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Indigenous Images and Stereotypes

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Pre-Reflection

Read the thought bubble on the left.

Reflect using the following questions in your journals.

  • What does this mean?

  • How do you think someone who is Indigneous would feel or think when they are told this?

  • What were they expecting an Indigenous person to look like? Why?

  • Why do you think someone might think or say this?

You do not look like an Indigenous person.

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Analyze and discuss the following in pairs/groups:

  • What catches your eye?

  • What is the message the cartoonist is trying to send?

  • Do you think these images have positive or negative impacts on Indigenous peoples? Explain your answer.

  • Do you think people still use such images when referring or imagining an Indigenous person? Why?

  • Do you think you have these images and ideas in your head unintentionally? Please explain why?

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Video Discussion

  • What connected with you from the video?

  • Did anything surprise you?

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Activity ‒ Images and Language Matters!

  • Take out a piece of lined paper.

  • Create a list of words, images and stereotypes you have heard, seen, or think of, both past and present, that limit or degrade what it means to be Indigenous. (Refrain from putting down swear words or slurs.)

Write this in one column.

  • On the column next to it, write an alternative list of words that honours and respects Indigenous identity and culture as a whole.

  • With this new list of words, you will create a collage with realistic, modern and accurate images of Indigneous peoples, groups, culture and ways of living. This can be done online or on sketch paper.

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Reflecting on the initial thought bubble and the discussions today, respond to the following in your journals:

  • How can you counteract the stereotypes of Indigenous people(s) that we learn from our society?

  • Do you think such stereotype(s) will affect interactions or actions with this community if not addressed? Please explain.

  • Look at the thought bubble on the right. What other groups might face such stereotypes and assumptions about their gender, race, religion and/or cultures? Please explain and give examples using recent events.

Closing & Post-Reflection

You do not look like an Indigenous person.

You do not look like an (or act like) a _______ person.