1983, January 26th - “The continuation of these old images in the movies, on television and in textbooks is harmful to the youth of all racial groups,” said Dr. Janice White Clemmer

Wild West Show

Faulty image of Indians being examined at university

1983 Jan 26, New Braunfels Herald Zeitung 

     Provo, Utah - Although Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show has been off the entertainment circuit for nearly 100 years, the image of Indians created by the show lingers on - in motion pictures, television shows and textbooks, according to a Brigham Young University professor.

      The faulty stereotype of Indians that persists is being examined in a contemporary Indian affairs class taught at BYU by Dr. Janice White Clemmer [Wasco-Shawnee-Delaware], assistant professor of American Indian Education and History. Mrs. Clemmer is believed to be the first Indian woman in the United States to earn two doctoral degrees, one in cultural foundations of education and the other in history.

      "Images of Indians portrayed in most movies, television shows, cartoons and textbooks stereotype them as the bad guys, perpetuating the same type of negative image which Buffalo Bill's show produced," Mrs Clemmer said. "Throughout history, the Indians seem to be shown as stumbling blocks for Europeans immigrating to this continent. 

     "When Indians first appeared in movies, the people in those roles were not Indians," she said. "Most portrayals were negative, and, for the most part, no respectable Indian would play a negative role. Besides, movie makers thought Indians had no talent.
      "Indians were not acceptable to play leading roles because the producers didn't believe the public would accept Indians in modern dress," Mrs. Clemmer said. "In some Western movies, all the Indians and non-Indian extras were spray-painted to be one color, and they all had the same type of black wigs and the same basic clothing worn by the Plains or Apache tribes."
      Although Indians are not all one color and often a variety of tribes may live on one reservation, movies frequently lead viewers to believe all Indians live and die in Monument Valley, she pointed out.
      “Some people are shocked that all Indians are not the sane,” she said. “One Eastern student in my class even asked if Indians still live in tepees.”
      The “Indian” look – staid, ferocious, wrapped in a blanket or dressed in beaded buckskin – came into being as the Indians resisted assimilation by the Anglo society early in American history, she said. 
      “But Indians in early entertainment shows went along with the image for economic reasons,” Mrs. Clemmer explained. “As time went on, fancy dancing was developed in these shows because the audiences demanded more exciting dances and many traditional dances are not the reveling or rollicking entertainment non-Indians wanted to see.
      “In 1890, however, the government published circulars saying that Indians could not be used in Wild West shows because the shows were unbecoming and dehumanizing. Ironically, we can see similar concepts in recent movies and television shows.”
      Non-Indians are still being cast in Indian lead roles, she said.
      “And most movies giving a positive image of Indians, such as Little Big Man, Cheyenne Autumn and Soldier Blue, don’t go far enough today. An exception is the movie Three Warriors. The movie portrayed Indians as real people with problems.

      “But with Seems Like Old Times – in which two Indians are shown in trouble with the law, having low morals and drinking problems – the old stereotyping seems to shift back again.”

      Producers apparently feel Americans are not ready to accept Indians as people with good values and concerns. “They continuously portray Indians as unreal people,” Mrs. Clemmer said. “This is a great disservice to all.”
      She noted that Jay Silverheels, who had the role of Tonto in the Lone Ranger series, tried to upgrade Indians in Hollywood roles, but there weren’t enough people with money to support the move.
      “The continuation of these old images in the movies, on television and in textbooks is harmful to the youth of all racial groups,” Mrs. Clemmer said.
      “There are many urban Indian youngsters who get confused on these issues. Many put on headbands, high boots and ribbon shirts because that is what they think they should do to prove they’re really Indians.”
      Included in the Indian affairs class is a five-part videotape series on Indian images in movies and television. The series is narrated by Will Sampson, an Indian who had a supporting role in the Vegas TV series.

1983 Jan 26, New Braunfels Herald Zeitung