Subject: re: museumizing the other/native.....
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 10:44:57 -0700


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    I noticed on the local news the other day a clip on a local(Chico, CA, USA) elementary school class spending a day on "Indian" study, doing projects related to the "traditional Indian culture"  (meaning Native American).  It made me think a great deal about the U.S. school curriculum and how it may inadvertantly contribute to this "museumizing" by concentrating on certain glorified "traditional" objects and practices of native peoples without teaching their  current lifestyles and situations, which may be very different from what is taught in the school's program.  In this way I think the American school children may get a very stereotyped perception of native people and culture that is highly inaccurate!
     I know that my preschool-aged son has come home with just such ideas...that "Indians" are very different from us.  (I have had numerous talks with him since, pointing out that yes there may be some cultural and physical differences but that all people are unique in many different ways, which is what makes this world interesting, but that also they are still "just people" like ourselves with many of the same feelings and experiences we have.....that many of those "Indians" live and work and go to school in our community just like we do, and look and dress just like us, etc., etc. ....)
    Of course, these perceptions are also perpetuated by many other sources in our society, such as movies and television, children's books, museum displays, etc..
    Is this something that is pervasive out there, or is it just my personal observation? Any comments?  Suggestions for change???? 

Michelle Rader

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