This ERIC digest gives elementary school teachers realistic information about American Indians and Alaska Natives and identifies some of the common myths based on ethnic bias. Bias against Indians is often the result of inaccurate information. Stylized classroom accounts of Indian life reinforce "buckskin-and- feather" or "Eskimo and igloo" stereotypes. Indians who defended their homelands from invaders have been portrayed as enemies of progress, barriers to frontier settlement, and, more recently, a "social problem" draining national resources. Teachers can be victims of the instructional materials they count on, and so they should become consciously aware of the processes by which they choose such materials. In recent years, American Indians have recognized their right to insist upon accurate and unbiased accounts of their own history and culture and more and more educators are realizing that this right extends to all students. Myths about native peoples are commonplace, occurring in history, law, sociology and economics. Many people believe, for example, that American Indians share a common language and culture, when there are actually more than 300 officially recognized tribes, distinct in many ways including language. Other examples of myths about Indians include the "first Thanksgiving" stories that were created in the 1890s to promote the "melting pot" theory of American social progress. Instead of repeating such myths, teaches should encourage classroom discussion of real and current Indian issues (such as land and fishing rights) as a means of teaching American Indian history and establishing Native Americans as a people. This document includes 10 references and a 4-item annotated list of essential resources. (TES)