| 1. Indians are all alike. |
1. In American alone, there are approximately 2.1 million Indians, belonging to 511 culturally distinct federally recognized tribes or an additional 200 or so unrecognized tribes. They live in a variety of environments, either on 286 US reservations, or off reservation in rural areas or cities. |
| 2. Indians were conquered because they were inferior. |
2. Indians were conquered because of their lack of immunity to European diseases. |
| 3. In Indians had united, they could have prevented the European invasion. |
3. Tribes were too different culturally and lived too far apart to fight together as a cohesive unit. |
| 4. Indians had no civilization until Europeans brought it to them. |
4. Indians were civilized. Their cultures were different from those of Europeans. |
| 5. Indians arrived in this hemisphere via the Siberian Land Bridge. |
5. Indians believe that they were created in this hemisphere. |
| 6. Indians were warlike and treacherous. |
6. Indians fought to defend their lands, sovereignty and way of life from invaders. |
| 7. Indians had nothing to contribute to Europeans or to the growth of America. |
7. The contributions of American Indians have changed and enriched the world. |
| 8. Indians did not value or empower women. |
8. Indian women often wielded considerable power within their tribes. |
| 9. Indians have no religion. |
9. Indians are deeply religious. Each tribe has its own religion. |
| 10. Indians welcome outsiders to study and participate in their religious ceremonies. |
10. Indians often practice their religions secretly and want outsiders to respect their desire for privacy. |
| 11. Indians are a vanished race. |
11. There are 2.1 million United States Indians today. |
| 12. Indians are confined to reservations, live in tipis, wear braids, and ride horses. |
12. There is nothing that confines Indians to reservations. Few wear braids and ride horses. Fewer still own tipis. |
| 13. Indians have no reason to be unpatriotic. |
13. Most American patriotism is the celebration of Euro-American history and interest. Euro-Americans€ behavior and policies towards Indians have been brutal throughout American history. |
| 14. Indians get a free ride from the government. |
14. The benefits Indians receive from the government derive from treaty agreements, which purport to compensate them for the surrender of some or all of their invaluable lands. |
| 15. Indians€ affairs are managed for them by the B.I.A. |
15. Each tribe has its own governmental structure possessing a variety of self-governing powers. |
| 16. Indians are not capable of completing school. |
16. Hundreds of Indians graduate from universities every year. |
| 17. Indians cannot vote or hold office. |
17. Indians represent a powerful voting bloc in elections; numerous Indians hold tribal, state and national offices. |
| 18. Indians have a tendency toward alcoholism. |
18. Indians are no more predisposed to alcoholism than members of any other ethnic group. |
| 19. €My grandmother was an Indian.€ |
19. Thousands of Americans €wannabe€ Indians, but they are not. |
| 20. Indians are all full bloods. |
20. The majority of Indians are of mixed heritage. |
| 21. All Indians have an €Indian name.€ |
21. Most Indians have only a Euro-American name; a minority of Indians also have €Indian names€. |
| 22. Indians know the histories, languages, and cultural aspects of their own tribe and all other tribes. |
22. Few Indians know all cultural aspects of their own tribe, much less those of other tribes. |
| 23. Indians are stoic and have no sense of humor. |
23. Indians are as endowed with as rich a sense of humor as anyone else. |
| 24. Indians like having their picture taken. |
24. Indians find photographers intrusive. |
Adapted from (and for a more in-depth discussion of these stereotypes and realities, refer to):