This study analyzed girls' reactions to Disney's animated feature film "Pocahontas" in light of conclusions drawn from a previous critical textual analysis of the movie. The research addressed three questions: (1) how do Disney's claims to creation of positive prosocial representations of women and Native Americans in the movie…

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…

Written by an Eskimo who created all the book's art work, drawings, and illustrations, this narrative portrays the theme that prior to white contact the Eskimos had a complex, satisfying, technologically developed, and progressive culture which was immobilized, fragmented, and exploited by European invaders: hence the title--give or take a…

The book offers an orientation to the contemporary situation and problems of American Indian peoples and provides a guide to the kinds of information which are available about Indians. The text and appendixes provide information concerning such basic issues as how "Indian" is to be defined and the consequences of one or another definition, the…

A study examined 20 trade books (1964-1997) to evaluate their accuracy in depicting Native American peoples and cultures. The criteria embodied an authenticity guideline based upon the "Five Great Values": (1) generosity and sharing; (2) respect for elders and women; (3) getting along with nature; (4) individual freedom and leadership;…

Presents a selective annotated bibliography of books on Native Americans for young people (23 recommended books, 11 books to avoid, 13 guides to selection, and 9 sources for books). Makes suggestions for evaluating books on Native Americans. Pervasive and dehumanizing stereotypes of Native Americans are ingrained in popular culture. (SLD)

The narrative of the American Indian has pronounced social, political, and economic implications; the complete story predicates and ratifies a special place for the Indian in North American moral and political systems. But mythic structures and cultural fictions must be combated with true accounts of historical events and relationships. (AF)

This study used content analysis to investigate the change, over time, in the depiction of Alaskan natives in children's fiction. The analysis was based on four broad categories: (1) physical traits, including physical features and types of clothing; (2) social traits, including language fluency, family associations, amount of formal education,…

The portrayal of the American Indian in young adult fiction was studied through the examination of 23 works of realistic or historical fiction published from 1960 to 1985. Books selected from the card catalogue at the Center for Children's Books at the University of Chicago were primarily about Indians or Indian life, and were appropriate for…

Studies on the portrayal of minorities, older persons, and females in elementary and secondary school textbooks used in the 1970s are reviewed in this publication. The studies are divided into the following categories: American Indians, blacks, Hispanics, Asian and Pacific Island Americans, religious groups, older persons, and females. In the…

This publication lists multi-ethnic reading, audio, and audio-visual materials for young children in day care center programs and homes. The listing, it is held, is by no means a complete one. The need for listing these materials arises from the fact that, historically, children's literature on minority races has been written from a prejudiced…

In connection with Ontario Ministry of Education high school curriculum guidelines on teaching about Native peoples, eight case studies of discrimination against Canada Natives, and court settlements of these cases, can be used with nine suggested learning activities to help students recognize the effects of prejudice, stereotyping, and…

Center School, one of five alternative schools in Minneapolis, is the only one that is predominantly Indian. There are 45 students: some getting an education in basics, some socializing with people of a common heritage, and some assigned there by the courts. (MLW)

This content analysis sought to examine the annotations in two editions of "Books for You" (a recommended reading list for high school students) published thirty-one years apart (1964 and 1995) to determine if the roles, settings, and importance of multicultural characters has changed in any way. The percentage of annotations was…

Twenty-four units which focus on the contribution of women and minority group members to the development of the Pacific Northwest provide supplementary material for high school social studies classes. The lives of 12 women are treated in separate units. Other topics include the Pacific Northwest 100 years ago, the temperance movement, oral history…