official Indian of government policy, the assimilated Indian. This is the Indian that the government uses to help carry out their agendas.

The Performing Indian is a type of identity that was often found in Wild West Shows where Indians were seen as savage and bloodthirsty. Many mainstream Native actors could be considered performing Indians in the modern context.

The Grateful Indian derives from the idea that, because Indians were being offered the "gift" of progress and civilization they should be thankful, not resistant.

The textbook Indian is a image that is based on a cluster of stereotypical and inaccurate images that are perpetuated in textbooks

Francis , D. (1992) The Imaginary Indian: The Image of the Indian in Canadian Culture. Arsenal Pulp Press.

Films/TelevisionPocahontas (1995)Thunderheart (1992)Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)The Lone Ranger Season 1 (1959)Maverick (1994)Keep America Beautiful Public Service Announcements (1974), (1998)Dances With Wolves (1990)