Ever since Europeans first colonized North America there has been an ongoing

struggle between native and non-native peoples. Even now after many bloody wars have been fought and land claims settled there continues to be many issues that need to be resolved. One such issue is the racist and stereotypical portrayal of native people in modern media. Although depictions of native people for entertainment purposes can sometimes be dignified and honouring, nevertheless such depictions are usually derogatory towards native people because they are culturally offensive, racist, and stereotyping.

On the forefront of the issue of native images in modern media is the use of native names and logos by sports teams. Many professional and amateur sports teams use native names and logos that create culturally offensive depictions of native people. In recent years attention has been brought to such use, and despite severe protest teams continue to refuse to change their attitudes towards the use of these offensive images. Ted Turner, media magnate and owner of baseball's Atlanta Braves, contests that " the use of Native American names and symbols is not meant to b

One of the common themes in modern media is the depiction of Native American's as the enemy. Francis Wood, a native activist, writes in his book Beneath the Cloud: Issues facing Modern Natives " Not only are native people commonly depicted as the enemy, which was partially true, but they are also shown as the aggressor which history tells us is quite untrue" (39). Wood goes on to say " Movies and television have a long history of false portrayals of natives, instead of recognizing that there are many different tribes, each with their own diverse culture, they lump all of us together into a 'prototypic' Indian savage" (67).

A major complaint of native people is the lack of positive Native American characters in movies and television. Many native children grow up without the option of a positive role model of their own kin. Alvin M. Josephy Jr. writes of the stereotypes commonly associated with natives commenting:

Some common words found in the essay are:
North America, Paul Joseph, Native American, Teams Indian, Modern Natives, Joseph Gones, Jeff Thomason, Stone Age, Indigenous Peoples, George Dodds, native people, native american, modern media, depictions native, depictions native people, names logos, chief illiniwek, movies television, york magazine, issues facing modern, sports teams, race people, native people jeff, native american names, people jeff thomason,
Approximate Word count = 1708
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)