Issues
Mistakes, Lies & Misconceptions
about American Indian people
Some everyday myths about Indians
"Indian men can't grow facial hair" - MYTH
"Indians get drunk or become alcoholics easier than non-Indians" - MYTH
"Indians all get money from a casino or the U.S. Government" - MYTH
"Indians can't cry" - MYTH
"Indians all had brown eyes and straight, black hair" - MYTH
"Indians are lazy"
- MYTH
Common Misconceptions Dispelled (Tongue-in-cheek on some topics)
Modern Indians do not live in tipis, wear headdresses & hunt buffalo.
The only thing ever smoked in a traditional pipe was sacred tobacco.
There was no such thing as a 'smoke-signal'.
"How" (with hand raised), is not the real way Indians say hello.
Real Indians cannot jump into a fire and not get scorched.
Some Indians can actually grow a full beard.
Some Indians do not have 'high cheekbones'.
"Woo woo woo" (with hand over mouth) is hollywood fantasy.
Real Indians can't dive off a 500 ft cliff and live, like 'Poca-haunt-us'.
"Me biggum Chief" is not a real Indian dialect.
Most Indians are not 'Chiefs'.
Not all Chiefs were/are men.
There was no such thing as a 'Chief', ever.
Real Indian spirituality is not 'magic'.
There was no such thing as an "Indian Princess"
Not all Indians had/have long hair.
Traditional Indian people do/did not worship animals,
trees or rocks.