During the nineteenth century, it was commonly assumed by academics, politicians, missionaries, and others that American Indians were a vanishing race, a defeated people, who would be gone by the end of the century. In the popular media of the early twentieth century, Indians were relegated to the mythical past in novels, magazines, and the emerging film industry.
Stereotypes
In New York, Seneca anthropologist Arthur Caswell Parker addressed the New York Indian Welfare Society. He told them:
“To the white man an Indian is only an Indian if dressed in feathers and buckskins.”
Pointing out that American society does not allow Indians to change, he asked:
“How would the white man like it if the Indians demanded that all white men who came upon their reservations must dress in Colonial uniforms and appear like the picture of Sir Walter Raleigh or of ancient Britain?”
Movies
The Daughter of Dawn, a silent movie filmed in Oklahoma with an all-Indian cast was released in 1920. In an article in Chronicles of Oklahoma, Leo Kelley writes:
“Though the motion picture was produced by whites for white audiences, the scenes do provide insight into Comanche and Kiowa customs, lodging, warfare, and dress.”
In an article in This Week from Indian Country Today, Jordan Wright reports:
“This wildly ambitious project had an all-Native cast, just one cameraman, no costumes, no lighting, no props, and wild buffalo. The Indians, who had been on the reservation less than 50 years, brought with them their own tipis, horses, and gear.”
Also included in the movie are scenes of Indians dancing: the Indian Office objected to having the Indians dance for the movie.
Indian Ceremonial
The Gallup (New Mexico) Intertribal Indian Ceremonial was established which provided an annual gathering of Indians. The Ceremonial included arts and crafts sales as well as demonstrations of different tribal dances.
Crafts
In California, a group of Pomo women completed the large basket which they had started weaving in 1910. The basket stood nearly 18 inches tall and was 4 feet across.
Professional Football
The newly formed American Professional Football League elected Sak and Fox Jim Thorpe as its first president.
Museum Display
The High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, has a small display of some of the stereotypical images of American Indians. Some of these are shown below.
Indians 101
Twice each week Indians 101 explores various American Indian topics. Many historical accounts about American Indians end in the nineteenth century giving the impression that Indian people somehow ceased existence. Here are some of the twentieth century histories from this series:
Indians 101: American Indians, Media, and Entertainment in 1916
Indians 101: The Indian Wars of 1915
Indians 101: World War II Veterans Come Home
Indians 101: Indians, Iwo Jima, and the American Flag
Indians 101: Boulder Dam and the Navajo Reservation
Indians 101: The Fight for the Black Hills, 1910 to 1943
Indians 101: The National Congress of American Indians
Indians 101: The Hoover Commission